The Incarnation Congregation Council is comprised of a group of nine lay leaders who are elected on a rotating basis to three year terms. Criteria for being nominated to the council include regular participation in the worship life and ministries of Incarnation as well as a commitment to helping the community of Incarnation live out our stated Mission, Vision, and Values.
You may email the Incarnation Council directly by clicking here.
If you would like to receive Congregation Council Meeting minutes, please email dgriffith@incarnationmn.org. You will be placed on a Constant Contact email list and receive minutes after they are approved.
The Congregation Council works closely with staff and numerous Incarnation Committees and Representatives Committee List to support the various ministries and church activities. We appreciate these partnerships and thank our many volunteers for their service. Please direct any updates to this roster to Danette Griffith (dgriffith@incarnationmn.org). If you have interest in learning more about serving on a committee or getting involved in one of our many ministry opportunities, please contact the church office to be routed to the correct point of contact. You may also explore possibilities on our website “Serve” page (navigation icon is in the upper right of our Incarnation website home page).
2024 Congregation Council Members
Tracy Strantz
President
Tracy and her husband, Dan, have been members of Incarnation for over 25 years. Their children Cory and Rachel grew up participating in the Wednesday night youth & confirmation programs and supporting various service roles including family volunteering for Feed My Starving Children and other ILC events. Tracy served as a classroom guide throughout their faith journeys, inspiring Cory & Rachel to also serve as classroom guides for the VBS and Wednesday night programs. Tracy enjoys mentoring youth and supporting confirmands as a prayer partner. Tracy & Dan are both active participants in Small Group Ministry. Tracy is a co-leader in two long-term small groups and has appreciated many connections within our small group community since participating in one of the inaugural leader training sessions in 1998. Tracy has served on leadership councils for both Small Group and Children’s Ministries. She enjoys collaborating with others to cultivate new ideas and supporting short-term and long-term strategies. Term ends December 2025.
Greta Grosch
Vice President
Greta has been proud to call Incarnation her church home for over two decades, and serves as a member of the Contemporary Worship Music Team. In addition, she has acted as a Confirmation prayer partner, participates regularly in FMSC MobilePack™
Events, has done work with the youth, and moonlights with the Senior Choir whenever she can. Greta makes her living in theater, and is grateful to have the opportunity to combine her faith with her work as an original cast member and writer for the hit “Church Basement Ladies” musicals. Term ends December 2024.
Kevin Roloff
Secretary
Kevin is a patent attorney for a medical device company, and also assists as a volunteer in various legal matters for individuals and small businesses. He and his wife Brenda have been members of Incarnation since 2012. They live in Shoreview with their son Drew (16). Kevin and Brenda served as confirmation co-guides through Drew’s confirmation in 2022, and Kevin continues as a substitute confirmation guide. He also serves as an adult chaperone to Mike Sell’s High School Ministry program. Kevin has been involved in several small groups and has served as an usher and greeter.” Term ends December 2026.
Mike Vant
Treasurer
Mike was born and raised at First Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights and still cooks 1,000 lbs of Lutefisk there every January. :-). He started attending Incarnation after he and his wife Jennifer moved to Shoreview in 2012. He was blessed to be on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic with ILC & FMSC in 2019 and officially transferred his membership to ILC in 2021. He’s part of an amazing FMSC Mobile Pack Action Team and is a regular with the monthly packing group and a member of the FMSC Minnesota Council. He’s also a weekly volunteer with Ralph Reeder as well as the Mounds View and Anoka County Meals on Wheels programs. A former small business owner, he’s a current member of the Finance Committee, has been a member of several small groups and now also leads a group focused on Creation Care and Environmental Stewardship.”Term ends December 2026.
Bev Ogren
Bev is a retired Turtle Lake Elementary teacher. Bev and her family were members of Incarnation in the 80’s and 90’s and they returned recently when they moved back to North Oaks. She has been involved as a Sunday School teacher, curriculum committee member, FMSC volunteer and is currently participating in two small groups. She is married to Steve and they have two children and six grandchildren. Term ends December 2026.
Jim Meinen
Jim and his wife, Julie, have been members since 1989 and have two young adult children, Catie and Will. Jim has co-led a Worship Team, served on the Stewardship Ministry Team, HR Committee, Finance Committee, Confirmation guide and Confirmation prayer partner, communion server, usher and participated in a mission trip to Haiti in 2013. He has led several small groups and served on the Feed My Starving Children Council since 2013. Jim previously served on the Incarnation Council from 2014-2017. Term ends December 2025.
Katy Gibbs
Katy and her husband, Toby, have been members of Incarnation since 2012. They live in Shoreview with their children, David (13) and Lexie (8). Katy has served as a Spark leader in multiple grades, middle school group leader, VBS volunteer, and Feed My Starving Children MobilePack volunteer. She has also had the honor of participating in several small groups over the years. Term ends December 2024.
Amy Johnson
Amy, her husband, Josh, and family started attending Incarnation in 2015 when they moved back to the area. Their three children, Callan, Declan and Teagan attended Incarnation Preschool. Amy served on the Preschool Committee, Call Committee for Pastor Kai, as a small group leader, small group member, and brass ensemble. She also enjoys spending time with the Worship Arts team while decorating the sanctuary. Term ends December 2024.
Gil Hartley
I was born in Duluth in the first half of the 20th century. Kathy and I married in 1977, and our son, Sam, was born in 1983 and our daughter, Eliza, in 1989. I graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1979, finished internal medicine residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in 1983, and practiced in Owatonna until 1986, when HCMC invited me back to open a new clinic. We joined Incarnation in 1987. My career started in primary care and gradually shifted to obesity management, especially the care of obesity surgery patients. I retired in May 2020 and now take naps, travel, and volunteer at the American Red Cross Blood Services, Solid Ground, and Feed My Starving Children. Term ends December 2024.
To contact one of the Incarnation Congregation Council members, email council@incarnationmn.org or call the Incarnation Office at 651-484-7213 and request specific contact information.