Meet the Staff
Rev. Dodd Lamberton
Senior Pastor
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Education: University of Minnesota, Indiana University, and Luther Seminary
Has served congregations in: Elmira, New York and Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Year began serving Mount Carmel: 2002
Family: Wife Myrna, daughter Ainsley, partner Sue, grandson Owen (Bethlehem PA); son Benjamin and wife Kate (Hanover PA); dog, Cappy, a beloved rescue mutt.
Passions in Ministry: Faith formation and Bible study, especially for adults, and lively and diverse worship built on the traditional Lutheran pattern.
Hobbies: Cross-cultural travel and singing in the Twin Cities’ chamber choir Exultate
Contact Pastor Dodd Lamberton
Rev. Karen Williams
Associate Pastor
Hometown: Grew up in east side of St. Paul, Minnesota.
Education: Concordia University and Luther Seminary. Pastor Karen holds a Master of Divintiy degree and was ordained into Word and Sacrament ministry of the ELCA in 2005.
Has served congregations in: Bay Port, Minnesota and now NE Minneapolis.
Year began serving Mount Carmel: 2011
Contact Pastor Karen Williams
Rev. Jim Meyer
Visitation Pastor
Hometown: Grew up in Los Angeles, California. Has lived in the Midwest for 30 years in Michigan, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Education: Luther Seminary
Has served congregations in: West Union Lutheran Church in Carver, MN. Two point parish including St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Stewart, MN and Grace Lutheran Church in Brownton, MN. Pastor Meyer currently serves Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church and Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church as Visitation Pastor for both churches. He also ministers full-time as a Chaplain at Augustana Health Care Center and Apartments.
Year began serving Mount Carmel: 2005.
Family: Son, Tim and grandson, Shawn live at home. Daughter, Ame, lives and works in Minneapolis.
Interests: Some travel, reading, movies, Faith formation, Pastoral care and being a Healing Touch Practitioner
Contact Pastor Jim Meyer
Jeanette Burmeister
Child Care Director
Hometown: NE Minneapolis
Year began serving Mount Carmel: Jeanette was part of the task force wanting to open a Child Care Center at Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church. She has been an employee of the Child Care Center since September, 1989 and the Director since 1997.
Family: Lives with husband Dan. Two adult children, Eric and Josie, live nearby.
Interests: Working with children, reading and traveling
Contact Jeanette Burmeister
Amy Engel
Director of Music/Organist
Hometown: Brandon, MN (near Alexandria, MN)
Education: College of St. Bennedict
Congregations served: VSalem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud, MN and various churches in the Brandon area.
Year began serving Mount Carmel: 2010
Passions in Ministry: Creating meaningful worship, bringing people together through music, and making good music while having fun
Hobbies: Reading, biking, baking, music, movies, cross stitch.
Contact Amy Engel
Ruth Bills
Senior Tones Director
Hometown: NE Minneapolis
Education: American Guild of Music Teachers course; chemical dependency counselor certificate, Metropolitan Community College
Previous worklife: Music coordinator at St. William’s and St. Clement’s Churches; chemical dependency counselor for 10 years; Mt. Carmel Child Care staff for five years.
Year began serving Mount Carmel: 1999
Family: Husband Duane; five grown children, five grandchildren
Passions in Ministry: Ministering to the grieving; meaningful and spiritual worship.
Hobbies: Hobbies: music, gardening, baking
Contact Ruth Bills
Carol Panning
Office/Financial Secretary
Hometown: NE Minneapolis
Year began serving Mount Carmel: 2000. Member of Mount Carmel since 1964
Family: 3 adult children and 6 grandchildren
Contact Carol Panning
Ken Bogie
Facilities Manager
Ken and his family have lived in Northeast Minneapolis for 30 years. He has a degree in electronic technology and had worked in that field for 20 years prior to joining the Mount Carmel staff in 1997. Ken enjoys spending his spare time with his family.
Contact Ken Bogie