The Nominating Committee is pleased to introduce these nominees to boards and the council for 2024. Their nominations will be voted on at the Annual Meeting, January 28. Click on their names/positions to view photos.
-Michael Gordon, chair; Judy Bentley, Carol Mooney, Jamie Shilling
Alex Korahais, Council Alex Korahais and his wife Kathleen and son Nate joined Plymouth about eight years ago after an invitation from Sari Breznau to sing in the choir. Nate joined MYF and then YF; Alex and Kathleen formed strong relationships with other parents of that group. Alex teaches third grade at Kimball Elementary School on Beacon Hill. He’s a committed baseball parent, continuing to work with Little League years after Nate aged out. Alex was on the Exploratory Development Committee. Serving on the Council is a bigger step in giving back to the Plymouth community that has fed him and his family these last eight years. As things change and parts of Plymouth that have been important to him are lost, he is reflecting on all the important parts that are still here and has decided that's a reason to double down in his involvement. This is a challenging and exciting time as building decisions need to be made. Rev. Kelle Brown is calling us to move in powerful and important ways which he wants to support on Council. He is happy to be part of the future.
Robyne Curry, Community and Care Board Robyne Curry grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and came to Seattle for the mountains and ocean in 1984. She foolishly left in 1989 but returned in 1994 because it’s the best place in the U.S to enjoy the wonders of nature. Robyne is a retired journalist who has worked for The Washington Post, The Wall St. Journal, and The Seattle Times and for Microsoft. She has been worshipping with Plymouth online for about a year and finds worship inspiring, feeding her intellectually as well as spiritually. She would like to worship in person once or twice a month, arriving by light rail from the U. District. She has joined the knitting group and the Bible study. She enjoys swimming and bowling, cooking and trying out new recipes. She bakes bread for food banks twice a month. Robyne looks forward to serving on the Community & Care Board because she wants to give of herself to help others and as a way to get to know the congregation.
Darlene and Kerry Krenzke, Community and Care Board We moved to Seattle from Hawaii 6 years ago. Darlene retired from the State of Hawaii as supervisor of an income maintenance public welfare unit in 2017, having started as a payment worker 44 years prior. Kerry worked for the ABC network affiliate in Hawaii for 35 years, then worked as part-time website developer/webmaster of our church’s website for 5 years. Over the past 44 years, we served our UCC church in Honolulu on the Membership & Fellowship Committee, on the World Missions Committee, on the Board of Deacons/Deaconesses, and as head ushers. We joined Plymouth Church in April, 2018, but have not been active in the church, except for ushering/greeting prior to the pandemic. By serving on the Community Care Board as residents of Horizon House, we hope to reach out to Horizon House residents, especially those living in Assisted Living, on behalf of Plymouth Church.
Anne Kiemle, Community and Care Board Plymouth has been my faith family since my birth in 1959. It is where I first experienced the power of fellowship as a teen in the youth group led by Bob and Marcia Almquist that included challenging backpacking trips, lively Wednesday Dinner discussions and sometimes controversial Youth Sunday services. It was also where I first learned about issues of poverty and homelessness with involvement at the First Avenue Service Center when I was a child and then as a teen helping provide and serve Thanksgiving dinners. After earning a degree in education in 1983, I was invited to be a Sunday School teacher, a role I enjoyed for 35 years. I have served on the Children and Youth Board and Nominating Committee, participated in Plymouth book studies, women’s groups and retreats, and Peace Action and Immigration ministry teams. Now, I am happy to add to this serving as a member of the Community and Care Board, where I hope to reach out to visitors, friends, and long-time members in ways that help foster connections, build a greater awareness of the power of a faith community and offer comfort and care.
Kate Forrester, Council I am a retired clinical social worker, still licensed in CA and WA, who continues to look for ways to serve the greater good. At the moment, I am working with recovering alcoholics and addicts in the 12 Step programs, working seasonally/part time as an election worker with the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office, am on the Companion Team at Plymouth and on Plymouth’s CSSA Board, and I am a regular donor to Bloodworks Northwest because I have a highly desired blood type : )
Since I retired in 2020 from the Oncology Team at UW Medical Center, I have written and published a book about my maternal ancestors called, “Mis-Mother,” and I continue writing creatively. I have always wanted to write, but chose social work for my “day job.” I identify as a “mystic” when it comes to religion, and very much love the weekly Plymouth Bible Study online.
My husband Bob and I love hiking, camping and travel. We are so grateful for our queer firstborn who is starting grad school to become a school teacher and for our son, who is on the autism spectrum, pursuing an undergrad degree in math. We have a lot of extended family that we visit in CA since we both grew up there. My mother (age 88) has advanced Alzheimer’s and lives in an adult family home, and Bob’s parents (age 97 and 101) are in an assisted living facility in southern CA.
What I hope to do in leadership and service at Plymouth is to be a servant and listener. Every day, I open myself for the Spirit to work through me in the world in any way possible. My motivation to participate in any church at all is to connect with Jesus-people. That means the poor, marginalized and oppressed. My position of privilege means that I am absolutely NOT the boss, and I am honored to be asked to join the Council.
Mike Stanley, Council Mike Stanley and Britt Barran-Stanley have been members of Plymouth since 2013 when they moved to Seattle from the northern suburbs of Chicago. They were married in the Evanston Congregational Church in 2004. Mike grew up Catholic; Britt was from a non-denominational background and they found a fit in Congregationalism. Mike has worked in the jewelry business, gems and gemology, since 1982. He looks forward to getting to know people and understanding the church’s mission as a new council member. He and Britt cross-country ski and bike. They will soon adopt a Portuguese Water puppy.
Mari Mitchell, Community & Care Board My name is Mari Mitchell and I've been a member of Plymouth since 1984. I have long wanted to get back into the leadership of the church (was on the Worship & Arts Committee for several years a while back) but given that I work as Church Administrator at University Lutheran I didn't want to do the same sort of thing. Being asked to be on the Community & Care Board was a God-send! I can use my creative side and my extrovert personality perfectly in this committee. I'm looking forward to contributing more to my home church.
Dr. Melissa Barnes, Community Service and Social Action Board Dr. Melissa L. Barnes is a Graduate (Clinical) Psychologist at the Seattle VA. In her day job, she provides individual and group PTSD and substance use treatment, as well as couple therapy. Dr. Barnes also prioritizes research, training, and advocacy work around workplace equity and equitable access to mental health treatment. Dr. Barnes teaches an undergraduate course, Psychology of Race and Racism, online for Oregon State University. She is also the current President for the non-profit Board, Revelers Contemporary Circus (RCC). RCC focuses on providing a safe, inclusive, and empowering space for all people, with a particular focus on youth and the LGBTQ+ community, to experience the transformative power of circus. Dr. Barnes values community and has spent the past three years serving those who have served our nation. She is excited to engage in the broader Seattle community, and the Plymouth community, with the Plymouth Community Service and Social Action Board.