Staff
The Reverend Anne Edison-Albright
Bishop of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin
Bishop Anne grew up as the child of two parents who were both actively involved in ministry at the churchwide level of the ELCA. Growing up in a suburb of Chicago, Bishop Anne experienced connection across the church in meaningful ways from the time she was little.
A graduate of Michigan State University and Yale Divinity School, Bishop Anne has experienced many vocations: teacher, campus pastor, parish pastor. She has lived in Houston, TX; Stevens Point, WI; and Decorah, IA and has traveled the world; living abroad in China and Slovakia.
Now she resides in Appleton with her husband Sean and two children, Walter and Sally. She balances the vocation of bishop with the vocations of wife, mom, friend, daughter, and baptized child of God. Our co-worker in the gospel also really loves Star Trek and drinking tea.
Please contact Bishop Anne or Jeanne Jerks to schedule an appointment.
Email - bishopanne@ecsw.org
Phone - 920.903.9679 (call or text) or 920.734.5381 (Support with scheduling)
Home Office - First English, Appleton (North Site)
The Reverend Asher O’Callaghan
Associate to the Bishop, Director for Transitions
Pastor Asher O’Callaghan was called by the East Central Synod of Wisconsin Council on December 28, 2020, to be Associate to the Bishop, Director for Transitions. Prior to this call he served as pastor at Highlands Lutheran Church in Denver, Colorado. To his new call he brings training and background in intentional interim ministry as well as work with people and congregations in candidacy/call/mobility processes during his time as Program Director for Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries. Pastor Asher discerned a call to ministry in the midst of his own gender transition. Embodying transition, Pastor Asher is uniquely equipped to help congregations consider their identity and mission in seasons of congregational change.
Pastor Asher received his Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary and is married to Pastor Leslie O’Callaghan. Together they enjoy staying physically fit and caring for their beloved dog Francis and their cats, Jack, Matilda, and Agnes.
Email - asher.ocallaghan@ecsw.org
Phone - 920.903.9677 (call or text) or 920.734.5381
Home Office - Saint Andrew, Wausau
Talk to Pastor Asher about:
Mobility Process
Calling a new pastor
First call support
The Reverend Dara Clifford
Associate to the Bishop, Director for Evangelical Mission
Pastor Dara Clifford was called by the churchwide organization and the East Central Synod of Wisconsin in October 2022. Prior to serving as Associate to the Bishop, Director for Evangelical Mission, Pastor Dara served as the Associate Pastor for Youth and Innovation at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Combined Locks, WI. Pastor Dara brings a wealth of experience to her role as DEM. Prior to ordination, she served as a lay leader who collected a variety of experiences, including mission development, education, innovation, and work with new and emerging ministries. She has built deep and abiding relationships through many years in lay ministry across the synod at Peace Lutheran Church in Oshkosh, Christus Lutheran Church in Greenville, and as Site Director at Imago Dei Village for Crossways Camping Ministries in Clintonville.
A graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, IA, Pastor Dara’s other vocations include that of spouse and parent. Together they love to travel and build things with a variety of materials whether they be sticks, magnatiles, wood planks, or blankets. Pastor Dara has also taken up horseback riding, and loves to talk horses with whoever she can!
Pastor Dara is on medical leave through May 13th and resuming regular contact after May 21st. Please contact ecsw@ecsw.org or 920.734.5381 for general questions or to be connected to a point of contact concerning your ministry needs or the items below.
Home Office - Christus, Greenville
Talk to Pastor Dara about:
Discerning a call to ministry
Candidacy for new leaders
Dreaming up and trying new things in ministry
The Reverend Jenn Pockat
Associate to the Bishop, Director for Communication and Community
Pastor Jenn Pockat (pronounced, pa-KOYT) was called by the East Central Synod of Wisconsin Council to serve as Associate to the Bishop, Director for Communication and Community in April of 2021. Her role combines and reimagines two open synod communicator roles. In addition to creating and editing content from the ECSW across platforms and audiences, Pastor Jenn manages the synod communication strategy and works with congregations to foster communication and connections. From 2012 - 2021, Pastor Jenn served Saint Andrew in Wausau, first as associate and then, starting in 2019, as lead pastor. She is a graduate of Luther College and Wartburg Seminary and has served as treasurer on the board of Crossways Camping Ministries and is the staff liaison for the ECSW lay school. Pastor Jenn is married to Don and lives on a hobby farm in Caroline with her cats, Ellie, Sammie, and DJ.
Email - jenn.pockat@ecsw.org
Phone - 920.903.9678
Home Office - Imago Dei Village, Clintonville
Talk to Pastor Jenn about:
Communications
Social Media Management
Synod Narrative
Lay School and Faith Formation
Connecting with Colleagues
Community Building
Jeanne Jerks
Synod Administrator and Event Coordinator
Called to serve in July of 2019, Jeanne provides administrative support and connects people to the details of our synod life through coordinating events, record keeping, office management, and hospitality. Coming to the synod with a wealth of experience in administrative work and deep faith in the mission of the gospel, Jeanne has worked in a variety of fields to provide leadership. Jeanne is mom to Malcolm and Mackenzie and married to Paul. Together they enjoy working on house and yard projects and time with their adult children in weekly devotions. Jeanne is a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Green Bay.
Email - jeanne.jerks@ecsw.org
Phone - 920.734.5381 | 920.841.7328 (call or text)
Talk to Jeanne about:
Synod Assembly
Theological Conference
Continuing Education Events and Trainings
Database management and reports
Maintenance of Synodical Records, Reports and Roster
Administrative support for synod council
Nancy Salzwedel
Financial Administrator
Called to serve in November of 2017, Nancy provides administrative financial support to the Bishop and oversees administration of synod finances, insurance, contracts, coordination of payroll and personnel records. She provides staff support for financial aspects of ministry and assists with budgeting and tracking mission support and the synod’s endowment fund, as well as coordinating the annual audit with an outside CPA firm. Nancy is married to Dave and she enjoys spending time with her married adult children and her five energetic grandchildren. She loves quilting, yoga, and cooking and is a member of First United Methodist Church in Appleton.
Email - nancy.salzwedel@ecsw.org
Phone - 920.903.9675 (call or text)
Talk to Nancy about:
Mission Support
Congregation Financial Questions
Endowment Funds