Our Redeemer's Staff

Nurturing our congregation.
Connecting with our community.

Our community is blessed with passionate, dedicated leaders who love what they do and are excited to learn about what you love too. Drawing from their very different backgrounds, talents and experiences, our staff members support Our Redeemer’s ongoing learning and growth. They work to build a strong community that lives its vision and is actively shaped by each person in it.

Read on for a brief introduction to the church staff. You can get in touch with any member of our staff to talk, ask questions and learn more about Our Redeemer’s.

 

 

Meet our staff

Thomas Voelp, Pastor
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A native of California, Pastor Thomas Voelp spent the majority of his life around San Diego, with Temecula as his home. After completing his education at Pacific Lutheran University and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, he is now settled in Western Washington, a place that has always felt like home. Driven by a lifelong sense of calling, he has consistently sought self-growth and exploration outside his comfort zones, engaging in ministry with communities advocating for people living with housing insecurity, hunger, mental illness or trauma, and immigrants and refugees. He finds comfort in Lutheran identity, blending theology with English hymnody and “high church” practices. A music lover who appreciates various genres, from metal to folk, his college background in music, religion, and sociology seamlessly merges with his call to ministry. Beyond his professional life, Pastor Thomas takes joy in entertaining at home, exploring new restaurants, and nurturing his love for dogs and rabbits (while avoiding cats due to allergies). He enjoys luxuries like concerts, ballet, and kayaking, and he finds comfort in singing, organizing his home, and the peculiar pleasure of cooking, doing laundry, and washing dishes.

Karie Stearns, Parish Administrator

Karie has a background working in social services and non-profits. She spent the better part of the last decade working at a non-profit organization which helped women experiencing homelessness. She held many different positions there– from shelter manager, to case manager, to eventually becoming the Director of Programs and Services.  She ran all 5 programs, overseeing multiple facilities, budgets, and all direct service staff. Karie has also taken some time off to study a passion of hers– functional medicine.  She is excited be back in Seattle with the ability to go hiking or to a corner coffeeshop and be close to the water again. Karie is thrilled to be a part of Our Redeemer’s and such a wonderful group of people.

Contact Karie Stearns

Karen Lee, Traditional Music and Worship Director

Karen has served as Our Redeemer’s Traditional Worship and Music Director since 2007.  She directs the Adult Choir and Youth Choir, and co-directs the Jr. Choir with Marie Nordquist-Lessard.  She chairs the Worship Team and provides musical leadership for Kids’ Church and the traditional worship service.
In addition to her work at Our Redeemer’s, Karen has taught Chorus classes at Issaquah Middle School since 1988.  She earned her B.A. in Music Education from Pacific Lutheran University and her M.A., with an emphasis in Choral Conducting, from the University of Washington.
Karen is the proud mother of Erica, a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University.  In her spare time, Karen loves spending time with family and friends, traveling, photography, and scrapbooking.
Contact Karen

Gianfranco “Gian” Foddai, Informal Worship Music Director 

Gianfranco Foddai is our  9:00 am Worship Music Director. Gianfranco, who goes by Gian (pronounced “John”), moved to Seattle from his home country of Italy in 2017. As a professional musician in Italy, Gian worked as a multi-instrument live performer, producer, audio engineer, and music teacher. In Seattle he has continued to develop his professional music career. Gian was Music Director of Saint John’s Episcopal Church in Kirkland before coming to Our Redeemer’s. He also teaches for Fingerprint School of Music, and plays live shows in the Seattle area. 

Gian first started studying piano at age 8, and continued to have a strong passion for music throughout his life. He studied piano, composition, and music and new technologies at the “Conservatorio di Musica di Sassari” (Conservatory of Music of Sassari), graduating in 2008. During that time, Gian also developed a strong passion for playing guitar and later became interested in rock music, funk and soul, electronic, and European folk music. 

Gian plays many instruments: piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, synths, accordion, mandolin, percussions, electronics…and he sings, too!

 

 

Contact Gianfranco

Kenna Hight, Faith Formation Coordinator

Kenna Hight is Our Redeemer’s Faith Formation Coordinator. Originally from Atlanta, Kenna moved to Seattle in 2021 to attend grad school at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. Her focus is on Womanist Theology, which centers on the liberation of marginalized communities. She is a graduate of Kennesaw State University (Georgia) with a degree in English and Professional Communication. Her long-term goal is to become a chaplain, helping people feel safe and seen in spiritual spaces.

When Kenna’s not nose-deep in theological texts, she enjoys a good fantasy novel. She loves writing, listening to records, drinking boba, and experimenting with different art forms, including drawing, painting, wood burning, and weaving. She and her fiancé share their home with a lab named Bob and a pastel calico named Belladonna Took.

Contact Kenna