ELCA Coaching hosted faith leaders (both rostered and lay) across the nation for a unique experience exploring Courageous Leadership with two faith leaders with over 60 years between them! We are honored to have them both as ELCA Coaches as well.
Rev. Arne Jessen is a retired ELCA pastor, a retired Navy Chaplain, and a member of the inactive retired reserve corps. Since his retirement, he has served as Interim Pastor for twelve congregations, as a clergy coach, and as pulpit supply. Arne was raised on a Nebraska cattle feeding farm with eleven siblings where they all spoke Danish at home. He married the love of his life in 1956 and was ordained in 1959. Arne earned both his MDiv and MTh in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Luther Seminary, then he earned his PhD in Religious Education from NYU, followed by post-graduate studies in Leadership and Change. Arne and Meryl have four children, eleven grandchildren, and are expecting their first great grandchild.
Baird Linke is a second-year candidate for Word and Sacrament ministry through the Montana Synod and studying at Wartburg Theological Seminary. His ministry work has taken him from the mountains of northwest Montana to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to South Minneapolis, and home again to Helena, MT where he works for Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church and ELCA Coaching’s Congregations Lead Initiative. Baird is passionate about environmental and economic justice and pastoral care. He is an outdoor nut and when he isn’t doing homework he is outside running, mountain biking, rock climbing, and backpacking with his dog Kintla. Both Baird and Kintla welcome your prayers as they prepare to receive their internship assignment this spring.
