Meet The Team
Diane Bahn – Partner Program Director and Partner Conferences Leader
Sharon Zehnder – Retreats Leader
Karen Pasch – PIP Leader (“Partners Influencing Partners”)
From Diane Bahn . . .
Sharon, Karen, and I are blessed to serve PLI on the Partner Leadership Team. The Partner Program developed under the inspired leadership of Jackie Oesch, who stepped out of the leadership position in 2006 and currently serves on the Partner Advisory Team. In addition to being the Director of the Partner Program my main focus is on the annual conferences.
The annual conferences can be quite intense, with a lot of learning, stretching, growing, and a very full schedule! Time to build relationships, especially within the collegial group, is also included, and it is in those groups that women process much of the conference learning. The collegial group serves as an encouragement and accountability group as well.
I am married to Dave, who serves St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas (NW Houston area) as Senior Pastor. We were blessed to be part of the first PLI Class of 1999, and have grown and benefited both personally and professionally. We are the parents of four grown sons, two of whom are married, and our first grandchild is on the way. For many years I worked on staff with Dave in the area of worship and music. I am often amazed at the new and deeper insights that God reveals through his Word, and I cherish those “aha” moments in my own life and in the lives of others. I am excited about working with the PLI Partners as together we experience God at work in and through and among us to enrich and equip us for His purposes.
From Sharon Zehnder . . .
Besides being a wife and mom, I am blessed to serve you in the role of PLI Partner Retreat Leader. Who better can understand the unique roles you juggle daily than other pastors’ wives? We strive to effectively address and meet some of the specific needs that we share in common. In particular at the retreats, we come together as women to grow, to care for, and support each other to be the best women of influence God has designed for us to be. You know what? That looks different for each woman. Do we have fun? You bet! And in the process, God does amazing things. We leave different women!!
I am married to Mark. He is Senior Pastor at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Omaha, NE. We have three children, Eric, Zachary (married to Allison), and Charista. I work part-time as After Care Director at a large family-owned mortuary in Omaha, overseeing and facilitating their grief support groups and after care programs. More than anything else, I delight that God calls me His own.
From Karen Pasch . . .
I have been blessed to serve the Pastoral Leadership Institute in the capacity of Coordinator for the Partners Influencing Partners Program. This mentoring program was begun in 2003 to enhance the experience of each Partner within the collegial groups. The PIP participates in the collegial group as an influence on the Partner during her experience.
My primary focus on the Partner team is to recruit women who have either participated in PLI as a Partner or as a Mentor Partner. PLI helps each partner discover who she is in her walk with Christ, as a partner with her husband, and as an influence to others. Those participating as PIPs are well grounded in these areas and are indeed an influence on others.
My husband, Rod, and I have 7 wonderful adult children and live in Slidell, Louisiana. Rod is Senior Pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church here in Slidell. Besides assisting on the Partner team with Diane and Sharon, I work full time for Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and function primarily as a child development specialist. I work under various contracts and provide training and technical assistance to families, Pediatric Residents, and child care providers in the Greater New Orleans area.