Ministerial Council
The work of the Ministerial Council is to deepen spiritual relationships across Mountain States Mennonite Conference
About the Ministerial Council
The Ministerial Council consists of members within Mountain States Conference. Currently three persons have been affirmed by conference leadership as part of the team.
The purpose of the Ministerial Council is to work with the Conference Minister in credentialing pastors in the Mountain States Mennonite Conference. Once churches have chosen a pastor and request licensing, the Ministerial Council meets with them for a sacred conversation, to discern the level of credentialing that the pastor qualifies for based on A Shared Understanding of Ministerial Leadership: Polity Manual for Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA. Catagories include licensing for a specific ministry, licensing toward ordination or a transfer of ordination from another Mennonite Conference.
Jordan Farrell has an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School and has served as pastor of Beth-El Mennonite church for more than six years. Jordan has a deep commitment to fostering healthy communities where everyone is given the space to thrive.
Barry Bartel is a bilingual immigration attorney and active member of Glennon Heights Mennonite Church. Barry grew up in Colorado and has served the regional and national church in many different capacities, including as the conference moderator and on the conference minister team. Barry has a heart for making sure that credentialed leaders have the support and structures in place so they can thrive.
Susan Unruh is a retired associate professor of School Psychology with a specialty in working with English language learners. Her father was a Russian refugee from the Molotschna Colony and her mother grew up Old Mennonite in rural Illinois. Susan has held leadership positions for decades in the Mennonite church, most recently as a Stewardship Elder at the Albuquerque Mennonite Church. Susan has taught graduate classes in ethical decision-making. She believes that healthy relationships between pastors, congregants, and within denominations are critical in carrying on the work of the church and the work of Christ.
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Zach Martinez is new to the Mennonite tradition, but he has found its commitment to peace and justice inspiring. A Colorado native, Zach’s hobbies include hiking, biking, and walking his dogs. He and his wife Megan, and their daughter Margot live in Greeley. He earned a BA in Philosophy from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago. He has been with Sojourn since 2016. Zach enjoys drinking coffee and craft beer, especially with friends.
Pam Duncan, raised in a mainline Protestant church, discovered the Mennonites in 1998 and fell in love with Anabaptist theology. She is a founding member and former congregational chair of Sojourn Mennonite in Fort Collins. She has also served on the MSMC leadership board and the now-defunct Seed Committee. Pam is newly retired after a long career teaching Political Science at Colorado State University. She and her husband Steve have two grown daughters and a grandson who will turn 2 in October 2025.
Steve Voran lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife and daughter. He appreciates the beauty of each of the four seasons there, and enjoys biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, building things, and fixing things. He has been a member of Boulder Mennonite Church since 1989, and over the years, he has served on various committees there, including Audio-Visual, Trustees, Christian Education, Pastoral Search, and Deacons. Steve is also an Electrical Engineer who specializes in processing and measuring audio signals.