Childcare
People
Living Out Christ's Love through Servant Leadership
We are so happy to introduce you to our people! Staff leaders, our Ministry leader volunteers, and our Board of Servant Leaders. You help us live out our mission daily. We are so thankful for you.
Chris Conkling, Pastor
Chris Conkling was installed as Pastor at Vine & Branches Lutheran Church and Childcare on April 21, 2024. Prior to accepting this call, Chris served as the Associate Pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Freistadt in Mequon, WI. Despite moving frequently during his childhood, Chris considers St. Louis, MO home. He holds a BA from Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, IL and an M.Div. from Concordia Seminary–Saint Louis in Clayton, MO.
Coming from a family deeply rooted in faith, and as the son of a Pastor, Chris has a strong foundation of faith. Now, with five years of experience as a Pastor, he is passionate about sharing Jesus with others and is encouraged by reflecting on his own story and the continual gift of grace the Lord provides him each day. Chris says nothing is more rewarding in ministry than witnessing God’s people discover new things about Jesus and grow in their walk with Him.
In his personal time, Chris enjoys playing board games, exploring the latest technology, visiting museums and honing his trap shooting skills. Chris has a strong love for his family and enjoys spending time with his wife Bridget and their much-loved dog, Belle.
Chris is committed to guiding and supporting the congregation of Vine & Branches on their spiritual journey and strives to encourage all to remain in Jesus as the Vine and find joy in Christ alone.
Pastor: cconkling@vablc.org
Amy Marie Schroeder, Administrative Assistant
Amy Marie Schroeder began her position with Vine & Branches Lutheran Church and Childcare in August of 2024. Amy Marie is an experienced Administrative Assistant with an extensive background in serving non-profit organizations worldwide. She holds a master's degree in business administration from DeVry University and bachelor's degree in psychology, studying at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington.
Her previous roles include Director and Case Manager at a rehabilitation center and shelter for homeless women and children, Human Resource Manager and Accounting Specialist at the NCWorks Career Center, and Independent Contractor – Housing Specialist for the US Government. Originally from North Carolina, she has also resided in Virginia, Japan, and the UK.
Amy excels in administrative organization, communications, fundraising, and human resource management. Her passion for helping others shines through in her work with Vine & Branches, where she says her favorite thing about her role is helping to connect the church and childcare with the community and finding new ways to serve others through the love of Christ.
During her leisure time, Amy Marie enjoys traveling with her husband Mark and indulging in her love for reading. You can often find her curled up with a book in hand, accompanied by her two beloved cats.
Amy Marie: churchoffice@vablc.org
Eric Klanderman, Lay Deacon
Eric Klanderman grew up in a farming community in western Wisconsin, the son of a Dutch farmer and a Austrian war bride. He attended Happy Valley school into the third grade until they moved into the village of Baldwin in 1955. He graduated Baldwin-Woodville High School in 1966 and in September 1967 joined the Air Force and headed to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, for basic training.
Eric’s church story is woven into a career of government service with the Air Force and U.S. State Department. Growing up western Wisconsin, he attended a Dutch Reformed Church. When he married his Lutheran wife, Andrea Martinson, in Minot, ND, they attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church there and raised both children in the Lutheran tradition. For two years in Spokane and four years with the AF in Germany they attended military chapel. The family found a Lutheran church (Oak Road Lutheran) in Norcross, GA. When Eric preceded the family to Virgina in 1991 he joined St. John’s Lutheran, Alexandria, and paved the way for Andrea to become active with LWML and both children, now close to grown, with SJLC John’s Gang.
While Eric and Andrea were overseas from 1993 to 2003 they maintained their SJLC membership while children, Dan and Erin, kept attending SJLC. The parents’ religious participation placed Eric and Andrea in English-speaking Christian congregation in all four overseas postings where Eric continued to sing in choirs. From 2003 upon their return from overseas, Eric and Andrea again took up participation at SJLC until Eric’s retirement from the U.S. State Department in 2010. This drove them to seek a church closer to home, so they switched membership to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Herndon/Reston, VA, where they worshipped unit 2015 when they joined the core of what became Vine & Branches Lutheran Church, initially located in South Riding and then a new building with a Aldie, VA, address. This was broken by a short stint back at St. John’s where he served as the minister of communications and commenced his training with the Southeastern District as a Lay Deacon. Eric has had various positions at each of his congregations including “Moderator” (Vienna), President (Pakistan and Moscow), and Chairman (Vine & Branches).
Eric Klanderman: ericklanderman@vablc.org
Amy Hardy, Praise Band Leader & Childcare Music Director
Amy Hardy is excited to join the Vine & Branches team as music teacher, praise band member, and children’s choir director. She considers herself a native Virginian and comes from a big family who raised her in the Church. She has a B.A. in Music Education from Shenandoah University and finds joy sharing her love of music with others.
She taught elementary school music for Loudoun County Public Schools for 10 years and tutored in music studios. She took a break as a stay-at-home mom wehn her girls came along, but now that her girls are growing up, (too fast!) she is returning to teaching and she’s thankful that her Vine & Braches family welcomed her!
When she’s not busy teaching at Vine & Branches, she teaches voice and piano in her home, sings with the Master Singers of Virginia, and spends lots of time with her family and friends.
Amy also loves animals and her family just recently adopted both a puppy and kitten! She’s felt part of the Vine & Branches family since her family first attended a service in 2017 and feels so blessed to be part of the great things God is doing here at Vine & Branches!
Amy Hardy: amyhardy75@gmail.com
Ministry Leads & Chairs
All of our ministry leads are volunteers, and we are endlessly grateful for their time and talents!
Ray Schaible, Treasurer
Dianna Black , Chairperson of Fellowship
Dan Morgan, Chairperson of Education & Sunday Spark Ministry Lead
Eric Klanderman, Lay Deacon
John Green, Audio Visual Chairperson
Tony Alt, Chairperson of Finance
Steve Sphar, Chairperson of Properties
Board of Servant Leaders (BoSL)
Our Board of Servant Leaders is the voice of our congregation, and the head of our ministry under Christ. The BoSL is comprised solely of volunteers, who are voted in every 2 years. We are so grateful for their leadership and countless hours given to further our mission.
Gregg Black, President
Teelo Rutledge, Board Member
Gina Tolatta, Board Member
Brian Eckenrode, Board Member
Krista Kehrer, Board Member
Joy Faircloth, Childcare Liaison
Jake Buck, Youth Representative
Volunteers
Thank you to everyone who brings their talents, support, friendship, organization, planning, music-making, teaching, number-crunching, cooking, baking, cleaning, constructing, landscaping, snow-clearing, managing, leadership, art, and MORE to our congregation and childcare! We are forever grateful for you.
If you are interested in sharing your gifts at Vine & Branches, please see our serve and events page for more details on how you can serve our community and show Jesus to the world!
Serve
Our Congregation and Childcare Community
Our community genuinely cares for one another. We invite you to join us on Sunday morning, or for a tour of our Childcare, to see Christ’s love in action!