Our Team
Rev. Lisa Janke (she/her/hers)
Olive Branch Pastor
lisa@molive.org
Lisa is always dreaming up something new. As the Pastor of Olive Branch, she loves finding creative ways to support and encourage people in their spiritual life.
She also enjoys pushing boundaries, questioning traditions, and exploring around the edges, but she wasn’t always this way. Growing up, Lisa was comforted by the idea that God looked just like the most powerful people around her. So, it’s no surprise that when she was introduced to feminism, a miserably painful (but deeply important) season of questioning everything ensued. Perhaps this is why she feels particularly drawn to people who have struggled with the Bible, the church, or their life of faith in some way.
Prior to earning her Master of Divinity degree and becoming ordained, Lisa worked for 10-years in social services, with a particular focus on violence prevention. Yes, she will happily teach you self-defense. And yes, that’s the Canadian spelling.
Lisa is Canadian and uses words like parkade, runners, and tuque without realizing that people have no idea what she is talking aboot.
Favorites: summer, poutine, colorful pens, everything chartreuse, and the Winnipeg Jets.
Lisa lives in Rochester, Minnesota with her spouse Luke and their two little gomers (aka children).
Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (he/him/his)
Olive Branch Cantor
Richard@molive.org
Richard is all about imagination and the adventure of discovery. As the Olive Branch Cantor, he brings music to just about everything we do together. He’s got a thing for the Psalms and dumb jokes, and is always ready to talk Star Wars or the Beatles.
Growing up Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, he’s navigated a fundamentalist phase as well as seasons as an atheist and agnostic. As a result of these experiences, Richard is enthralled with how spiritual life evolves over time. Talk with him any time about how your ideas of God are crashing and burning.
One of his passions is composing and publishing music for the wider church. Another is tracking down the perfect cheeseburger.
Richard did his undergrad in Psychology at Luther College, earned his M.A. in Theology and the Arts from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and is in the home stretch of his Doctor of Ministry from Eden Seminary in St. Louis.
Favorites: laughter, blue, autumn, Thursdays, mango lassis, movies with popcorn, naps.
Richard lives in Strawberry Point, Iowa with his wife Trish and dogs Willow and Winnifred.