Elders

John Beck

John Beck and his wife, Sondra, have been attending the Chapel for over three years. John works for World Concern, a Christian relief and development organization, as a major donor officer. He and his wife have three adult children, each of whom lives in California. They have four grandchildren.

John sings with the choir, and is the Elder appointed to Creative Arts.

Russ Caldwell

Bio up shortly.

Gary Gulbranson

Pastor Gary has been at Westminster Chapel since 1993, previously serving as senior pastor of Glen Ellyn Bible Church in suburban Chicago. Over the years he has ministered on radio and television and has been a speaker for many international conferences.Pastor Gary and his wife, Jorie, have brought to Westminster a deep sense of commitment to embracing the fullness of a relationship with God, while addressing the needs of our community and the world. Jorie is involved in the music ministry at the Chapel as well as women’s ministry. She is also a retreat and conference speaker. They have been married 36 years and are the parents of two daughters. Their oldest daughter, Marci Gulbranson Moore, passed away very suddenly from unknown causes in 1998. God has given them a platform to help many others through their own experience of grief and loss. Their youngest daughter, Marisa, is married to Scott Gronholz, and they have two children.

Pastor Gary is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute; Trinity College, Deerfield, IL.; Denver Seminary, (M.Div.); and Loyola University (Ed.D.). He has served on the boards of Greater Europe Mission, Youth for Christ, Leadership Design Group, Seattle Assoc. of Theological Education, and Denver Seminary. Pastor Gary has a heart and a passion for mentoring. Whether adults, grandchildren, or emerging young leaders, he is a firm believer in being a godly role model and desires the same for everyone in the congregation.

Jeff Hawk

Bio up shortly.

Gary Newbill

In the summer of 1973, friends from college days invited my wife Karen and me to try Westminster Chapel. We had recently moved to Kirkland and desired a new church home with key characteristics: a Christ-centered, Biblically-based, and socially relevant body in which to fellowship, grow, and serve. We discovered that home and immediately joined the Inquirers (the young married group), establishing long-term friendships and finding ample opportunities to minister. We also became involved in Sunday school, the deacon board, missions, prayer teams, choir, hand bells, children’s music, the elder board, hospitality, and ushering. Our daughter, Kari, and son, Erick, grew-up in the Westminster fellowship.As a high school freshman, I responded positively to the salvation message at a Youth for Christ rally in my hometown of Bremerton. Living without Jesus was not an option then, nor is it now. Sensing the Lord’s presence and protection over the years, I remain assured of His love and confident in His purpose. He has shepherded me through college, combat in Vietnam, graduate studies, career choices, and a wonderful marriage.

Educated at Olympic College, Seattle Pacific College, the University of Washington (Juris Doctor), and Seattle Pacific University (EdD); I currently serve as Dean of the School of Education at Northwest University. Upon completing my public school career as a district superintendent, I joined the graduate faculty of Seattle Pacific University in educational leadership and then moved to Northwest University to head its teacher preparation program. Experiencing fulfillment in teaching, I have appeared as a guest professor at local universities and the Cape Theological Seminary, South Africa, and have co-presented with Karen and our daughter, Kari Lannon, on brain-compatible teaching strategies at international conferences.

Returning to the Board of Elders for the third time, I am greatly encouraged by the quality of life I see at the Chapel: a Christ-centered, Biblically-based, and socially relevant body of believers, committed to supporting believers, meeting needs in our local community, partnering with church neighbors, and reaching the world. I look forward to continued growth in the faith and the discovery of new ways to bring the message of Jesus to those we touch.

Bob Owen

I accepted Christ on March 7, 1976 after attending a service at Overlake Christian Church and responding to an invitation by the pastor. My life was forever changed that day. The Lord gave me the desire to help people find the love of God and His forgiveness, and I’ve been involved in evangelistic ministries ever since. I’m currently involved with reaching the lost and homeless for Christ at the Bread of Life Mission in Pioneer Square as a board member and I’m on a team that leads evangelistic church services for inmates at the King County Jail.My wife, Duanne, and I came to Westminster about 10 years ago after attending Overlake for over 20 years. Duanne is a retired nurse and is involved in a number of volunteer endeavors and serves on the Community Impact Team at Westminster. We’ve been married nearly 45 years and we have two children, Rob and Wendy, and 4 grandchildren. We live in the wonderful golf and tennis community of Tam O’ Shanter in Bellevue, where we host a Westminster home Bible study group on Tuesday nights.

My other involvements at Westminster are coordinating the Gap Guys Ministry to single moms and the elderly with home repairs, Pro Life demonstration leader, and Community Impact Team volunteer (furnishing apartments for the homeless through Hopelink).

I was in the insurance business for 32 years and now manage a small family real estate investment property business. I hope to help in the leadership of this wonderful church through my many years of experience in business ownership and 15 years of eldership at Overlake. I am so thankful for the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ’s atoning death on the cross for me (Romans 6:23). My favorite verse is Galatians 2:20, which I memorized shortly after my conversion.

Ron Rauch

Bio up shortly.

Lowell Rottrup

My wife Mary, our two children, and I have called Westminster Chapel our church home since 1986. My wife and I have been married for 42 years. We have been blessed during this time with solid teaching, engaging worship, and many opportunities to serve our risen Savior.

I grew up in a Christian home with parents and siblings that lived their faith out daily in prayer, reading God’s word, work, and helping others. When I was 13, I made a commitment to follow Jesus during a Youth for Christ rally. This event began a personal journey of faith that has continued to this day. There have been times in the desert spiritually, and there have been times on the mountain top. Physical and personal challenges have drawn me closer to Him and I want to know Him better each day that I will be given.

Second to caring for and loving my family, is seeking God’s path in serving the church family, especially men. After hanging out with a bunch of Marines for several years, I have come to understand some of the challenges that we face as men. Satan and the culture that we live in, do not want our men to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. We men are under spiritual attack from all sides. So it is imperative that we take up the armor that God has given us and to stand up for our faith and our families. That motivates me to stay in the fight, knowing that my worship and obedience is what God wants. We must remember that the battle has been won at the Cross with the shed blood of Jesus and then His glorious resurrection.

I am humbled to serve our church family in this way and I covet your prayers.

Steve Sirich

I am blessed with a wonderful wife Amy (17 years of marriage), a daughter Claire (10) and son Jack (7). I learned of Jesus at a young age through my parent’s commitment to church and a godly home. Although my exposure to the word of God was limited, I believed in Jesus and asked Him into my life during my junior year in High School. I believe as Romans 10:9 teaches – That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. I desired this personal relationship, even though in hindsight I did not begin to understand what that really meant.In the years to follow I lived life unaware of my many daily sins. I was spending no time in the Bible and prayer. I now reflect – How could I expect to discover God’s plan and will for me if I was making no attempt to discover Him? As we know, God speaks to us with the help of the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, Church and circumstances. As I drifted, the Holy Spirit continued to make His presence known through circumstances. I praise God that eventually the Spirit moved me to study the word and I responded.

When I was twenty five, my wife, Amy, invited me to a Bible study. My first study was the book of John and the study reaffirmed my faith in Jesus Christ and set me on a course of recommitment to Him. I hold Jesus’ words of John 15:5 closely – “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will given to you.” The Lord began to expose me to the sin in my life. I began to truly understand that without my faith in Jesus Christ my sin condemned me before God. Jesus went to the cross for me so that I might live…and the faith that saves me is a gift of God – His grace. There is no greater promise than the truth of God’s word.

In recent times the words from the apostle Paul have encouraged me to speak more boldly for the Lord (Acts 14:3) and bring Jesus into every aspect of my life. I’m so thankful for the teaching and ministries that have only helped to strengthen this resolve. I pray the Lord Jesus continues to show me how I can serve Him in faith and courage.

I view my leadership role at Westminster as a direct call from our Lord to serve HIM by serving His people here in our church community. This calling is a humbling experience for me and one I’m very excited about as our church is experiencing many profound and impactful changes. I serve in faith that God will enable me to serve HIM according this HIS will.

Dick Stevens

Bio up shortly.