Staff

Each staff member makes a meaningful impression in church life at Trinity.

Our staff are skilled leaders, faith-filled servants, and thoughtful stewards of our spiritual home. You’re invited to learn more about these remarkable individuals in their bios.

Pastor Pam Challis

Senior Pastor

The Rev. Dr. Pamela Joan-Swarts Challis (better known as Pastor Pam or P2) grew up in Marion, Indiana as the oldest of three daughters born to Robert and Janice Swarts. Pam was active in church life from the time she was three, when she had her first speaking part in Marion First Church of the Nazarene’s annual Christmas Program.
After graduation from high school, Pam attended Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, Illinois, where she received a BS in Home Economics and General Science Education. She married David (Dave) Challis following graduation and they have three adult children and six grandchildren: Aubrey (married to Nick Cray with their children Dani, Vanessa, and Elaina), Aaron (married to Brianna Casiano, and Tanner), and Ashley (married to Stephen Davis with their children Naomi and Samuel).
Pam finally listened to the urging of the Holy Spirit and attended Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, where she graduated and was ordained in 1995. Her first call was to Atonement Lutheran Church (in Barrington, IL) as Associate Pastor for Education and Outreach (this call morphed into Associate Pastor for Youth and Family Ministry). Moving to the south side of Chicago, she served Ashburn Lutheran Church and School as both Co-Pastor and Solo Pastor. Her third call was to Ahwatukee (Phoenix), Arizona where she served as Senior Pastor at Esperanza Lutheran Church and Preschool. While serving at Esperanza, Pam finished her DMin in Preaching from LSTC (Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago) in 2009. In 2011, God called Pam to serve as Pastor Developer for Living Faith Lutheran in Santa Clarita, California and since November of 2013, Pam has had the privilege to serve at Christ Lutheran Church in Long Beach, California.
Pastor Pam enjoys reading, walking, yoga, hiking, baking and cooking, watching British TV programs and hanging out with her husband and their two cats, Ashton and Graham.

Deacon Jim Lundgren

DEACON FOR VISITATION

Jim and Margie Lundgren became Colorado residents in August, 2022, Within two months, with the help of old friends in New York, new friends in Boulder and the Holy Spirit, Jim found Trinity. After one visit, he declared his search for a new church to be over.
Jim was commissioned as a Lutheran Deacon in St. James, New York in 2007, with primary emphases on care giving and worship. He recruited, trained and supervised worship assistants and acolytes; also the church’s team of care givers – volunteers who visited and shared Holy Communion with the infirmed, hospitalized and homebound. He studied patient care as a volunteer in the neurology and palliative care departments of Stony Brook Hospital; hospice care and bereavement support with Good Shepherd Hospice; and caregiver training and supervision St. James Lutheran Church - all on Long Island.
Jim completed one year of Clinical Pastoral Education (chaplaincy training) through the Rockville Centre Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, serving hospice patients and their families in his clinical work. He finished up his last five years on Long Island working as the Director of Care Giving at St. James Lutheran Church, during which Jim initiated and facilitated bereavement and cancer support groups.
Jim is thrilled to be a part of the Trinity family. Here he finds a warm and inclusive spirituality that touches his soul, a variety of activities that serve God and the community, and a welcoming atmosphere that proclaims, “We are all children of God and members of the body of Christ!”
Jim and Margie live in Broomfield with their Australian Shepherd, Whitney. They enjoy hiking, traveling, museums, crossword puzzles and volunteering at the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Melanie Nehls Burow

PARISH ADMINISTRATOR

Melanie has been a member of Trinity since spring 2001 and a staff member since July 2004. Melanie manages the church calendar and events, production of church publications, the church’s technology and equipment, and communication to the congregation. She is the person who makes sure things get done and considers herself a Jane-of-all-trades. Melanie holds a Master of Arts from the University of Chicago in Social Service Administration with over 20 years experience working with nonprofits. Melanie is married to Andrew Burow and they reside in Boulder. Melanie sings in ASTER Women’s Chamber Choir where she serves as choir president. Melanie is a Master Composter and teaches composting classes in the area each spring and fall. She is an avid traveler and is always trying to find time to see more of the world.

Michael Bizzaro

TRINITY CHOIR DIRECTOR/HANDBELL CHOIR DIRECTOR

Michael joined Trinity in January of 2024 as the Trinity Choir director where he hopes to bring joy and a sense of pride to filling the sanctuary with beautiful music! Michael holds Bachelor's of Music degrees in Music Education and Music Composition from Ohio Northern University, a Master of Music in Conducting from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a certificate in Advanced Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
In his free time, you can find Michael singing with the Denver based choir, Kantorei (www.kantorei.org), running, cooking and baking, listening to podcasts, and reading. Michael taught middle and high school choir for over 10 years including at Boulder's own Fairview High School. Currently, Michael owns and operates a voice studio (www.bizzarovoice.com) and is most proud to be a stay at home dad to his two daughters Corinne and Lillian. Michael is blissfully married to his wife, Alex. They reside in Broomfield.

Jeanine Marsh

YOUTH CHOIR DIRECTOR

Jeanine is the Youth Choir Director. Jeanine and her husband Tom joined Trinity in April of 2012 having moved to the area after 35 years in Columbia, South Carolina. She has a bachelor’s degree in music with a piano major and voice minor from the State University of West Georgia (1976) and has done graduate work, including organ study, at Columbia College in Columbia, SC. She has been organist/choir director at two churches, one ELCA and one Episcopal, where she was director of adult and children’s choirs. For many years she directed the children’s choir at their home church, Westminster Presbyterian in Columbia, and has experience directing bell choirs. Tom and Jeanine spend a lot of time playing with their two grandsons and one granddaughter that live here in Colorado and traveling back East to see three more granddaughters.

Marilyn Van Roekel

COORDINATOR OF MUSIC MINISTRIES/ACCOMPANIST

Marilyn came to Trinity as our Organist in Fall 2017 and also took on the role of Coordinator of Music Ministries January 2023. An organist and pianist, she studied at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. She has a lifetime of serving churches from Iowa to Alaska to Missouri to Arizona to Colorado! She currently lives in Frederick with her spouse, Jeff. Marilyn has two children and two stepchildren, plus one adorable grandchild who prompted the move to Colorado from Iowa. When away from the keys she loves hiking, biking, motorcycling, rafting, and sailing.

Joe Sabol

FACILITIES MANAGER

Joe Sabol joined the staff of Trinity as our first Facilities Manager in August 2022. Joe grew up in Boulder and always knew of Trinity Lutheran as ``The beautiful old flagstone church on the corner of Broadway and Pine``. When Joe saw Trinity was looking for a Facilities Manager, he knew his passion for buildings and systems, along with an ``I can fix that!`` attitude - he'd be a natural fit for Trinity Lutheran.
Joe owned and operated his home inspection business for 20 years. He also has experience in the roofing and golf course maintenance industries. Joe attended Sacred Heart of Jesus, Centennial Junior High, Boulder High School, and CU Boulder.
Joe resides in Longmont, along with his amazing wife (Christina) of 31 years. Their daughter Katrina will be graduating from the University of Montana in December 2022. Joe spends nearly all of his free time outdoors - maintaining their yard and gardens, hiking in the mountains, biking the gravel roads around Longmont, snowshoeing in the winter, and an occasional round of golf. Joe is especially enjoying getting to know and working with the Trinity staff, and is looking forward to meeting more of the congregation.

Angela Ruehle

COORDINATOR OF YOUTH FAITH FORMATION & OFFICE ASSISTANT

Angela Ruehle serves as the Coordinator for Youth Faith Formation and the Office Assistant. Angela joined Trinity in June 2023. Angela graduated in May of 2023 from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Religion. During her time at Augustana, Angela served as an assistant youth director at a local Lutheran congregation. Angela was also on staff at Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp in Colorado for the summers of 2021 and 2022.
Angela's parents, two younger siblings, and three dogs currently live in Wisconsin, which is where she grew up. She is super excited to be in Colorado and to get the opportunity to work with the youth and people of Trinity. In her free time, Angela loves to be outdoors, read, and lay in her hammock, travel, and spend time with friends and family.

Monica Plumb

BOOKKEEPER

Monica has been our bookkeeper since 2006 and a member of Trinity since 1995. Monica holds an AA degree in accounting and has been working in this field since 1983. She is responsible for paying operating expenses, payroll service, balances the checkbooks and creates the church’s financial statements. Monica has two boys whom she loves fiercely. She likes to read, hike and hang out with her family.