Meet Our Ministerial Staff
Lead Pastor
Carla Christopher was ordained in 2020 after a career in social work, community organizing, and being a diversity / equity / inclusion / belonging trainer for corporations, nonprofits, academic institutions, and faith communities. She currently serves as CLC's Lead Pastor and Assistant to the Bishop for Justice Ministries with DE-MD Synod, ELCA. She is a trained redeveloper/congregational vitality specialist and a member of the ELCA Evangelism leadership team. Carla is also a frequent speaker, trainer, and content creator around trauma-informed care and active peacebuilding. Out in the wild, Carla co-hosts a poetry and storytelling open mic on 3rd Thursdays at The Listening Booth and loves to write and read poetry.
Rev. Carla Christopher
Consulting Pastor
Earl Janssen was ordained in 1990 after working a decade as a Substance Abuse Counselor. He served Grace Lutheran, Fairmont, WV (6 years), Trinity Lutheran, Johnstown, PA (8 years), and Our Shepherd Lutheran, Severna Park, MD (18 years). He is a trained mission developer and innovative leader in the church. He is an accomplished ultra-cyclist and owner of Ocean Breeze Media, LLC, a small visual arts production company. He has been married to Lori since 1978 and they have two daughters and 5 grandchildren.
Rev. Earl Jansen
Meet Our Leadership Team
Mari Satterlee, Council President, joined Community in the Fall of 2024 after she and her husband moved to Frankford in July of 2024. Mari co-leads the ESL program and has been a liaison to the Spanish speaking community who are food pantry participants and to the ELIM church that shares our space. Mari is a lifelong protestant whose father was a Presbyterian Navy Chaplain. She has served as a Session member of Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church in Baltimore and York Presbyterian Church in York, Pennsylvania. Additionally, she was a Worship Commission member at the Riverside Church in New York City. She is a semi-retired educator who currently teaches and tutors math.
Deb Wittle, Council Vice President, has been attending regularly since the spring of 2024, and became a member in the fall of 2024. This past year she took a lead role in working with
the Grant, Facilities, and Security Teams to install a security and access control system utilizing the funds awarded in a DEMA grant. She participates in our ESL program and helps to facilitate the Food Pantry Team’s communications with Council. She is a registered landscape architect with a background in planning for low-income and senior housing, and military communities. Since retiring, and along with her work at Community, she is enjoying golfing, kayaking, hiking, and reading.
Dayna Feher and her husband, Bill, visited CLC for the first time in December of 2024 and she knew she was home. Community Lutheran stands for AND takes action on what Christianity means to her. Dayna has been a life-long Lutheran, born and raised in Idaho. When she and Bill moved to Delaware in 1996, Dayna became the leader of the Praise Band at St. Peter’s Lutheran in OC and she currently leads CLC's Worship and Music Team. Dayna has been a Realtor since 2000 and prior to that she was in Medical Administration.
Dr. Lee Trueheart serves on the Church Council and the Reimagination Team, helping guide the congregation through and shaping, renewal, and visioning the future of our congregation. He produces our church podcasts, bringing thoughtful conversations, shining a spotlight on the stories that make this community feel like home—and just enough good humor—to keep us all listening.
Mary Radatovich stumbled into Community Lutheran Church during the fall of 2024, and immediately felt right at home. Mary is a clinical social worker who specializes in grief counseling. She is also the devoted mom of 3 young adults.
Through careers as a social worker and special education teacher, Mary Ann Jasper has lived out her call to serve others compassionately. Raised Roman Catholic, she found the Lutheran church, focused on the gift of grace and the teachings of Jesus. As a council member, "I feel it is imperative for CLC to fulfill it’s mission to fully welcome, affirm and serve all people as they are beautifully created by a loving, gracious God."