Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church

Our Program Staff consists of our Pastors, Church Administrator, Director of Children's Ministry, Director of Youth Ministry, Office Manager, and Director of Lay Ministry. They guide the ministry of all the members with creativity, imagination, and laughter and they are dedicated to reaching beyond these walls to our community with God's message of love and grace.

Rev. Dr. Steve Harrington

Senior Pastor & Head of Staff

Steve has been with our church since 1990 and has been a pastor since 1978. His creativity and enthusiasm for sharing Christ's word each Sunday provide insight and challenge to our faith community. Steve has a deep love for the outdoors and leads several wilderness adventure outings each year. These physical and spiritual adventures are wonderful opportunities to face fear, reflect, and listen for the Spirit in the midst of God's creation.

Rev. Karin Hejmanowski

Associate Pastor for Nurture and Equipping

Karin joined our staff in May of 2007 with a passion for living out the values of the Kingdom of God in all aspects of life. Karin's areas of responsibility are in nurture and equipping. She brings a concern for justice and a commitment to the marginalized and the poor to all that she does, melding these concerns with a contemplative approach to faith. Having lived in Cambodia and Kenya, Karin enjoys intercultural experiences, trying new things, and dreaming of travel!

Jim Peterson

Church Administrator

Jim has been a member of our congregation since 1990 and has served in a number of ways, including as a Session member, Chair of Council and of the Personnel Committee, and as a spiritual director. He has also coordinated the Contemplative Services since their inception in 1996. In 2003 he came on the staff as Church Administrator and brought to this job administrative and financial skills learned in his career in social research as well as a caring, listening heart that grows out of his work in spiritual direction.

Carol heath

Director of Children's Ministry

Carol's love for working with children stems back to her days as a preschool teacher.  More recently she has been on staff here at Sunnyvale Presbyterian as Associate Director of Children's Ministry, and before that in the Children's Department at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle.  In 2009 she was named Director of Children's Ministry.  It is her desire to continue to strengthen the dynamic, spiritually alive Church School programs that are already in place at our church.

Cassie Carroll

Director of Youth Ministry

Cassie is a native Californian and has lived from one end of the state to the other. She graduated with her BA in General Ministry with a minor in Pastoral Studies from Simpson University in Redding, California. Prior to coming to our church, Cassie worked at Westminster Woods for two years and then worked with autistic children while living in Santa Cruz. Her passion is helping others focus on Christ, and working with youth is a challenge that she says “God has made me for!” She enjoys hanging out with friends at Starbucks, “pretending” to surf, and catching Grey’s Anatomy on TV.

Ginna Traina

Office Manager

Ginna has been very involved in the life of our congregation as a volunteer. She has served in the Children's and Youth Ministry Areas as an elder and as a parent. She has participated on the Intersections Music Team since its formation. In 1999 she came on staff as the Hospitality Coordinator, and in May 2001 she became the full-time Office Manager. Ginna brings to her job strong skills of communication and organization, as well as a wonderful sense of humor.

Suzanne Ungson

Director of Communications & Connections

Suzanne, a longtime active member of Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church, worked more than 20 years in the software field and recently substitute taught in middle schools. The Heartworks spiritual gifts discovery class at Sunnyvale Presbyterian helped Suzanne identify and affirm her spiritual gifts and passions -- Helps and Administration linked with a love of organization! All these experiences led to her joining the staff in May 2005.

SESSION

Session is responsible for the mission and government of the church. Session is comprised of installed elders and the pastors. Members of Program Staff and the Clerk of Session attend session meetings regularly. Elders are elected by the congregation for a three-year term to serve on Session. Elders are assigned to one of eight Ministry Areas (Worship, Mission and Service, Children, Youth and Their Families, Outreach and Evangelism, Equipping, Nurture and Integration, and Ministry Resources) or Chair of Council or Chair of Nominating Committee. Session meets the third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.