Rev. Oby Ballinger, Pastor
Rev. Oby Ballinger has served as pastor of Edina Morningside Community Church since September 2016. “I’m enjoying the chance to partner with the congregation in becoming ever more fully an open-and-affirming Christian community,” he says, “embracing the dignity and worth of every person.” Pastor Oby’s core values are grace, Sabbath, joy and empowerment. Previously, Oby served for more than six years as pastor of Community United Church of Christ in Saint Paul Park, Minn., where he guided the congregation to discover new vitality by focusing on God’s calling to “welcome, nurture and serve” in the neighborhood. Oby graduated from Yale Divinity School in 2008; he has also worked as a faith community organizer in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. When not serving as a pastor or working in movements for justice around the Twin Cities, he enjoys biking, dining, live music, travel, and community activities. He lives in Saint Paul with his husband Javen Swanson (a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), their dog Ruthie, and cats Amos and Hosea.
Contact: pastoroby@emcucc.org
Rev. Frank Bennett, Community Minister
Contact: emcucc@emcucc.org
Conie Borchardt, Music Director
Music Director Conie Borchardt has extensive experience leading congregational music with all ages, and brings a particular passion for all-church participation in worship music. Conie’s guiding intention is to “facilitate connections to the Great Mystery by leading the community’s song in lament and praise from the piano, organ, and voice in worship liturgy, the work of the people.” Describing herself as a “Wandering HeARTist”, Conie joined the EMC staff in summer 2019, and was previously the Music Director for almost nine years at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul. Conie is also a regional leader in what’s known as “paperless music”, singing that creates harmony and melody through on-the-spot teaching rather than printed notes. When she’s not leading congregational music, Conie is a Song Leader with Music that Makes Community, a Certified Dance Leader with Dances of Universal Peace, and a Full Voice Coach at Points of Light Music. She brings training in spiritual direction, passion for social justice, and experience as a person of mixed race to all that she does.
Contact: emcmusic@emcucc.org
Liz Greenlee, Church Administrator
Contact: emcucc@emcucc.org
Destiny Rock, Director of Edina Morningside Preschool
Destiny joined us as a teacher back in 2007. She attended the University of Minnesota and has over 15 years of hands-on knowledge in child development and early childhood education. Her continuing education work has focused on play based learning and outdoor education for early learners. She lives in nearby Linden Hills with her husband and son.
Contact: preschool@emcucc.org
Kami Winter, Faith Formation Director
Contact: faithformation@emcucc.org
Ella Williams, Artistic Director of Morningside Theatre Company 
Contact: emcmtc2010@gmail.com
It is Ella’s greatest pleasure to be jumping into their first season as Artistic Director at Morningside Theatre Company this year. It is no joke that they have spent over half their life in this church basement. Back in 2010 (MTC’s founding summer), they played both Little Red and the Witch in a nine-camper production of Into the Woods JR. After that, they have spent each year leveling up from camper, to teen helper, to choreographer and director. Now, in 2022, Ella has taught over 200 kids in a multitude of camps and shows, in MTC’s biggest summer yet.
Ella graduated in 2020 from the University of South Dakota, with a BFA in Musical Theatre and a minor in Dance. Despite no true “graduation,” Ella has jumped right into the Minneapolis scene working at a bunch of schools (Highlands, Creek Valley, Burroughs & Lake Country), acting in their first commercial (for pizza rolls, of course!), and now stepping into their dream job.