Lead Pastor Lori Cornell

To email Pastor Lori, click here.


Pastor Lori grew up in Kent, Washington, and was baptized and confirmed at Kent Lutheran Church. She graduated from Kentridge High School and did her undergraduate studies at Pacific Lutheran University with a degree in English, an emphasis in Publishing and Printing Arts, and a minor in Psychology. Lori did a post-baccalaureate year at the University of Washington in English, before moving to Chicago to be a typesetter, writer, and sometimes-editor at Christian Century Magazine. Lori earned her Master of Divinity degree from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago after serving at a rural internship site in west central Minnesota. She served in congregations in the Puget Sound area before being called to be the Lead Pastor at St. Mark’s.


When Lori is not preaching, leading worship or Bible study, or otherwise engaged in the work of God’s people, she likes to hike, kayak, swim, bike, and read in-between. Lori is the mother of two fabulous human beings, Elizabeth and Anna, who are full grown adults who seem to need her much less than they used to. She enjoys eating sushi and tapas with them or,
from across the mountains now,
visiting with them on FaceTime until she can fly them over for a visit.

Lori recently moved to Spokane from Federal Way, Washington, and is excited to make the South Hill her home.

Pastor Edwin Weber

To email Pastor Edwin click here.


Edwin was born and raised in South Carolina before heading to Lenior-Rhyne University of Hickory, NC where he studied sacred music. Afterwards, Edwin started his seminary studies at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC where he received his Master of Divinity (2013) and his Master of Sacred Theology (2014). His first call was to Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Anchorage, AK where he served until his call to St. Mark’s in 2018. He has a passion for preaching, worship leadership, and teaching.



Outside of his ministry, Edwin enjoys cooking and sharing good food with friends. He also takes pleasure in hiking, backpacking, and just generally exploring God’s wondrous creation. Edwin and his husband, Freddie, married in June of 2018 and look forward to a long life together traveling, eating good food, and exploring the great outdoors.

Pastor Gretchen Olson

To email Pastor Gretchen, click here


As a pastor, chaplain and spiritual director, Gretchen cares about supporting others as they experience the living God in all of life and are healed and freed by those encounters to live fully for and with others. 


Gretchen grew up in Moville, Iowa, as the daughter of an immigrant mother and a Lutheran pastor. She is a graduate of Luther College (BA), with an MBA and MPA from Syracuse University, an MDiv from Wartburg Theological Seminary, and a certificate in Ignatian Spiritual Direction from Creighton University. 


After serving the ELCA’s Churchwide Office (Chicago), Gretchen served with the Enterprise Foundation, financing affordable housing development across NY and TX. She led the ecumenical food pantry board of Micah 6 of Austin TX and served on the founding team of Open Door Exchange, a Long Island furniture bank. She also treasures the time as chaplain with North Shore University Hospital (Long Island), Children’s Hospital of Omaha, Creighton University Campus Ministry (Omaha), and Sacred Heart Medical Center (Spokane).


Gretchen and her husband, Sacha, are parents to two adult “children,”
Eleanor (Indiana) and Eli (Ohio), who are their greatest teachers. 
Gretchen savors any chance to share a long conversation with family or friend, sing, play piano, hike near mountain streams, dig in the dirt,
or watch Zag basketball –
all with dark chocolate close at hand.
She is humbled to serve alongside the people of St. Mark’s this year.


St. Mark's Staff and Leadership

The staff and leadership at St. Mark's Lutheran Church is comprised of men and women who love, care and pray for all in the church and community. If you have questions for any of our staff, feel free to reach out and email them by clicking on the link, using email or call our church office at 509.747.6677 to speak with them.