Links: First Presbyterian Church - Hudson, Wisconsin

Our Staff

*The* Rev. Stephanie Anthony has been the pastor of First Presbyterian Church since January 2008. Although she came to Hudson from Lincoln, Nebraska, she spent most of her life on the East Coast. She grew up in Indialantic, Florida, went to college in Williamsburg, Virginia, and graduated from seminary in Decatur, Georgia. Stephanie graduated from the College of William and Mary with a B.S. in biology and a second major in religion in May 1999. She continued on to Columbia Theological Seminary near Atlanta, receiving her Master of Divinity in May 2002. God called Stephanie to serve as the associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska from June 2002-August 2007. While in Lincoln, Stephanie met Phillip Anthony, now her husband, and they welcomed two children into the world, Karoline (born May 2005) and William (born June 2007). God’s next call to the Anthony family brought them to Hudson, WI where Stephanie is able to further share her passion for ministry with families, engaging disciples of all ages in the ministry and mission of the church, and the Presbyterian “flavor” of the body of Christ.
*Jody Branson, our Music/Arts Coordinator,* has been a part-time member of the staff since 1990. She is employed full-time as Executive Director of Croixview, a facility for older adults operated by the Hudson Housing Authority. Jody was born in Oklahoma but grew up in Minnesota. She received her musical training at the University of Minnesota and St. Cloud State University. An accomplished organist and pianist, she loves all kinds of music but has a special interest in praise music, Celtic worship and the music of the Taizé community in France. Before coming to First Presbyterian she was organist at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Stillwater and St. Charles Catholic Church in Bayport, both in Minnesota. Though confirmed in the Roman Catholic tradition, Jody feels that denominational identity is less important than one’s faithfulness to Christ. She and her husband, Roger, have lived in Hudson for 21 years. They have two married adult sons, two grandsons, two granddaughters and three large, friendly dogs.
*Martha Rockenstein* has served as part-time Director of Christian Programs since June 2006. Martha grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She attended Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, where she was active in many aspects of congregational life. Martha is a 1999 graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and holds a Masters degree in Christian Education from Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia. Currently Martha is a member of the Committee on Preparation for Ministry of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, and also serves as POINT person for the presbytery (POINT stands for “Presbyterians Organized in Nurture and Training”). Before coming to Hudson, she worked in several churches in the Midwest. Martha, who lives in St. Paul, enjoys reading, walking, art and volunteering.
*Andy Haase* joined our staff as Choir Director in August 2007. Andy’s full-time job is Director of Choral Activities at Hudson High School. He received his BA in Vocal Music Education from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 2000, and his Master of Music degree in Conducting and Choral Literature from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona in 2006. Under Andy’s direction, Hudson High School choirs have appeared at various choral festivals, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Gustavus Adolphus College in St.Peter, MN, the University of Minnesota at Mankato and the Luther College Dorian Choral Festival. His current position at Hudson includes directing the Chamber Choir, Concert Choir and Men’s Choir, as well as serving as the Music Director for the annual musical. Andy’s previous church experience includes serving as choir director at Hudson United Methodist Church, First Congregational Church in Flagstaff, and First United Methodist Church in Stillwater, Minnesota.
*David Pulsfus* is Director of NetWorks, a cooperative ministry to the middle and senior high youth of First Presbyterian, First Baptist and St. Paul’s Episcopal Churches, as well as an outreach to unchurched young people in Hudson. David, who lives in Roberts, Wisconsin, became director in 2006 after serving for a year as a program volunteer, then as a youth ministry intern for two years. Born and reared in Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin, he grew up in the Evangelical Free Church tradition, in which his Dad is an ordained minister. David attended Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois for a year, and is currently working toward his BA at Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Special interests include American history, most sports (his favorites are basketball and baseball), and playing his guitar.