Church Staff
Rev. Jennifer Roberts
Pastor
It is my honor to serve as the pastor of Resurrection Lutheran Church! I grew up in East Tennessee on the same land as my grandparents where I often enjoyed watering the gardens, shucking corn, and eating a fresh tomato off the vine, cut by my grandfather’s pocket knife.
I was also blessed to grow up in the church as part of the Southern Baptist tradition. However, at the young age of 12 the Holy Spirit began to move my spirit toward the idea that I was meant to be a pastor. Yet, the idea of a woman pastor was not something I had ever known before. So I tucked that feeling inside my heart and pursued education as a career and another form of ministry.
In 2008 I graduated from East Tennessee State University with a degree in Human Development and Learning and in 2012 I graduated from Tusculum University with a master’s degree in education. However, the call of the Holy Spirit continued to call me toward ministry. In 2016 I discerned it was time to pursue that call and went to seminary at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. I graduated in with my Masters of Divinity in 2020.
I am so humbled that God has called me to this ministry! The gifts of ministry that I enjoy the most are offering pastoral care, teaching about God’s Word, preaching and leading worship, and being creative with the ways God calls the church to care for our neighbors.
My love of ministry is shared with my husband, Ashton, who is also a pastor. We have a teenage son, Zion and a dog, Hank. I love to paint, draw, read, swim, and listen to people’s stories!
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or just to say “hello!”
Elizabeth Copeland
Church Administrator
I would like to extend to you and your family the warmest welcome to Resurrection Lutheran Church. My name is Elizabeth Copeland and I am the Church Administrator. I have a BA in Biblical Education that I received from Beulah Heights University in Atlanta, Georgia. I also received an A.A.S. in Legal Secretarial Science in 1979 in Brooklyn, New York.
Matthew 6:33 states, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and these things shall be added”. This is one of my favorite passages of scriptures and working at Resurrection every day, I believe I’m striving to ‘seek ye first”. This is the joy of working at Resurrection. I get to seek the kingdom of God, the will of God, the plan and purpose of God by helping to proclaim the Good News. I have the opportunity to offer God’s love each and every day with the talent God has given me. It’s a joy to be able to use my skills in service to the kingdom of God. To be a channel wherein the Holy Spirit is able to move through is truly a blessing and a wonderful joy.
Chris Scott
Music Director
Chris Scott served as our music director from 2007 to 2018, and resumed that role beginning in December, 2021. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Chris studied trumpet performance with Albert Ligotti at the University of Georgia, and Larry Black, formerly of the Atlanta Symphony. Chris is a former member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus under Robert Shaw. He also plays the upright bass, and has been tutored by Joel Landsberg of the Kruger Brothers at the Kruger Brothers' music academy in Wilkesboro, N.C., Since 1993, Chris has worked as an attorney at Smith, Wallis & Scott, LLP, in Carrollton, specializing in Social Security disability, workers' compensation, injury law, and wills & estates. Chris and his wife, Melissa, have been members of Resurrection Lutheran Church since 2005.
Lisa Saunders
Youth and Family Ministry Coordinator
My name is Lisa Saunders and I am Resurrection’s Youth and Family Coordinator. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education in 2008 and taught in the public school system for 6 years before staying home with my children. I’m married to my wonderful husband John Thomas for the past 13 years and we have 3 amazing girls, ages 7, 6, and 2. We love doing things as a family, especially swimming and camping.
I’ve been officially the Youth and Family Coordinator at Resurrection for 3 years now. It is absolutely rewarding and such a joy to work with our wonderful youth and their families. My job not only has me work with our youth in the Sunday School classroom, but to also create and plan family/youth based activities and volunteer opportunities. I love coming up with new and fresh ideas, hoping our youth feel loved and look forward to coming to church and get involved with helping others. Overall, this job allows me to work with my church family and see God’s spirit overflow each week through our families and our amazing kids.