Our Staff
- Pastor
- Director of Congregational Development
- Office Manager
- Nursery Supervisor
- Elders and Ministry Team Leaders
- Deacons
- How We Are Organized
The Rev. Ken B. Winter
Pastor
kwinter@auburnpresbyterian.org
Ken Winter, our Pastor, was born and raised in Michigan, and after graduating from the 
University of Michigan (“Go Blue!”), made his way to California for seminary (San Francisco Theological Seminary) and a wife—Sharon (Slape) Winter, originally from Napa. Sharon is a seminary graduate, too. The last day of seminary, they both graduated in the morning, went out for greasy hamburgers, then came back and got married in the afternoon, while so many of their friends were still there. Over the years, Sharon secured a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and has been working as a Staff Psychologist for the California Youth Authority’s Preston School of Industry in Ione, CA.
First, Sharon and Ken moved to a large church in suburban Kansas City (youth ministry in a church of 7,000 members!), and then a medium-sized church in Sacramento (360 members), and in 1988 Ken started to plant this church in Auburn (0 members). He’s been our Pastor ever since. He says he practices “downward mobility” . . . !
Along the way, Ken has worked as: a sound engineer, photographer, scriptwriter, director, men’s clothing salesman, golf caddy, traveling encyclopedia salesman, shipping crate maker, parts warehouse order-filler, auto parts assembly-line worker, and office furniture deliveryman. Some of these positions even came with pay!
Ken’s abiding interests include spiritual growth (he’s a certified Spiritual Director, or prayer coach, too), jazz, leadership and organizational development, teaching, good coffee, wine and food, and laughter. He’s a good listener. Maybe you should talk with him sometime!
Preston Saunders
Director of Congregational Development
Preston Saunders wears two large hats at APC, serving as the Director of Congregational Development, and coordinating worship. As Worship Director, Preston oversees the music 
and worship programs of the church: choir, praise team, musicians, order of worship, and the like. He works closely with the Worship Ministry Team.
As Director of Congregational Development, Preston helps organize church events to align them with our APCs, Act Two vision and our mission statements. He is helping to organize a unified calendar for the church, and created our first leadership retreat which was held October 13 and 14, 2007. He tries to insure that events are directed toward people in our community so that we as a congregation will have maximum impact and follow-through. This allows our members and friends to begin redemptive relationships with new people. He supports the Outreach and Membership emphases of APC in a big way.
Preston served as Director of Worship in Rochester, New York for over 14 years. In 1990, he was called to the field of Australia as a missionary to the town of Toowoomba, Australia, which is known as the Gateway to the Outback. Preston continues his professional musicianship outside of our church in a blues band, the Phatcatz, that play locally. He is married to Sally Saunders, who is a computer analyst and Preston's sweetheart.
Ellen del Valle
Office Manager
Our Office Manager, Ellen del Valle, is responsible for all the little things that keep the church office functioning.
Ellen has enjoyed life in the foothills since 1998, when she moved to Nevada City from San Francisco with her husband, Gus, and daughters Vanessa and Natalie. Previously she worked at the Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco and as office manager at St. Emydius Church.
When not working Ellen most enjoys cooking and socializing with family, friends and neighbors, usually all the same time. She and her husband are active in local and neighborhood groups trying to minimize environmental impacts of new development in the Nevada City area. Ellen belongs to an interfaith women's spirituality group, and is currently helping to build a Nevada City chapter of Pax Christi, an international peace and social justice organization.
Elizabeth Creencia
Nursery Supervisor
Elizabeth, her husband Jessie and their four children have been residents of Auburn for over 10 years. Her children range in age from 13 to 22, with the youngest daughter in 7th grade at Bowman, a son and daughter at Placer high, and her oldest son, who has recently graduated from UC San Diego. During the work week, Elizabeth also serves as an Instructional Aide at Bowman School where she has also been an active parent volunteer for many years as all four of her children attended school there. As in Instructional Aide, she works with the kindergarten students in the morning and then provides yard duty supervision during lunch time, and tutors the upper grade students in the afternoon. Previous to her employment at Bowman, Elizabeth served as the Child Care Coordinator at the Auburn Racquet Club. She has also operated her own home day care, been a Girl Scout leader, and taught Sunday School and worked in her Church Nursery.
AUBURN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SESSION ELDERS AND MINISTRY TEAMS
Administration
Elder: Lynn Hartford
- Building and Grounds: Jay Hansell
- Financial Management: Kurt Simon
- Personnel: Mary Schug
- Website: Penni L. Smith
- Stewardship of Resources: Open
Christian Education
Elder: Ken Sherer
- Children's Education: Theresa Voss
- Youth: Kyle Jacques
- Extreme Team: Judy Gough
- Adult Education: Max Stevenson
- Vacation Bible School: Patty Markham
- Bible Study Groups: Individual Leaders
- Library: Bev Anderson
- Children's Special Events: Open
Fellowship
Elder: Bob Ferber
- Congregational Life: Eileen Ferber
- Special Events: Betty Simon
- Women’s Ministries: Linda Thompson
- Keenagers: Peggy Ward
- Life Groups: Open
Mission
Elder: Craig George
- Local Mission: Bev Anderson
- Worldwide Mission: Bev Anderson
Outreach
Elder: Ron Markham
- Membership: Lynden Laird
- Communications: Karen Luttinger
- Strategic Contact: Ron Markham
- Seeker Ministry: Preston Saunders
- Outreach Seminars: Open
Worship
Elder: Silva Stearn
- Prayer & Healing: Bessie Eichorn
- Worship Leaders: Silva Stearn
- Choral and Praise: nbsp; Preston Saunders
- Video: Bill Jackson
- Audio: Rob Roberts
- Ushers: Max Kane
- Deco Arts & Drama: Julie Edwards
DEACONS
- Sue Eberle
- Bill Garcia
- Chris Hansell
- Ginger Kane
- Frances MacLeod
- Harriet Schlichting
- Karl Simon
- Dottie Stevenson
- Jenny Theobald