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The spiritual leadership of Blackhawk Church, under the headship of Christ, is provided by the Board of Elders, which consists of four to eight lay Elders elected by church members, and the Senior Pastor. The Elders are responsible for shepherding and overseeing the people of the church. Shepherding is accomplished as the Elders model Christian living and servant leadership (I Peter 5:1-4), and teach, exhort, and correct according to Scripture (Titus 1:9). Their aims are the spiritual welfare of each individual (Hebrews 13:17) and the growth towards Christlikeness of the Body of believers (Ephesians 4:12-16). Church oversight is detailed in the Board Governance Policies.

If you’d like to read more about how Blackhawk Church is governed, feel free to stop by the Info Desk in the lobby and request a copy of the Church Bylaws.

Contact an elder

Candidates for Elder:
(to be voted on at the May 19 Annual Congregational Meeting)

Leiton Chinn
Married to: Lisa Espineli Chinn   Children: Lani, Eric, Lea

Leiton grew up in a divorced home in Honolulu, HI, and came to understand and apply the Gospel at 16. He served in the military in Korea and returned there as a civilian “tent-maker” five years later. In the midst of a fruitful and fulfilling ministry among Korean teachers and some military cadets, God impressed upon him to return and serve in the US. Sensing the need for formal Biblical training, he attended Columbia Graduate School of Bible and Missions, SC, and during his second year was led into International Student Ministry (ISM). In 1977 God called Leiton to full-time missionary service in ISM as a result of a summer internship with a church, and he continues to be a mobilizer and pioneer in ISM nationally and globally to this day. In 1981 Leiton met Lisa Espineli of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and they were married 7 months later. Leiton is currently Chair of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization’s ISM committee. The Chinns moved from Virginia to Madison and joined Blackhawk in August, 2000.

Steve Barczi
Married to: Leigh   Children: Natalie, Stephen, Amelia

Steve grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago in a Christian home and vibrant church youth group. He was blessed to meet his wife, Leigh, as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana. He graduated from medical school at the University of Illinois-Chicago, completed residency training at the University of Minnesota and then had a stint as an Air Force physician at Scott AFB near St. Louis. Leigh, Steve and their two children, Natalie and Stephen relocated to Madison in 1994 where Amelia, their youngest, was born. They started attending Blackhawk in 1994. Steve completed fellowship training at the UW-Madison (Geriatrics and Sleep Medicine) in 1996 and became an educator and researcher at the UW Medical School and physician at the UW and Madison VA. He served as an elder from 2000 to 2004 and has been fortunate to be a part of Children’s Ministry, Senior Adult Ministry and mission trips to Honduras.

Blackhawk's current Elder Board:

Tom Crenshaw, Elder Board Chairman
Married to: Connie   

Tom and Connie Crenshaw, who are both natives of Tennessee, came to Madison in 1980. Tom is a Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at UW and Connie works in the Early Childhood program in the DeForest School District.
The Crenshaws have two children and seven grandchildren. At Blackhawk, Tom and Connie serve as Life Group leaders. Tom likes to spend his free time playing with his grandkids.

Mike Anderson
Married to: Gail   Children: Mark, Steven

Mike was born in Minneapolis. He earned a degree in History from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and a Law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. He is the Managing Partner at Axley Brynelson, LLP, law firm where he has worked since coming to Madison in 1980. His wife, Gail, is a school psychologist. They have been married since 1977 and have two sons, Mark (Wheaton College ’04, Loyola Medical School ’09) and Steven (University of Wisconsin - Madison ’08). Mike and Gail like to spend as much time as possible at their cottage on Green Lake.

Rob Haworth,
Married to: Alison   Children: Rachel, David, Robin

Rob grew up in Robin Hood country in England, and became a Christ-follower in college at Manchester University, where he also met Alison, in the Physics Department Christian Group. In 1973 they came to Madison and began attending Blackhawk church. Rob has worked on campus as a researcher in heart cell physiology for the past 35 years. Alison works as Publications Secretary at Blackhawk. Rob previously served as an elder at Blackhawk in the 70s and 80s, and is currently active in Stephen Ministry. Rob and Alison enjoy their four granddaughters and one grandson. Rob loves to play soccer, golf, and word games like Catchphrase and Scrabble.

Barry Hess
Married to: Barb   Children: Erika, Dan

Barry grew up on a farm outside of Fontana, Wisconsin. Once he figured out that he and farm animals were incompatible it was off to college. Two degrees and ten years later he ended up as a pharmacist in Long Term Care in Madison. Barry and his wife Barb are retired from their professions. Daughter Erika lives in San Diego California and son Dan in Madison. Barry first began attending Blackhawk in the 70’s at the original Blackhawk Avenue site. In recent years he has been involved in Life Groups, prayer, short term missions, and local outreach. His hobbies include reading, traveling and being outdoors.

Jeff Lerdahl
Married to: Sara   Children: Jim, David, John

Jeff was born in Madison and graduated from East High School. He attended St. Olaf College, where he graduated with a Political Science degree, studied abroad in Norway and did an internship on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. He met Sara at St. Olaf and they married in 1981. Since moving to Middleton in 1984, Jeff has been President of Lerdahl Business Interiors. The Lerdahls began attending Blackhawk in 1998 and Jeff has served as Human Resources Team leader, Elder Selection Committee member, a marriage mentor with Sara, and many years in Life Groups. In his free time, Jeff likes to travel, bike, camp, read, and spend time at the family cottage on Lake Wisconsin.

Rick Lindroth
Married to: Nancy   Children: Krissy, Nikki

Rick grew up in Illinois and Missouri, and met Nancy as an undergraduate at Iowa State University. Rick received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, and is now a professor of Ecology at the University of Wisconsin. Rick and Nancy have been attending Blackhawk Church since 1985. In recent years Rick's major area of ministry has been leading the elder training program, while Nancy is on staff as the Director of Team Development. Rick enjoys outdoor activities, including biking, fly-fishing, canoeing, and bird-hunting with their dog, Dakota.

Mike Wilkes
Married to: Maureen   Children: Megan, Christopher

The Wilkes family has attended Blackhawk since 1999. Michael is currently serving as President of MasterGraphics, Inc. Prior to this position, he was a management consultant with Smith & Gesteland, LLP, and held management positions with Stokely USA and Northrop Corporation. Michael earned an MBA from California State University, San Bernardino, and has done doctoral coursework in Church/Organizational Leadership through Trinity Theological Seminary. He has also served as an adjunct professor with Concordia University, where he taught Strategic Management and Business Ethics. Michael enjoys outdoor activities like biking, canoeing, and skiing.