Staff and Council

Associate Pastor of Children’s Ministry and Connections
diane@counciltreecovenant.com

I was a part of our staff team from 2006-2018 and after a short break to finish seminary at North Park and lend a hand to a Covenant Church in Connecticut, I returned  to Council Tree in November of 2021. There is no other local church I’d rather be a part of! I’m a proud mother of 5 adult children (+ one daughter and one son in love), a widow turned newlywed, a seven on the enneagram, and an almost Fort Collins native. I have walked three Camino de Santiago’s through France, Spain, and Portugal and hope a 4th is in my future. I love to go on adventures of all shapes and sizes, feel the sun on my face, and use photography to help me practice the prayer of examen. I am ordained with the Evangelical Covenant Church.

Associate Pastor of Worship and Discipleship
dan@counciltreecovenant.com

Called to pastor God’s people in worship, Dan has a passion for leading the Church in the formational act of corporate worship and drawing people towards lives of ever-deepening discipleship to Jesus. Dan began at Council Tree Covenant Church in September of 2023 after growing up and serving in other Covenant churches and contexts. Dan and his wife Molly are both from northern Illinois. Together, Dan and Molly have two young kids and a very patient dog. Dan has too many hobbies, some of which include playing hockey, ultimate frisbee, skiing, hiking, backpacking, songwriting, and playing as many different instruments as he can. Dan has a Bachelor of Music Education from North Park University (2015), a Master of Arts in Worship from Northern Seminary (2023), and is Ordained to Word and Service in the Evangelical Covenant Church (2025).

Student Ministries Director
joe@counciltreecovenant.com

My wife, Carolyn, and I are blessed to be the parents of two young adult children. After spending a couple of years in Belize and nearly a decade in Western Washington, we returned to Fort Collins in 2023. We began attending Council Tree in December of that year, and from the moment we walked through the doors, we knew this was our new church home. The vibrant, multi-generational community here has been a joy to be a part of, and we're excited to connect and grow with this amazing family.

With over 20 years of experience in youth ministry across Upstate New York, Colorado, and Washington, I’ve had the privilege of working with young people from all walks of life. When I'm not serving, you’ll likely find me diving into a good sci-fi book or movie, riding my motorcycle, or simply connecting with others. But above all, my heart belongs to Jesus, and I’m grateful to serve Him and this community.

Council Tree Gardener
rico@counciltreecovenant.com

Hi. My name is Rico Lighthouse and I'm the gardener here at Council Tree. I am a husband, father, and avid forager and craftsman. My specialty is native and wild plants, and their use as food, medicine and craft. I love ethnobotany, which is the relationship between people and plants, and my goal here is to grow a garden that is both hospitable and healing. In my spare time (whatever that is) I like reading, riding my bike, foraging with family and friends, carving wood, playing music and scythe mowing. I think about the Garden of Eden everyday.