Our Staff

Reverend Doctor E. Scott Jones is House of Hope’s Senior Pastor and Head of Staff. Prior to joining House of Hope in May 2025, Scott served for fifteen years as Senior Minister of the First Central Congregational Church of Omaha, Nebraska. He has also pastored churches in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. Scott earned his PhD and Master’s in Philosophy from the University of Oklahoma, following his BA in Religion and Philosophy from Oklahoma Baptist University. He is also a two-time alumnus of the Yale Writers’ Workshop, a former lecturer in the Philosophy Department at Creighton University, and author of Open: A Memoir of Faith, Family, and Sexuality in the Heartland. 

Rev. Phillip J. Romine is the Associate Pastor for Spiritual and Community Care. He earned dual master’s degrees with honors at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and has worked in nonprofit program management, children and youth ministry, communications, and higher education administration for the last 15 years. Born and raised in Elkhart, IN, Phil spent a year as an exchange student in Germany, and found his way to Minnesota as an undergraduate at St. Olaf College, where he majored in German and Sociology/Anthropology. He lives in Northeast Minneapolis with his spouse Liz Stoneburg, children Hugo and Georgiana Stoneburg, and dog Lorelei. He loves gardening, homebrewing, choral music, and traveling to places old and new with his family.

Jim Cochrane is House of Hope’s Transitional Associate Pastor who joined the staff in January of 2026. Jim has served churches in Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota, most recently leading Valley Community Presbyterian in Golden Valley through a season of transition and organizational change. He received his B.A. at Luther College in Decorah, IA and his M.Div from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL, and lives in Victoria with his wife Becca, and daughters Nora and Charlotte. In his free time, he can be found on the running trail, sitting on a restaurant patio, or enjoying the beauty of Minnesota’s outdoors.

Michael (Mike) was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, where he met his wife, Monnie. He received both his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Golden Gate Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, California. For 25 years of ministry, Mike served in the Southern Baptist Convention as pastor, missionary, and denominational executive. He was received into the Presbytery of South Alabama as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in May, 2004. Mike continued to find his place of service in interim/transitional ministry serving churches in the Presbyteries of South Alabama, Western Reserve (OH), Sheppards and Lapsley (AL), Mississippi, and most recently the Cherokee Presbytery (GA). Mike honorably retired on October 1, 2020.

The Rev. Dix Brachlow is a retired PC(USA) pastor, and regularly attends House of Hope. She’s a graduate of the University of Minnesota and of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and she has served congregations in Mankato, Minnesota, and in Richmond, Virginia. After 40 years away from Minnesota, Dix and husband Stephen, a retired seminary professor, returned in 2013 to be near their daughter and family, who also attend HOH. She enjoys travel, theatre, and loves playing piano, reading, hiking, exploring spiritual disciplines like centering prayer, and admiring three active grandchildren. She co-chairs the Disability Concerns Ministry for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area and at HOH is involved in leadership of Stephen Ministry, Bible Study, and Christian education.

Elsa Kendig is a third generation Presbyterian through the Mexican side of her family and a Ruling Elder who has worked in youth ministry for over 15 years. A graduate of St. Olaf College with a dual degree in social studies education and history, Elsa believes strongly in the power of how we tell the stories of our history and our faith. Engaging youth with playfulness, joy, and a deep respect for their growing wisdom, insights, and questions, Elsa looks forward to the ways the youth program can grow in the coming years by adults of the church helping youth faithfully engage the real issues of today. Alongside her service to the wider denomination through presbytery-level service, in her free time, Elsa enjoys mountain and commuter biking, a good road trip, and used book stores. 

Dr. Jimmy Hoke is a religious educator and biblical scholar who brings creative teaching energy and passion for community-building to guiding faith formation for children and families at House of Hope. They especially love finding ways to bring the Bible to life in ways that excite new learners and encourage their curious questions. Jimmy previously served as the Director of Educational Ministries at the Presbyterian Church of Madison, NJ (2012-2017) and as a Visiting Professor of Religion at Luther College (2017-2023).  Jimmy’s scholarly career also includes their current teaching as affiliated faculty at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and their book about the women and LGBTQIA+ folks around Paul’s letter to the Romans. When not working, Jimmy enjoys swimming, singing, and reading queer science fiction.