Our Staff
Heather Thomsen Tang
— Co-pastor/Head of Staff
Heather is a west-coast native who has spent seasons of life in Western and Eastern Washington, Northern and Southern California, and North Carolina. She’s a Whitworth Pirate who received a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Heather and her husband Davin, who also has an MDiv from Fuller, have two young children: Ellia and Beckett. They enjoy exploring God's beautiful creation, exercising and playing sports, debating the merits of beach vs. mountains, discussing theology, and cheering for rival sports teams, Davin's San Francisco 49ers, and Heather's Seattle Seahawks. They have found common ground in baseball, though, cheering together for the Seattle Mariners!
"I believe that Christian ministry is bringing God's whole Story for the whole of Christian life. I am grateful for the opportunity to tell and live that beautiful story with the beloved community at Colbert Presbyterian."
When asked what she loves about Colbert Presbyterian, Heather said: "Colbert has been a deeply formative community for me. It was my home church during and right after I attended Whitworth University for undergrad. I look back on my time at Colbert with great fondness, and also with great appreciation for how profoundly I was shaped during my years worshipping and working there. I'm grateful for the chance to "come home," in a sense, and continue sharing in the love, joy, and justice of Jesus with these brothers, sisters, and friends."
Email Heather here
Eric Peterson
— Co-pastor
Eric has a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Whitworth University, Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Portland Seminary at George Fox University.
Gaining a heart for ministry through Young Life in Maryland as a teenager, Eric went on to start a new club at a neighboring high school. He served for seven years as an Associate Pastor at Marine View Presbyterian Church in Tacoma. After that, Eric founded Colbert Presbyterian in 1997. He also has written three books: Wade In The Water, Letters to a Young Pastor (with Eugene H. Peterson), and Letters to a Young Congregation. Outside of CPC, Eric serves as an advisor for doctoral students at Portland Seminary, and as a trustee at Whitworth University.
Eric is married to Elizabeth, who is a Spiritual Director and Yoga Instructor. They have six children, and three grandchildren.
Before attending seminary, Eric was a carpenter, and still enjoys working with wood. Additionally, he enjoys being outdoors: climbing mountains, hiking, kayaking, and reading in his hammock.
“Being a pastor is, I believe, what I was made for, and I find great meaning in the demands and delights of congregational ministry, believing that the church is the primary agent God is using to reconcile the world.”
When asked what he loves about Colbert Presbyterian, Eric said, “The congregation that makes up Colbert Presbyterian is comprised of some of the finest people I know, characterized by a spirit of uncommon grace and generosity, giving themselves away as love offerings to our community.”
Email Eric here
Marissa Kuuskvere
— Director of Youth Ministries and Digital Media
Marissa (Riss) has a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Whitworth University.
Riss entered into ministry at Hamblen Park Presbyterian Church, working with junior high and high school students from Lewis and Clark and Ferris High School. She worked with them for three years. After graduating from Whitworth, Riss spent two years leading mission trips and wilderness trips across the country for youth groups.
Her parents live in town on the South Hill of Spokane and her sister and brother-in-law live in the Carolinas. The main addition to Riss’s family unit is her beloved Spanish Water Dog, Huckleberry, who loves to do anything Riss is doing!
Outside of work, Riss enjoys the almost endless selection of outdoor activities Spokane has to offer. It is her personal goal to try each and every one of them. For fun, Riss enjoys doing things that bring her both joy and a rush of adrenaline, anything from walking her dog to rock climbing.
When asked about her heart for youth ministry, Riss said, “most of my motivation to be in ministry comes from a desire to help students understand their identity in Christ, not just as a good Christian kid, athlete, or musician, but as a beloved son or daughter of the King. It is all too easy to put our identities in things that will pass, and I love seeing the joy that comes when a student puts trust in the Lord.”
“Colbert is a welcoming, supportive, rambunctious, and tight knit community. I love how many friendships you can develop over different generations and the joy it brings when we are all together.”
Email Riss here
Elianah Brenner
— Office Manager
Elianah is a recent Whitworth grad, a lover of horses and the outdoors, and an amateur watercolor painter. She has lived in Spokane since 2022 with her spunky husband, Cody. She has spent previous seasons in New Jersey; a small town outside of Zurich, Switzerland; the Sierra mountains of Nevada; and a few months in Chichicastenango, Guatemala. She describes her spiritual life as having been deeply formed through music, friendly theological debates, diverse friendships, and asking hard questions. In addition to joining Colbert Pres, she also works part time with one of our ministry partners, Side By Side, which is a ministry for people with and without disabilities.
Email Elianah here
Karissa Forsyth
— Director of Children’s Ministry
Working at Colbert Pres is a sort of homecoming for Karissa. After spending her early years in California and the Seattle area, she ventured to Whitworth University to receive a degree in theology. Upon graduating, she took a position at Colbert Pres. as the Director of Youth Ministry. Those years were joyful, challenging and formative. The call of adventure took Karissa and her husband, Jeff, to Virgina for grad school (and also a lot of exploring new cities!). They liked the East Coast more than anticipated, moved to North Carolina and had three kids. But their love of mountains and their West Coast families eventually won out over the many charms of the South and the Forsyths relocated to Spokane in 2023. With great joy they have made Colbert Pres. their church home and Karissa is once again on staff, but this time serving the youngest in our congregation. Karissa enjoys running, adventuring with her family, cheering on the Seattle Mariners, coaching soccer and snacks.
Email Karissa here