On behalf of our congregation and staff, I want to welcome you to First United Methodist Church of Iowa City, a truly vital and alive congregation. Beginning my seventh year here on July 1, it has been my privilege to serve this church, its people and the greater Iowa City community for the past six years. I invite you to visit our beautiful sanctuary, meet the members of our talented and creative staff, and get acquainted with some of the wonderful people who are a part of this vital, active and involved congregation. I am looking forward to becoming better acquainted with you.
To help you know me just a bit better, let me say that I am a native Iowan, born in Carroll, raised in Dexter, IA, and La Marque, TX, and a graduate of Carroll High School. A 1968 graduate of Morningside College in Sioux City, I received my Master of Divinity degree from St. Paul School of Theology (Kansas City, MO) in 1972. In my 38-plus years of ministry in the Iowa Annual Conference I have served the Massena-Bridgewater-Avondale Charge; First United Methodist Church, Iowa City (Associate); St. Luke UMC, Newton; Belmond UMC, Belmond; Lovely Lane UMC, Cedar Rapids; and First UMC, Indianola; before returning as Lead Pastor to First UMC, Iowa City. A former President of the Iowa United Methodist Foundation, I have also served on several annual conference boards and agencies, including the Board of Ministry, the Board of Church and Society (Past Chair), the School for Ministry Commission, and the Annual Conference Worship Team. In Iowa City I am a member of the Iowa City Noon Rotary Club and serve of the CPE Advisory Committee at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, and the Advisory Board of the Oaknoll Retirement Center. My wife, Marcia, is a therapist in private practice and we are the parents of three adult sons, Aaron, Zachary (wife Amy) and Kyle (wife Raquel), and grandparents to Eli and Gabrielle. I enjoy reading and hiking in the mountains (obviously not in Iowa ) and I am afflicted with an unfortunate passion for golf.
