Meet The Team
Rector
The Rev. Brian K. Gross
Graduated from Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2014 with his Master of Divinity Degree. Ordained to the diaconate in 2013 and to the Priesthood in 2014 in the Diocese of Wyoming. In 2023, after serving as the Dean of the Cathedral in Laramie, Wyoming, he moved to Iowa to become the Rector of Christ Church. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, is the Chapter Representative of the Three Rivers Chapter, and is a Member of the Diocesan Safe Church Advisory Team. He is delighted to be part of a church that values tremendous lay involvement in all aspects of the church. Feel free to email him at briang@ christepiscopal.org
Deacon
The Rev. Melody Rockwell
Raised up to the diaconate by Christ Episcopal Church, Cedar Rapids, Melody was ordained here on February 21, 2009. She finds joy as a deacon with the people of Christ Church… serving at the altar and proclaiming the gospel at both the Sunday morning worship and the evening Celtic service, offering pastoral care and the occasional sermon or eulogy, continuing to lift up the activities of Beloved Community and Swazi Companions, helping develop spiritual retreats, and facilitating shared ministries and community building among all Christ's members.
Communications and Technology
Tom Lewis, MDiv
Graduated from Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, in 1985 with a Master of Divinity degree. Ordained a Lutheran Pastor in 1985, serving congregations in Iowa, Michigan, and Virginia. Coordinates internal and external communication activities, and technology efforts.
Business Manager
Becky Palmer
Becky helps with managing the database (Breeze), handles accounting and accounts receivable, maintains the calendar, and coordinates facilities within the church. She is a graduate of University of Minnesota. She is also a wife and a mom of three beautiful children.
Office Manager
Hannah Sherbon Powell
Hannah is our creative team member who manages various office-related tasks, including overseeing social media events and updates, maintaining the calendar, and managing the church's website. She has years of experience working with youth for the Iowa Diocese and facilitates Middle & High School Youth Opportunities in the metro.
Sexton
Roland Burns
Roland takes care of the church property, keeps the church and parish buildings prepared for meetings, caring of church equipment, and performing other related minor duties. He has be working at the church for more than a decade and has previous experience at other churches in the community. He also teaches auto body classes at Kirkwood.
Senior Warden
Mary Westcott
Mary is the liaison for Worship Commission. The worship commission includes Altar Guild, Lay Readers, Greeters, Music, Flower Committee, Healing Prayer Team, and worship duties of the Rector.
Junior Warden
Janet Leary
Janet is the liaison for Pastoral Care and the clerk. Janet retired from Pearson as a software developer-test/assessment analyst. She loves to bake and cook, gets crafty, and help others. She is the Godly Play educator and is involved in many ministries within the church as well as a part of several task forces to continue the mission of the church.
Secretary
Melinda Hoffmann
Bio Coming Soon
Organist and Choir Director Steve Berg
Steve is the choir director and Sunday church organist. He went to Luther College where he majored in computer science but also took organ lessons, sang in a choir, and played clarinet in band. He enrolled at the University of Minnesota and earned a Bachelor of Music degree with a major in organ performance. He went to Luther Seminary and earned a Master of Sacred Music degree. Steve has served churches in Minneapolis and his hometown of Fairfield, and the past few years he has been organist and choir director at First United Methodist Church in Boone, Iowa.
Celtic Pianist
Lena Nichols
Lena plays the piano and organ for evening Celtic church services. She received a Master of Fine Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa in 2008 and a Master of Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa in 1997. Lena earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano from Idaho State University in 1994.
Treasurer
Gary Streit
Gary handles employee benefits, taxation, finances, budget, and planning for the church. He is an attorney and senior vice president of Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, P.L.C. He has a B.S. in Industrial Administration Accounting, J.D. of law, and has received many awards and recognition in his community and profession.
Vestry
Dot Sheldon
Dot is the liaison for Outreach Commission. The Outreach Commission helps with providing support to non-profit charities in the community like Loaves and Fishes, Helping Hands Ministry, and ECCF. She is retired from Collins as a senior business integration analyst and is a Air Force veteran.
Vestry
Jerry Jackson
Jerry is the liaison for Communications. He is also involved in many commissions with the church, helps to serve as the main contact and liaison for Loaves and Fishes, a local food pantry. Jerry graduated with a Ph.D in Physics and worked at Pitney Bowes Inc, as an R&D engineer and printing specialist.
Vestry
Benjamin Helppi
Ben is the liaison for Finance. He works as a software engineer at Collins Aerospace, and graduated with a M.S. from University of Iowa, and a Bachelors of Computer Science from Michigan Tech. Other interests include being a volunteer soccer coach, and working to establish a personal vineyard.
Vestry
Kay Jahnel
Bio Coming Soon
Vestry
Chris Hubbs
Bio Coming Soon
Vestry
Brad Kurtz
Bio Coming Soon