Our Staff and Offices

In order to take advantage of the efficiency of current technology and to streamline our stewardship of human resources in our conferences’ ministries, one team of people serves the three, separate Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota UCC Conferences. Our individual conferences may also employ separate staff for ministries that are embedded in the conferences. Learn more about the roles and responsibilities of each staff member to best determine who can support you.

Staff members are working remotely. Staff is generally available from 8:00am – 4:30pm CT Mondays through Thursdays and from 8:30am – 12:00pm CT on Fridays. Our holiday schedule is listed on our calendar page. So that you are quickly connected with the staff member best suited to help you, please check the roles and responsibilities of our staff members and reach out to us individually before calling either of the offices.

Des Moines Office

5609 Douglas Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50310

515.277.6369

Sioux Falls Office

300 S. Minnesota Ave.

Care of First Congregational Church United Church Of Christ

Attn: Jane Estrada
Sioux Falls, SD 57104

605.338.8738

Ministerial Staff:

Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota Conferences

Rev. Phil Hart – Interim Executive Conference Minister

Pronouns: he/him

Phil Hart is the youngest child of John and Carolyn Hart. He was born and raised on a small farm outside of Columbus, Ohio and started preaching to the cows and chickens when he was 8. Officially Phil has been in ministry for about 32 years, beginning as a local pastor when he was in college. Phil’s education includes a degree in psychology and three master’s degrees (Master of Divinity, Master of Theology, Master of Communications). He has served in 9 Conferences across the United Church of Christ over the last 16 years. Phil is also a licensed social worker, a certified mediator, has been a professor of theology and communication, consultant and local pastor. He enjoys traveling, reading, movies and the outdoors.

Want ot connect or have a question? Contact Rev. Hart via email.

Rev. Kendy Miller – Associate Conference Minister

Pronouns: she/her

Rev. Miller specializes in Care and Connection for church leaders, Members in Discernment, and congregations in our conferences. Need general support in your ministry, want to schedule a conversation, or have questions about congregational vitality, retired clergy care, or spiritual direction? Contact Rev. Miller via email or phone at 515.669.5243.

Want to learn more about Rev. Miller’s work in our conferences? Explore resources for church leaders and congregations, visit the Iowa Facebook page, and visit our calendar page to find educational and community-driven events to connect with our staff and other church leaders and congregations.

Rev. Jonna Jensen – Associate Conference Minister

Pronouns: she/her

Rev. Jensen’s 40 years of ordained ministry in and for the UCC include 26 years of parish ministry in Iowa, 12 years as an ACM on the Iowa Conference and TCM staff, and two years as Transitional Conference Minister for the Maine Conference. She’s glad to be back home in Iowa! In semi-retirement, she embraces time for stories, laughter and lament, contemplative labors, prayer without clocks, and adventures with her dear one, Brice Hughes.

Rev. Jensen’s work with our conferences includes supporting Search and Call in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. If you have questions regarding Search and Call or questions on becoming a UCC pastor? Contact Rev. Jensen via email or phone at 563.357.7287.

Rev. Rachael Pryor – Designated Associate Conference Minister

Pronouns: she/her

Rachael has served as a local church pastor, college chaplain, and interim minister in a variety of settings for almost 20 years. Originally from Michigan, Rachael grew up in Sylvania United Church of Christ. While she has lived in California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, she’s a Midwesterner at heart and happy to be at home in Lindsborg, Kansas with her spouse and their four children (Henry (13), Greta (10), Linus (3), and Melody (1)).

For the past five years, she has also worked with the board of Kansas Interfaith Action for statewide advocacy on economic, climate, and racial justice legislative issues. Rachael is a knitter who never has enough time to knit; a reluctant jogger; a devoted board game fan; an adventurous cook; and an avid reader of all genres.

Rachael currently balances two part-time ACM roles with the Tri-Conference, and the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference, both focused primarily on the work of the Committee on Ministry. She will serve in this support role while the Tri-Conference engages in a search for a settled ACM. Reach her by email at rachael@ucctcm.org or text/call 620.504.2888.

Consultants:

Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota Conferences

Rev. Campbell Lovett – Consultant to Committees on Ministry

Pronouns: he/him

Rev. Lovett, a third-generation pastor, recently completed 16 months as the Interim Conference Minister of the South Central Conference. Prior to South Central, he served for almost eight years as the Conference Minister of the Michigan Conference and served for thirty years as a pastor at both historic and new churches in New England and North Carolina. In addition to UCC leadership positions, Rev. Lovett has served on the boards of agencies promoting food independence and community organizing. He is an avid cyclist whom you can follow outdoors on Strava and indoors on Zwift. Rev. Lovett and his spouse, Eileen, a quiltor and creator of liturgical stoles, reside in New Hampshire, and are the parents of two adult sons, Sam – a school chaplain in Concord, New Hampshire, and Nate, a lawyer in Mountain View, California.

Rev. Lovett’s work with our conferences includes supporting the Committees on Ministry (COMs) in South Dakota and other COM consulting work. Have questions about COMs or questions on becoming a UCC pastor? Contact him via email.

Support Staff:

Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota Conferences

Jane Estrada – Administrative Support

Pronouns: she/her

Jane serves as the office manager for the Sioux Falls Office and supports Ministerial staff in the areas of COM and Search and Call. Are you a local church seeking leadership or a pastor seeking a call? View our Search and Call resources and practices and contact our Search and Call team. Have other Search and Call questions? Contact Jane via email or phone at 605.774.3530.

Want to learn more about Jane’s work in our conferences? View the Search and Call resources, South Dakota welcome page, and general conference forms.

Kim Springer – Executive Assistant

Pronouns: she/her

Kim serves as the office manager for the Des Moines Office and assistant to the Executive Conference Minister. Are you one of our partner organizations needing assistance or have questions about mailing something to one of our offices? Contact Kim via email or phone at 515.809.7775. As Kim manages our Des Moines office, you can also reach her through at office phone: 515.277.6369.

Want to learn more about Kim’s work in our conferences? View our general conference forms and Iowa welcome page.

Deanna Sargent – Communications Consultant

Pronouns: she/her

Deanna serves as the communications specialist for the Tri-Conference. She manages the newsletters, mass emails, website and social media. Contact Deanna via email. Deanna works very limited hours, so please be patient with responses.

Placerville Camp Staff:

South Dakota Conference

Kerry Steever – Placerville Camp Director

Pronouns: he/him

Kerry manages Placerville Camp operations which include administration, promotion, booking, maintenance, camp program coordination, summer staff recruitment, cooking, and hospitality. Have general questions about Placerville Camp or registration for their events and programs? Contact Kerry via email or phone at 605.342.1390.

Want to learn more about Kerry’s work at Placerville Camp? Visit the Placerville Camp website or Facebook page.