The governance of the diocese is vested in the bishop and the governing councils and boards, including the Diocesan Convention, the Board of Directors, the Commission on Ministry, and the Standing Committee, each of which exercises specific duties and authority assigned to them by the constitution and canons of the diocese and of The Episcopal Church.

The Bishop serves as the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese, with the charge of convening the annual convention or special conventions, presiding at conventions, serving as president of the diocesan corporation and as an ex-officio member of the Commission on Ministry. When the diocese is without a bishop, whether due to a vacancy or disability, the role of ecclesiastical authority is assumed by the Standing Committee. 

The Diocesan Convention, composed of lay delegates and canonically resident and licensed clergy, elects the ordinary and suffragan bishops of the diocese, and the officers of the convention and certain committees and commissions; sets the programs and policies of the diocese; adopts a budget for funding program and administration; sets assessments for funding the budget; and approves the admission of parishes or mission congregations to the diocese.

 
 
 

The Board of Directors

The Board of Directors heads the Corporation that acts as the legal body for the Diocese under the laws of the State of Iowa. The directors are trustees of all diocesan properties and monies. They also are responsible for the Iowa Diocesan Foundation Fund, which is a flexible and convenient investment fund for congregations as well as diocesan endowments and bequests. The directors necessarily are involved in the areas of property and securities. The directors also assist the Bishop in setting mission and ministry priorities, and assessing the work of its various commissions.

  • The Rev. Canon Kathleen Milligan (St. Stephen's, Newton), At Large

    Ms. Alescha Caldwell (Christ Church, Clinton), At Large

    The Rev. Wendy Abrahamson (St. Paul's, Grinnell), Central Chapter Rep.

    Mr. Dale Schirmer (St. John's, Mason City), North Central Chapter Rep.

    The Rev. Terry Kleven (St. James' Oskaloosa), South Central Chapter Rep.

  • The Rev. Holly Scherff (St. John’s, Shenandoah), At Large

    Ms. Paula Sanchini (Christ Church, Cedar Rapids), At Large

    The Rev. Kyle Carswell (St. Timothy's, West Des Moines), Metro Chapter Rep.

    Ms. RJ Fitzgerald (St. Paul’s, Harlan), Southwest Chapter Rep.

    The Rev. Brian Gross (Christ Church, Cedar Rapids), Three Rivers Chapter Rep.

  • President: The Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot, Diocese of Iowa

    Chancellor: Mr. William Graham, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Des Moines

    Treasurer: Mr. William “Bill” Smith, Jr., St. Timothy’s Church, West Des Moines

    Assistant Secretary: Cn. Julianne Allaway, Diocese of Iowa

    Standing Committee Representative: The Rev. Stephen Benitz, St. John’s, Mason City

Commission on Ministry

The Commission on Ministry is charged with determining the current and future ministry needs of the diocese; recruiting aspirants for holy orders, and guiding and examining postulants and candidates for ordination; promoting continuing education for clergy and lay professionals; supporting and affirming ministry of lay people; and reporting annually to the Diocesan Convention. The Commission on Ministry assists the Bishop and the Standing Committee under the provisions of Title III of the Canons of the General Convention and the Canons of the Diocese of Iowa.

  • The Hon. Greg Jones, St. Thomas', Sioux City

    The Rev. Jane Stewart, New Song, Coralville

    Sarah Thompson, Grace, Cedar Rapids

    The Rev. John Greve, Grace, Cedar Rapids

    The Rev. Kevin Powell, Trinity, Muscatine

    Keila Eddy, Grace, Cedar Rapids

  • Vicky Matthiessen Krause, Christ Church, Burlington

    Karen McCallan, St. John’s, Glenwood

    The Rev. Anne Williams, Anamosa

    The Rev. Alice Haugen, St. Paul’s, Durant

    Harvey Nicholson, St. Matthew’s by the Bridge, Iowa Falls

    The Rev. Jeanie Smith, St. Timothy’s, West Des Moines

  • The Rev. Laurie Finn, deacon, ELCA Trinity Parish of Jackson County

    Patrick Hansen, St. Paul’s, Grinnell

    Robert Hubbard, Church of the Savior, Orange City

    The Rev. Kristine Leaman, St. Mark’s, Ft. Dodge

    Jenna Parker, St. Timothy’s, West Des Moines

    The Rev. Catherine Schroeder, Grace, Boone, & Good Shepherd, Webster City

  • The Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot (Diocese of Iowa, Des Moines)

The Standing Committee

The Standing Committee acts as a council of advice to the Bishop. They approve or disapprove candidates for Holy Orders, the ordination of deacons and priests, all elections to the Episcopate in the General Church, and selling church property. They are responsible for the life of the Diocese in the absence or incapacity of the Bishop.

  • The Rev. Stephen Mark Benitz, St. John’s, Mason City, president

    Ms. Karen Brooke, Trinity Cathedral, Davenport

  • The Rev. Nicola Bowler, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Des Moines

    Mr. Jeff Cornforth, St. Luke’s, Cedar Falls

  • The Rev. Diana Wright (Trinity, Carroll; Trinity, Denison; St. Paul’s, Harlan)

    Mr. Ed Gillott (St. John’s by the Campus, Ames)

Mission Chapters

The diocese is arranged into Mission Chapters that meet at least twice a year together.

 

Map updated 2024

  • Grinnell, St. Paul’s

    Marshalltown, St. Paul’s

    Newton, St. Stephen’s

  • Bettendorf, St. Peter’s

    Clinton, Christ

    Davenport, St. Alban’s

    Davenport, Trinity Cathedral

    Dubuque, St. John’s

    Durant, St. Paul’s

    Maquoketa, St. Mark’s

    Muscatine, Trinity

  • Ames, St. John’s by the Campus

    Ankeny, St. Anne’s by the Fields

    Boone, Grace

    Des Moines, St. Andrew’s

    Des Moines, St. Luke’s

    Des Moines, St. Mark’s

    Des Moines, St. Paul’s Cathedral

    Des Moines, Trinity Cush

    West Des Moines, St. Timothy’s

  • Cedar Falls, St. Luke’s

    Decorah, Grace

    Independence, St. James’

    Waterloo, Trinity

  • Algona, St. Thomas’

    Charles City, Grace

    Fort Dodge, St. Mark’s

    Iowa Falls, St. Matthew’s

    Mason City, St. John’s

    Webster City, Church of the Good Shepherd

  • Chariton, St. Andrew’s

    Oskaloosa, St. James’

    Ottumwa, Trinity

  • Burlington, Christ

    Fort Madison, St. Luke’s

    Keokuk, St. John’s

    Mt. Pleasant, St. Michael’s

  • Trinity Cluster:

            Carroll, Trinity

            Denison, Trinity

            Harlan, St. Paul’s

    Council Bluffs, St. Paul’s

    Glenwood, St. John’s

    Perry, St. Martin’s

    Shenandoah, St. John’s

  • Cedar Rapids, Christ

    Cedar Rapids, Grace

    Coralville, New Song

    Iowa City, Trinity

  • Orange City, Savior

    Sioux City, St. Paul’s Indian Mission

    Sioux City, St. Thomas’

    Spirit Lake, St. Alban’s

    Storm Lake, All Saints’