The Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot
Bishop and Chief Pastor
The Rt. Rev. Elizabeth Lockwood Hawley Monnot was ordained and consecrated as the 10th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa on December 18, 2021 at a service held at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, Iowa. Monnot is the first woman to serve as bishop since the diocese was formed in 1853.
Monnot was elected as the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Iowa during a Special Convention held on July 31 in Des Moines, Iowa. Monnot had served as the priest-in-charge at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church in Rancho Cordova, California, and as director and retreat leader of Called to Abundant Life: Leadership Consulting. Monnot previously served as missioner for leadership development and networking for the Diocese of Northern California and co-rector with her husband, Michael, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Sacramento, California.
Our Team
The Rev. Thomas Early, OA
The Rector
Father Tom arrived at St. John’s at the beginning of 2023. He attended the University of Northern Iowa, volunteered with Green Iowa AmeriCorps, and then attended The School of Theology at the University of the South. Before coming to St. John’s he was the Rector of St. Alban’s in Spirit Lake. Father Tom’s church interests are small group ministry leadership, biblical scholarship, and Early Church Theology. His non-church interests include walking his golden retriever Alleluia (Allie for short), competing in the local disc golf league, and getting beat by his wife (Sara) at board games.
Father Tom is currently in his first year of the novitiate process with the Order of the Ascension, a dispersed Episcopal Religious Community whose members take a promise "to seek the presence of Jesus Christ in the people, things and circumstances of life through stability, obedience and conversion of life."
Favorite Bible Verse: John 15:4-5
Favorite Saint: St. James the Great
Favorite Hymn: Lo! He Comes on Clouds Descending
Phillip Lothe
Parish Administrator
Phillip Lothe joins us after previously working in London at a historic Church of England parish. Phillip is from Iowa originally, having lived in Newton and Des Moines. He graduated from Grove City College in Western Pennsylvania with a degree in Economics, and Royal Holloway, University of London with a master’s degree in International Management. Phillip is passionate about Anglican/Episcopal tradition, and is excited to be working at a dynamic Episcopal Parish here in Iowa. In his free time Phillip enjoys travelling, having a good cup of coffee, and spending time with friends. If you have any questions about the day to day operations of the church office, do not hesitate to get in touch with Phillip.
Josh Human
Campus Chaplain
Josh Human is a recent college graduate from John Brown University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Biblical and Theological Studies. He moved to Ames in August 2023 with his wife, Macy, who is attending Iowa State to complete vet school. Josh was born and raised in Omaha, NE. He has served at Journey Church in Omaha as a summer intern, working directly with middle and high school students and leading a college-aged bible study. He has recently been confirmed into the Episcopal church and is tremendously excited to see where life leads and to experience what God has planned for him and his family. He enjoys playing video games, going on walks with Macy and their dog, Benny, and he loves meeting new people.
The Rev. Mary Jane Oakland
Assisting Priest
The Rev. Mary Jane Oakland is a retired priest in the Diocese of Iowa. She was ordained to the vocational diaconate at St. John's by the Campus in 1995, where she served until 2001 when she was called to serve in the parish of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Marshalltown, IA. Rev. Oakland was ordained to the priesthood in 2005. In addition to her parish work she was a member of the nutrition faculty at ISU for 27 years. She served the Diocese as Chair of the Commission on Ministry at three different times: as a lay person, a deacon, and a priest, serving as chair for 11 years. She has been involved with the One World One Church commission serving in ministry alongside her husband, David, making several trips and spending some extended time under the direction of the Bishop of the Diocese of Swaziland. At St. John's, Rev Oakland is involved with the parish committee for pastoral care, and as a spiritual director. She can be reached through our parish office at 515-292-6655.
The Rev. Paul W. Gennett Jr.
Assisting Priest
The Reverend Paul W. Gennett Jr. has served as a priest in the Episcopal Church for over 30 years. He received a M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1992 and retired as Rector at St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church in Newark, Delaware in 2018. Prior to his ordination, he was a corporate consultant for 20 years, principally serving the human resources and organizational development disciplines. He has been blessed to be married to Marilyn for 52 years and by two adult children – Colin and his partner Lucinda living in Phoenix, and Adrienne and husband Bill living in Ames with their granddaughter . For the last 20 years, Paul has been enjoying his deeper calling to walk with others in his own recovering spiritual journey and as a spiritual director. He has led retreats on spiritual living and the Twelve Steps for both recovery and non-recovery communities.
Dr. Miriam Zach
Director of Music/Organist
Email: miriamzach@gmail.com
Dr. Miriam Zach, Ph.D. is a musicologist, author, organist, harpsichordist, Iowa native, and since 2016 the Charles and Mary Sukup Endowed Artist in Organ at Iowa State University, and Director of Music/Organist at St. John’s By the Campus Episcopal Church in Ames, Iowa. She can be heard on National Public Radio recorded in Princeton University Chapel. After completing degrees at Northwestern University and University of Chicago she taught music in Germany at the Universität Bielefeld, and served as organist for the Church of England. In 1990 she studied Olivier Messiaen’s organ music in Paris, and has performed most of his organ works in Europe and the United States. For 20 years (1996-2016) she taught music history, and Honors music and health at the University of Florida. She is past Dean of the Gainesville, Florida Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and University of Florida Professor of the Year 2000-2001. She continues to research architecture and music, teach music and health, organize annual international festivals of women composers (iwclib.org), and enjoy playing Baroque chamber music (alachuaconsort.com).
Vestry Members
Amy Mellies: Senior Warden
Marlene Strathe: Junior Warden & Treasurer
Dot McCarville: Clerk
Tim Muggli
William Noesen
Scott Thompson
Nancy Port
Nicholas Riessen
Jerry Winter