Grace Staff!

The Reverend Dr. Gregory S. Neal is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and Duke University where his studies included extensive work in Bible, Theology, Worship, and the Sacraments. While having been trained to be a Christian educator, as an ordained United Methodist minister Dr. Greg’s heart and soul can be found in the mission and ministry of the local church as an agent for change in society. Prior to coming to Grace UMC as Senior Pastor, he served for more than 30 years in the North Texas Conference, leading a multi-ethnic church, two Reconciling congregations, two inner-city churches, and a vibrant university church. He is gifted in helping congregations to think and plan strategically for times of change and is dedicated to helping people grow in faith and love toward God and their neighbor. He is the author of several books, including Grace Upon Grace: Sacramental Theology and the Christian Life and Seeking the Shepherd’s Arms: Reflections from the Pastoral Side of Life.

 Greg is married to Kade Rogers, who is a motivational speaker, a specialist in Communications and Administration, an accomplished singer/songwriter, and an activist for the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons in The United Methodist Church. Together, they enjoy going to movies, plays, and concerts, watching a wide variety of TV shows, domestic and international travel, eating out and cooking at home. Over the past few years, they have engaged in ministry together in the local church and the LGBTQ community, each complimenting the gifts and graces of the other.

Coreen was born in Montana, but has lived in Iowa since the age of eight when her family moved to Adel. After high school, she attended Simpson College earning a BA in Communication in 1991. In 1992, she married her husband Todd, at Grace. They now live in Urbandale and have two grown sons.

Her ministry at Grace began in 2011. She keeps busy managing the Sunday School program for children through adults, planning and organizing Vacation Bible School, overseeing the Safe Sanctuary program at Grace, managing the church nursery, serving on the worship committee, running the acolyte program, organizing the Advent and Lent Soup & Sermon events, along with a variety of other duties. Anyone who is interested in joining a Sunday School or Bible Study class, should contact Coreen for suggestions. Email: coreenwitke@gracedesmoines.org

When not at church, she enjoys knitting prayer shawls and baking chocolate chip cookies.

Ann Gerdom is the organist at Grace and accompanies the Chancel Choir. She started attending Grace UMC when she was 5 and grew up singing in the Grace choirs. She had her first organ lessons at Grace at age 15. Ann attended Iowa State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in music education, and Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where she received a master’s degree in organ and church music. She lived in the Chicago area for 30 years, where she served several churches as music director, choir director and organist and worked for non-profit organizations in public relations/marketing. Before moving back to Iowa in 2007, she received a master’s degree in teaching reading from Northeastern Illinois University. She currently teaches music at Holy Family Catholic School in Des Moines.