Adey and Tom

Mellman is Jewish. Adey grew up in Skokie, Illinois, a center of Jewish culture on the north side of Chicago. She went to Hebrew school, threw her sins into the Chicago river on Yom Kippur, was bas mitzvahed at 13, and was sure the plane was going to crash when the stewardess told her that her kosher bologna sandwich was ham. Adey’s family was boisterous, affectionate, and expressive. With 10 people at the table there were five conversations; with five people there were six; with one person, four; all at once, each louder than the next, a symphonic crescendo of kosher passion.

Wassink is Dutch. Windmills, klompen shoes, tulips. Tom grew up in Holland (Michigan), where the Dutch were quiet, staid, and proper. One conversation at a time, no matter how many at the table; don’t get too excited (things will get worse) or too sad (you’re not dead yet); clapping and shouting only when your team (Go Blue!) wins, and quiet tears only at funerals as you eat jello salad and sliced ham on a white bun (crying for the deceased, not the food).

So when Adey and Tom met, it was somewhere between peanut butter and jelly and matter-antimatter: awesome complementarity that produced a lot of energy. And 5 children. And now a church. Tom and Adey came to Iowa City in 1996. While Tom finished his training in psychiatry, Adey started the church that has become Sanctuary. She is the Senior Pastor, holding a Doctorate in Missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary; Tom is a staff pastor and a psychiatrist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

David

David Borger-Germann is Sanctuary’s Executive Pastor, having received a Masters Degree in Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary. David is also currently enrolled in the Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy program at Mount Mercy. David participates in the general leadership of the church while focusing on outreach and overall administration. He’s married to Ali who is an English teacher at City High. They have two children, Josh and Ben. Ask David what he's reading, and he's likely to give you a long list of novels and non-fiction books ranging from philosophy to gardening. Check out David on TikTok: pastor_dbg

Lianna

Lianna Cornally is our Kids’ Programming Director. Lianna draws on years of education experience to help our Sanctuary kids engage with faith. Ask her about her kids, and her other kids ( the goats she raises), and she’s likely to get them quite mixed up.

Pam

Pam Larson serves our church in three ministry areas: 1) connecting new folks to Sanctuary, 2) pastoring our growing group of Cedar Rapids area attenders (“Sanctuary North”), and 3) leading our Couples’ seminars based on the acclaimed relationship material developed by John and Julie Gottman.

James

James Tutson serves as Sanctuary’s worship director—our music guy—coordinating all the Sunday music and volunteers. James also co-directs a local youth ministry and has a vibrant musical career, performing individually and with his band. Check out his music at www.jamestutson.com, and the youth work at https://www.neighborsofiowacity.org.

Kate

Kate Thrams runs our Sunday morning programs for Jr. High students. With loads of creativity and enthusiasm, Kate leads students in faith exploration and discovery. Once a month, the students all help put together our Hands On Faith food delivery bags for Coralville Central Elementary.