Clergy & Staff

Our Pastor -

Rev. Jessica Petersen

Jessica Petersen grew up in a small town in northwest Iowa and is a graduate of The University of Iowa and Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, Missouri.  Ordained in the UCC in 2009, she came to us most recently from serving four years as Minister for Children, Youth, and Families of Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ in Bethesda, Maryland. Jessica was excited to return to her home state of Iowa as she began her service as Pastor of Congregational United Church of Christ here in Newton in September 2011. Jessica particularly enjoys preaching, teaching, singing, and engaging in ecumenical ventures with other local congregations. She is the co-founder and current chair of the Racial Harmony & Justice Working Group of Jasper County and a tri-chair of the Iowa Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Jessica is also a part of the UCC’s “Next Generation Leadership Initiative," an educational program that encourages transformational leadership in younger UCC clergy and is currently working on earning her MBA through Drake University. Jessica enjoys reading, jogging, playing basketball and volleyball, and taking walks. She and her partner Martin welcomed their first child in the spring of 2017.

Our Administrative Assistant -

Barbara Vasquez

Our Organist -

Bev Thomas

Our Custodian -

Jim Christenson