The Rev. W. Robert Martin III began his ministry as St. Andrew Presbyterian Church's lead pastor in January 2021. As such, he has learned firsthand how to begin meeting and ministering to a congregation during a time of pandemic and social distancing. Over his three decades in ministry, Pastor Rob also has served as a chaplain in the Tenderloin of San Francisco ministering to folks dying of AIDS, as a chaplain for Warren Wilson Presbyterian College in Swannanoa, North Carolina, and as a pastor of churches in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Palo Alto, California. He has served as a liturgical writer for PC(USA) General Assemblies and for various national conferences around the country. 

Because of health concerns, Pastor Rob will be retiring effective Dec. 31, 2024.

Matt Moore has directed St. Andrew's Student Ministries since August 2022. He grew up in Iowa City and was called into student ministry after college. He has worked previously as a student pastor in Wisconsin and Colorado, He enjoys good food, the outdoors, fishing, board games, and basketball. Matt received his BA in Religious Studies from the University of Northern Iowa. He lives in Iowa City with his wife Marissa (pictured here) and their dog, Arya. 

Email

Thomas Hartley heard God's call, to serve the congregation that he has called home since attending the University of Iowa. Growing up in Fort Dodge, Thomas came to university and found his calling in education, as well as a passion for children's ministry. He has served St. Andrew as a Sunday School teacher, SPARK leader, and elder. Thomas teaches Kindergarten in the Highland Community School District and coaches baseball at Iowa City West. In his free time he and his puppy Cooper do everything together!

Email

In August 2022, Nichole Hoffman joined the team of directors for St. Andrew's Children's and Family Ministries. As a social worker and military spouse, she’s had the chance to wear many hats in healthcare including: long-term care coordinator, hospice social worker, Alzheimer’s/dementia Unit Director and as hospital social worker/discharge planner. In addition to serving in health care, Nichole has worked as a para professional working with children in schools both in Sacramento and in Iowa City. She’s excited to be part of this trio by carrying on its traditions and perhaps creating a few new ones, too.  

EMAIL

In August 2022, Sara Penn joined the Children and Family Ministry Directors Trio, alongside Thomas and Nichole. At St. Andrew, she has also served as an elder since August of 2021, been a Sunday School teacher in the “Lambs” classroom, and been a part of a few handbell groups. She lives in Iowa City with her husband and two children. She enjoys watching movies, writing, painting, learning more ASL, bicycling, and, most of all, spending time at home with her family.  

EMAIL

Austen Wilson has been director of Music Ministries since August 2022, where he directs the Logos Adult Choir, Children's Choirs, and works with Student musicians. In addition, he collaborates with the Organist/Accompanist, Assistant Director of Instrumental Ministries, and Assistant Director of Handbell Ministries. Previously, Austen served churches in Colorado, New Jersey, Florida. He received a B.A. in Vocal Music Education from St. Olaf College and an M.M. in Choral Conducting from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Austen is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Choristers Guild, Handbell Musicians of America, and the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. Apart from church, Austen enjoys walking in various parks in Iowa City, exploring coffee shops and breweries, reading, listening to podcasts and books on Audible, and writing blog posts twice a month for Choralnet, a professional choral website.

EMAIL

Yu-Hsiang Abby Chen is an award-winning organist and a passionate accompanist who regularly can be heard ministering through the historic Krapf Organ for St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Iowa City. Currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Iowa, under the direction of Dr. Gregory Hand, Abby also serves as a teaching assistant, offering organ lessons to non-majors and undergraduate secondary students.

Email

This is Laura Kastens' second stint as a staff member, the first time around serving as assistant director of vocal ministries (2002-2012). Laura received a BS in music education from the University of Illinois and has spent more than 30 years directing children's, youth, and adult vocal and handbell church choirs. Recently retired from the University of Iowa Departments of American Studies and Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies, she directs three handbell ensembles at St. Andrew (Resound!, Matins, and Campana), plays handbells with the RiverBend Bronze auditioned ensemble out of the Quad Cities, clarinet in the New Horizons Band, has taken up pickleball and bridge. Add in ushering at Hancher, Englert, and CCPA and she understands why people say they're busier in retirement than they were when employed! She has 2 adult children and 4 grandchildren. 

Email

Will Fecko joined the St. Andrew team in Fall 2024. Originally from State College, Pennsylvania, Will graduated from St. Olaf College with a degree in Music Education and is pursuing an MA in Choral Conducting at the University of Iowa. Will loves making music in many ways, including singing, handbells, trumpet, conducting, and composing. While not in rehearsal, Will loves spending time in nature through walking, hiking, biking, and spending time with friends and family. Another hobby of his is making new foods; he and his partner, Veronica (a current student at the UI Dental School) have the goal of eventually cooking every country’s national dish, and are currently up to 13 dishes and counting!

After more than two decades working as a journalist in the Eastern Iowa area, Jeff Charis-Carlson signed on as Communications Consultant for St. Andrew in November 2019 and officially joined the staff in June 2021. He and his wife Christina, a local physician, have three children who often can be found creating either art or music.

Email

After retiring in 2017 as a senior vice president of Hills Bank and Trust, John Benson found a new ministry as St. Andrew's finance administrator. Both he and his wife, Patti, are active in St. Andrew's choir and have three children.

Email

Tim Patrick joined the church staff in August 2023. He is a St. Andrew member, husband to Katherine, and father to James and Grace. Most recently he has worked in information technology and will bring many attributes to the coordinator position, including his problem-solving engineer skill set, his handiness, and his confident and welcoming nature. 

Email

Amy Schmidt-Rundell is a lifelong member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. She joined the church staff in early 2023 and began the daunting task of coordinating the congregation's many mission and outreach ministries. 

Email