urbandale united church of christ
3530 70th Street, Urbandale, Iowa 50322 | phone 515.276.0625
fax 515.276.2451 | e-mail: staff@urbucc.org

Rev. Dr. Robert A. Butterfield, Interim Pastor

*coming soon*

bob.butterfield@urbucc.org

Bobby Stinnett, Organist, and Director of SOS Choir and Youth and Adult Handbells

Bobby Stinnett joined the staff in September 1997. He received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Texas. He earned his masters’s degree in Organ Performance with a Church Music Certificate from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Bobby has been playing the piano and organ for various denominations for over 25 years. As a public school music specialist, he brings many teaching skills to the graded choir program here at Urbandale UCC. He directs the Children and Youth choirs which he began. The choirs have grown immensely from the original nine members. Besides his church involvement, Bobby is the music specialist at George Washington Carver Community School in Des Moines, and serves as organist at Temple B’Nai Jeshurun in Des Moines.

bobby.stinnett@urbucc.org

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Elsie Naylor, Music Program Director

Elsie Naylor received a bachelor's degree in church music and a master's degree in organ performance from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. She served as Director of Music/Organist at a large United Methodist church in southern Minnesota for 28 years, where she developed a choral and handbell program and an extensive fine arts series. Elsie returned to Des Moines in 1995, when she joined the Urbandale UCC staff. She coordinates the church's music program, directs the adult choir, and works with the pastor in designing liturgy each week. She also directs the Des Moines Diversity Chorus, and is active in the ecumenical community, including the Administrative Cabinet of the Des Moines Area Religious Council.

elsie.naylor@urbucc.org

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Rev. Amy Murray, Ministry Program Coordinator

The Rev. Amy Murray is a Kentucky native but calls the midwest her home. She was born and raised in the UCC and has been active in various levels of church leadership. Amy graduated from Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin where she majored in Spanish and Sociology. She went on to Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where she recieved her Masters of Divinity in 2006. Amy is also about to complete her chaplain residency program at Methodist, Lutheran and Blank hospitals.

Before coming to Iowa, Amy served as a youth director, student pastor, chaplain and church relations coordinator for a faith-based organization. She enjoys working with children and youth and the energy they bring to ministry. Amy also enjoys traveling to Latin America where she has spent
time in Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador and Costa Rica for both mission and educational opportunities.

Amy enjoys spending time with her partner Katie and their three dogs Emily, Bentley and Twix. They volunteer and serve as foster parents for various animal rescue organizations. Amy and Katie had their Covenant Ceremony October 2006. They enjoy traveling to see family in the Quad Cities and
Kentucky.

amy.murray@urbucc.org

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Tara Aukes, Office Coordinator

Tara Aukes joined the UUCC staff in June of 2005. Most recently, she has worked as the administrative assistant in a family business. Tara is a long-time resident of Des Moines, the mother of two grown children, and she has an interest in art and oil painting.

tara.aukes@urbucc.org

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Sadmir Omerhodzic, Custodian

Sadmir came to the United States from Bosnia back in 1997. He is married to Umihana Omerhodzic, and they have two boys, Dino and Damir. He likes to play sports with his kids, soccer especially, basketball, and fishing. His favorite food is everything; He likes enjoying all kinds of foods from different countries. He likes music and enjoys watching family movies.

sadmir.omerhodzic@urbucc.org

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Rev. Gayle Strickler, Sr., Pastor Emeritus

Gayle Sr. was pastor of Urbandale UCC from 1951 to 1961. After serving other churches, he later returned to central Iowa, and was named Pastor Emeritus in 1992. Our sympathies to the family of Gayle Sr., who passed away on March 6, 2008. His memorial service was held at Urbandale UCC on April 26, 2008.

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Gayle Strickler, Jr., Adjunct Minister for Community Concerns

Gayle obtained his bachelor's degree from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, a M.Div. degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City and a MSW degree from the University of Nebraska. Currently he serves as the Disaster Response Coordinator of the Iowa Conference UCC and represents the Conference on the Iowa Disaster Human Resources Council (IDHRC), the group the coordinates disaster response work within the State of Iowa. 

gayle.strickler@urbucc.org

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