Staff

Meet the People Who Help Shape This Community

Collegiate/Wesley is led by a team that deploys expertise and experience while caring deeply about faith, people, and the life we share together. We don’t claim to have all the answers — but we’re committed to walking alongside one another and the people of CW with honesty, humility, and hope.

How We Lead

Leadership at Collegiate/Wesley isn’t about performance or polish. It’s about presence.
Our staff brings different backgrounds, experiences, and callings — and together we work to create space where questions are welcomed, gifts are nurtured, and faith is lived out in real time.

Rev. Lee Roorda Schott

Senior Pastor (she/her)

A pastor, author, and speaker, Lee believes the church is called to be a place where everyone belongs and relationships are foundational.

READ BIO

Rev. Lee Roorda Schott

(she/her) Senior Pastor

A pastor, author, and speaker, Lee believes the church is called to be a place
where everyone belongs and relationships are foundational. Her ministry is
shaped by a conviction that faith is lived out in authentic community—where we
speak truth to one another, honor healthy boundaries, and take responsibility for
repair and reconciliation. She believes this kind of shared life is both deeply
pastoral and quietly revolutionary.

Lee didn’t originally plan to be a pastor. After growing up on her family’s century
farm near Prairie City, Iowa, she went to the University of Iowa and Harvard Law
School and practiced law for fifteen years before following God’s unexpected call
into ministry. After seminary at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, she
was ordained an elder in The United Methodist Church in 2009. Her ministry has
included local congregations as well as nine years at Women at the Well, a church
inside the Iowa women’s prison, where her understanding of grace, justice, and
community was profoundly shaped.

Lee is the author of Foolish Church: Messy, Raw, Real, and Making Room and its
companion study guide, The Fools’ Manual. Her writing and teaching invite the
church to risk vulnerability, stand against injustice, and include voices too often
pushed to the margins. Across all her work, she encourages us to resist fear-based
faith and instead practice a discipleship rooted in love, accountability, and hope.
Grounded in the Wesleyan tradition and animated by a deep trust in God’s
ongoing work, Lee is passionate about helping people follow Jesus in a complex
and divided world. She lives in Ames with her husband Daniel and their springer
spaniel Francis. Their three grown sons and amazing daughters-in-law live in
central Iowa, with a granddaughter on the way. In her spare time, Lee enjoys
reading, puzzles, genealogy, heartfelt conversations, and planning travel.

Lee was appointed to Collegiate/Wesley in 2024, and is beyond grateful to be part
of leading a church committed to faithful worship (including tremendous music),
courageous leadership, and the slow, holy work of becoming more fully who God
calls us to be.

Rev. Jena Finch-Manchester

Associate Pastor & Campus Minister (she/her)

Rev. Jena is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and, with more than 20 years of ministry experience.

READ BIO

Jena Finch-Manchester

(she/her) Associate Pastor & Campus Minister

Rev. Jena is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and, with more
than 20 years of ministry experience, is passionate about sharing the good news
of Jesus Christ in ways that are honest, hope-filled, and rooted in everyday life.

Jena has a heart for building relationships across generations, nurturing faith
through worship, study, and service. Jena is intentional about creating spaces
where people can ask real questions and grow deeper in their walk with God. She
especially enjoys working with youth, college students, and older adults, helping
each discover how God is at work in every season of life.

Jena grew up with a large family of siblings in Waterloo, Iowa and came to
ministry after a season of pursuing more worldly avenues to success. She has
served a number of churches, rural and county seat, as associate and as solo
pastor. Her ministry has long demonstrated her deep care for others and her
determination to make a difference for those who think no one cares.

When she began serving at Collegiate/Wesley in 2025, Jena moved to Ames—not
too far away from her two grown sons. When she is not at church, Jena enjoys
meaningful conversations over coffee, kayaking (summer), cross country skiing
(winter), long walks and finding joy in the small, grace-filled moments of life.

Lauren Loonsfoot
Lauren Loonsfoot

Director of Children, Youth, & Family Ministries (she/her)

Lauren is our longest-serving current staff member, since 2017!

READ BIO

Lauren Loonsfoot

(she/her) Director of Children, Youth, & Family Ministries

Lauren is our longest-serving current staff member, since 2017! Her work involves
leading our Christian education programs, from Sunday School to youth groups,
making sure there’s food for our Wednesday night suppers (and frequently, for
Food at First which provides free meals every day here in Ames), and leading
service trips for our elementary, middle, and high school students.

Lauren says her favorite part of her work is learning alongside the children and
youth, whom she finds thoughtful, curious, and full of energy. They bring so much
joy to Lauren’s life.

Lauren was born in Georgia where she lived until she was eleven years old. Since that time she’s lived in a handful of other states. Lauren graduated from Brevard College in Brevard, North Carolina. Lauren attributes all of the moving she’s done in her life to the travel bug she currently has. She has a big dream of visiting every
continent. Yes, even Antarctica. So far she’s been to three out of seven.

Lauren and her husband Bryan are raising three children who keep them busy and
always laughing. Outside of church, most of Lauren’s time is spent cheering on
those kids at their activities and enjoying the everyday moments of family life. She
also loves reading, taking walks, cooking, baking and thinking about crafts she’d
like to make.

Patrick Gagnon
Patrick Gagnon

Director of Music Ministries (he/him)

Patrick is a native of Franklin, Massachusetts, and is a life-long music educator dedicated to the development of the tuneful person.

READ BIO

Patrick Gagnon

(he/him) Director of Music Ministries

Patrick is a native of Franklin, Massachusetts, and is a life-long music educator
dedicated to the development of the tuneful person. His work as a church
musician began as tenor soloist at Boston's Historic First Baptist Church and has
continued for 30 years as Director of Music for United Methodist, ELCA Lutheran,
and United Church of Christ congregations in Massachusetts and Iowa. Patrick
and his wife Jodi Goble moved to Hubbard, Iowa following her 2009 appointment
to the Department of Music and Theater at Iowa State University.

A 1998 graduate of Boston University, Patrick studied Music Education, Vocal
Performance, and Collaborative Piano. During his time in greater Boston, he
worked for 15 summers at the prestigious Boston University Tanglewood Institute
Young Artists Vocal Program, taught K-12 Vocal Music first in Everett, then
Billerica, and had a busy avocational life as pianist and conductor for community
choirs and handbell ensembles. Since 2009, Patrick has been the K-12 Vocal
Music teacher for South Hardin serving four schools in Radcliffe, Hubbard, and
Eldora.

Patrick has served as Director of Music Ministries at Collegiate/Wesley since 2021.
He enjoys all aspects of this role and especially loves ringing bass bells in the
Chancel Handbell Choir. Patrick is a founding director of Des Moines Concert
Handbells and is Music Director for theatrical productions with The Iowa State
University Department of Music and Theater, and has recently enjoyed playing
auditions, rehearsals, and performances for Actors! community theater in Ames.
He is currently serving Handbell Musicians of America, Area 8 as Education Chair
for the 2026 Festival/Conference in LaVista, Nebraska. Since 2004 he has served that organization in numerous roles and tries to embody their mission of "uniting
people through a musical art."

Janelle Keltgen
Janelle Keltgen

Office Manager (she/her)

Janelle was born and raised in Olivia, Minnesota and graduated from South
Dakota State University with a BS in Early Childhood Education. 

READ BIO

Janelle Keltgen

(she/her) Office Manager

Janelle was born and raised in Olivia, Minnesota and graduated from South
Dakota State University with a BS in Early Childhood Education. After teaching for
a number of years in a preschool classroom, Janelle took a leave of absence and
volunteered at her United Methodist Church in Champaign, Illinois. Eventually she
was asked to work in the church office and did so for ten years before moving to
Ames.

After more than three years in the office at First Baptist Church, Janelle made the
switch to Collegiate/Wesley in 2019, which she and her husband John (Lauridsen)
had joined the year before. She holds a lot of things together week by week:
communications, bulletins, scheduling, and more. Janelle enjoys the ways her
work brings her into contact with so many Collegiate/Wesley constituents and
community members.

She and John have been involved in various small groups and committees and
have volunteered with Clothing That Works and Food at First.
Scattered in Iowa, Illinois, and Washington are six sons (three each) and their
partners. They also have two granddaughters and a grandson who live nearby.

Doug Warren
Doug Warren

Facilities Superintendent (he/him)

Doug was born and raised in Ames where he also attended Iowa State University.

READ BIO

Doug Warren

(he/him) Facilities Superintendent

Doug was born and raised in Ames where he also attended Iowa State University.
After college, Doug worked for a hotel corporation overseeing facilities at
numerous hotels throughout the U.S. After many years in the hotel industry, Doug
felt he wanted a more stationary job and was called to his current position at
Collegiate/Wesley in 2018. Our mission of welcoming ALL people resonated with
Doug.

Doug is responsible for all the physical property on our campus. This includes
supplies, repairs, maintenance, and modifications indoors and out. He enjoys a
job well done and hearing everyone’s stories.
In Doug’s rare “off” hours, loves being outside on his farm, finding customers for
his farm-fresh eggs, and running a live steam train engine.

Jason Janssen
Jason Janssen

(he/him) Financial Secretary

Jason was born and raised in Lake City, Iowa and grew up on the Janssen family
farm. Music has been a strong part of Jason’s family, and he participated in his
first production at the age of six.

READ BIO

Jason Janssen

(he/him) Financial Secretary

Jason was born and raised in Lake City, Iowa and grew up on the Janssen family
farm. Music has been a strong part of Jason’s family, and he participated in his
first production at the age of six. Jason attended American Institute of
Business and Iowa State University, and eventually earned a degree in Business
Management from William Penn University.

Professionally, Jason’s career has followed the accounting track. After a few years
with National Farmers Organization, he spent several years with Pro Commercial
in Huxley doing construction accounting, until transitioning to his current role
with AgCertain Industries, Inc.

Jason first attended Collegiate/Wesley in 1996, responding to an invitation to sing
with the Chancel Choir. Jason has been a member of the Chancel Bell Choir and
was also Director of the Faithspring Band. In 2016, Jason accepted the role of
Treasure for C/W’s Wesley Foundation. Jason also served as the church’s Finance
Chair for a few years before transitioning to the role of Financial Secretary in late
2020.
Jason serves the Financial Secretary role as a part time job in addition to his full-
time duties with AgCertain. He has a deep understanding of how our church’s
funds move and works closely with staff and the Finance Committee to keep
information flowing and correct.
In his off time, Jason has a passion for helping small businesses and churches with
their books through his own business. Jason can also be found cheering for the
Cyclones, travelling and spending time with family.

Want to Connect?

Whether you’re new, curious, or looking for a place to belong, we’d love to connect.

📍 2622 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA 50014

📞 Phone: (515) 292-6936

✉️ Email: info@cwames.org