Senior Pastor Karl Divine-Koch is a native of southeastern Michigan who graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. In 1974 he graduated from Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, and was ordained into the American Lutheran Church. He served as pastor of St. Michael's Lutheran Church until January of 1978, when he began a career in Lutheran Campus Ministry, serving as campus pastor at California State University in Fresno, and at Iowa State University. In July 1999, he began work as interim associate pastor at Zion Lutheran in Iowa City; and in May of 2000 accepted the call to Gloria Dei. Karl's wife Cathy works for the Iowa City Community Schools as an educational associate and a substitute teacher. He has two sons: Ben, of The Colony, Texas; and Jeff, of Portland, Oregon. His step-daughter, Anna, is a 2011 graduate of City High School who will begin studying graphic design at Iowa State in the fall of 2011. When he can, which is to say as often as possible, Karl loves to read and listen to music of all kinds!
Campus Pastor Rob Dotzel was ordained in June of 1983 after graduating from Trinity 
Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. Since that time he has served three ELCA congregations and Lutheran Campus Ministry. Pastor Rob served Faith in Junction City, KS, St. Johns in Des Moines, and St. Andrew in Cedar Rapids. He has served in Campus Ministry at the University of Iowa since 1997. In addition to Campus Ministry, Pastor Rob also serves part-time on staff at Gloria Dei and teaches religion at Kirkwood Community College. He is married to Stephanie, who teaches orchestra at NW Jr. High. They have two daughters, Krista and Rebekah. Krista is working on a graduate degree in archaeology, and Rebekah is a cello major at the University of Iowa. Pastor Rob did his undergraduate studies at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS, where he met Stephanie.
Pam Larabee-Zierath, an associate in ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of 
America, has been Minister of Congregational Life since 2008. She received a Master’s degree of Theological Studies from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, and a certificate for contemplative prayer group leadership from Shalem Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Former parishes she has served include:
- Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) at the University of Iowa, 1999 to 2008
- Zion Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa, 1985 to1999
- LCM at the University of Illinois, 1977 to 1982
Pam lives near West Liberty, Iowa, in an 1890's farmhouse with seven cats and husband, David (of 35 years), who tends to the family’s two-acre prairie grass planting. Daughter Jenny lives in Manhattan. Pam like to read, knit, watch birds, and walk and pray on prairie.
Laura Wiebe has served as Director of Music Ministries at Gloria Dei since 2010. A lover
of sacred music, Laura is a versatile musician and brings a wide range of experiences to her work, having served in various churches around the Midwest. She is currently completing a doctorate in choral conducting at the University of Iowa, and performs actively as a singer in both classical and jazz settings. Laura maintains a private studio of voice and piano students in Iowa City. In her spare time she loves to cook, read, walk, garden, and peruse the bookshelves at Prairie Lights.
Ruth Hurlburt, organist, is a native of Montana where she earned a bachelor of music 
degree in organ from the University of Montana and worked with the Montana Arts Council. She has lived in the Iowa City area since 1983 when she arrived to study organ, and subsequently earned master of fine arts in organ from The University of Iowa. Since then, she has served area churches and has been an active member, officer, and recitalist with the River Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In addition to continuing to learn more organ repertoire, Ruth’s professional interests focus on liturgy, hymnody, spiritual growth, and congregational song. Ruth is employed in Human Resources at The University of Iowa and enjoys implementing and administering services for faculty and staff. She enjoys swimming, reading, and traveling with her husband, Russ.
Natalie Polzin, office manager, joined the staff of Gloria Dei in May of 2011. She grew up 
in Sterling Heights, Michigan, and attended Concordia College in Ann Arbor. She and her husband, Joe, have been blessed with five children, ages 15 to 27. In her spare time Natalie enjoys gardening, reading and playing with her 7-month-old granddaughter, Sophia. In October 2009, Natalie’s oldest son, Andrew, was critically injured in a car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Against all predictions, eight months later, Andrew was released from hospital care and is considered a walking miracle by all. Since then, Natalie and her husband, Joe, travel to various congregations to share the testimony of God’s amazing grace in times of trial.
