The Rev. Elizabeth Coulter
Ecoulter@mchsi.com

Elizabeth was in her final year at Seabury Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, in 1993 when the then Bishop of Iowa, C. Christopher Epting, invited her to start the first new Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Iowa in over 20 years. Surprised and challenged by this unique opportunity, she said, "Yes." She was ordained to the transitional diaconate in September 1993, opened New Song's office in Coralville in March 1994, and was ordained to the priesthood in April 1994.  Elizabeth understood that, "God calls me to minister with people committed to proclaiming the Gospel and to risk boldly living the Gospel in God's world."

New Song's first public worship service was held on October 2, 1994.  In April 1995, Elizabeth and Chuck moved to Iowa City from Muscatine, Iowa, where they had lived since 1965 when Chuck began practicing law there.  In the interim years, she earned her B.A. degree in social work and her M.S.W. in clinical social work at the University of Iowa.  Following those studies, she was employed by the Area Education Agency for five years and then by the Great River Mental Health Center.  She served as Executive Director of the Center for eight years.

After retiring from the Center, Elizabeth answered a long-waiting call to the priesthood and began the three-year program at Seabury. 

Elizabeth served as rector of New Song from 1994 until January, 2005, when she retired.  She learned about and dreamed of a church in which “all members know surely and simply God’s great love; a church where worship is lively and fun as well as reverent and holy; where people know how to pray and enjoy it; where the Eucharist is the center of life and servanthood the center of mission; a church affirming the beauty of diversity; a church without the answers, but asking the right questions; a church that is a ministering community rather than a community gathered around a minister; a church in which the congregation is in a process of becoming free – autonomous – self-reliant – interdependent.”  (Wes Frensdorff’s dream of a church)