The Rev. John Harper, Deacon

In early 1994, John Harper joined Elizabeth Coulter in the planning of a new church in Coralville, Iowa.  He was ordained a deacon in September 1995 and has served at New Song since its inception.  After serving as the church's treasurer, he began to develop New Song's outreach.  In addition to his liturgical and preaching roles, John has been active in our ministries to Lantern Park Care Center, the Crisis Center food bank, and to the gay and lesbian community.

Born and raised in Des Moines, John completed a B.A. degree at Stanford University and an M.B.A. at the University of Iowa.  In 1966 he joined the University of Iowa English Department as an administrator.  He completed his doctorate in higher education in 1974 and became a member of the English faculty in 1976.  John first specialized in writing theory and the teaching of writing, and later shifted to American drama as his primary field of teaching and research.

In his 30 years at Trinity Church, Iowa City, John was a choir member, lay reader, chalice bearer and church school teacher.  In the late 1980s he assumed leadership of the long-range planning committee, served as senior warden, and joined the Education for Ministry program, for which he eventually became a mentor.  In 1991, John started his formal journey toward ordination to the deaconate, became a member of the board of directors of the Diocese of Iowa, and started the first Iowa chapter of Integrity.

Beyond the Church and the University, John has been a committed leader in the local, state and national theater communities.  He was the organizer of the City Circle Acting Company of Coralville, and enjoys directing theater productions.