Trinity Las Américas United Methodist Church Staff
Rev. Alejandro Alfaro-Santiz - Lead Pastor
Pastor Alejandro is a second career clergy. A Guatemalan native, he worked as a cultural anthropologist. In 2013 he received the M.Div. from the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado with a concentration in United Methodist Studies, receiving the student of the year award. He grew up Catholic, and after finishing high school became a non-denominational Christian.
After a few years he realized that most churches do exactly the opposite of what Jesus taught and lived, so he decided to follow Jesus on his own and became a “free agent.” He came to realize that community is very important to follow Jesus, both for support and for accountability.
Pastor Alejandro believes that those who call ourselves Christian must follow the example of Christ and he strives to do that. A daily life of prayer/communion with God is essential in order to follow Christ, because it is as countercultural today as it was in the Palestine of the first century. The Bible is very important and John 10:10b is the lens Alejandro uses to read it. He has experienced that the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ is life-giving. His theology is post-colonial liberationist.
In his 11th year of appointment as pastor, Alejandro and feels very blessed to be working with Trinity Las Américas UMC (TLA) – a reconciling congregation focused on social justice. He has experienced that we are all created in God’s image -Imago Dei- and when we behave in ways that don’t reflect this reality, is when we most need to be reminded of our true essence.
In the fall of 2019, Pastor Alejandro completed the Living School, a two-year program from the Center for Action and Contemplation, focused on recovering Christianity’s mystic tradition to balance one’s spiritual life and social justice life. This is what John Wesley called personal holiness and social holiness, we need both, just like Jesus lived. Pastor Alejandro has also experienced that the Christian Church (regardless of denomination) has failed to help people cultivate daily spiritual practices to connect with God, so that out of that relationship people go out into the world and work to make it a better place, just like God intended to be.
A first-time delegate to General Conference 2024(2020) and North Central Jurisdictional Conference 2024, Pastor Alejandro is excited about the possibilities of naming and rejecting white supremacy and decolonizing the United Methodist Church.
In his free time, Alejandro likes to ride his bike and read poetry in Spanish… though not at the same time. He is a partner to Maria, sidekick to sons Luca (7) and Mateo (3) and human to Mochi (Mochilero) Weimaraner dog.
Contact Pastor Alejandro at 515-450-1621 or rev.alejandro@trinitylasamericas.org
Merry Orcutt - Office Administrator
Merry joined TLA as office administrator in September 2022. She’s worked at two previous churches and in a variety of industries, and has a B.A. in general education with emphasis in Sociology and Psychology. She also volunteers at a men’s recovery house, The Harbor of Hope, assisting the director and new residents with orientation.
Merry lived in Colorado, California, and New Mexico, before moving to Iowa in 2016. She’s traveled the continental 48 and all four provinces of Canada. She lives with her 17-year-old son, boyfriend, and two very spoiled Boxers named Charlie and Koa. Merry is a Southern Baptist and a member of Crestwood Baptist Church in Des Moines. She enjoys getting to know people, spending time with family, playing digital games, reading, or learning new things.
Merced Cruz - Outreach Coordinator
Merced Cruz is TLA's Outreach Coordinator, assisting neighbors mostly outside the congregation with social and living needs. She also assists in various capacities in the office.
Merced is a native of Mexico and long-time member and volunteer at TLA. She serves through significant events in the life of the church, such as Spanish Bible Study and preparing meals for large groups. Her son and daughter, now grown, were active participants in CFUM programs during their school years.
