Two United Methodist pastors have been killed in a car crash after attending a joint worship service together.
Rev Charles Layton, 65, and Rev Carol Mart, 77, had carpooled to the event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday, before going out for lunch after the service. They crashed into a car at Highway 13 and Blaine's Crossing Road at about 1pm, according to police, and were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Scott Meador, pastor at Lovely Lane United Methodist Church and the leader of the Cedar Rapids United Methodist circuit, told The Gazette that the pair "were wonderful people with big hearts".
“You could tell that they loved their people, and their people really loved them back," he said. "That was a strong characteristic of both of them, that they loved their congregations.”
The outlet reported that Rev Layton was the pastor at Asbury and Kenwood Park United Methodist churches, and Rev Mart was pastor at Buffalo United Methodist Church.
Chuck Johnson, a member of the leadership team for the Asbury congregation, recalled to The Gazette that Layton loved to joke around in his sermons and had "a love of music and singing".
"He was part of the choir as much as possible," he said. "He loved, like all Methodists do maybe, he loved potlucks,” Johnson said. “He gave wonderful, beautiful sermons … He was very down to earth in his sermons."
Bob Marrs, a member of Rev Mart's Buffalo congregation, said the minister was "very personable and really seemed to care".
"Pastors are paid to care," he said, "but I think she was someone where that was her fundamental personality."
Other church leaders paid tribute to the two ministers and offered prayers and condolences to those affected.
“This is a devastating shock to families, ministry colleagues, and the congregations they served. Please hold these two pastors and all who love them in your prayers,” Pastor Jonathan Heifner of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids, posted on social media.
“They have both had a positive impact upon our Circuit ministries and upon me as a colleague in ministry, and they will be missed.”
He added: "In moments like these, we remember the grief that comes with loss, and it is also a chance to remember the gift of being in a connectional church: none of us has to grieve alone. If you knew either of these pastors and you’d like to talk through your own feelings at this tragic news, please reach out to one of our pastors, we are here for you.”
In a statement, the Linn County Sheriff's Office said that the other person involved in the collision was 54-year-old Martin Hagensick.
Mr Hagensick was unharmed in the incident, police added.