Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Thomas Telfer as Pastor of Yelm United Methodist Church in Yelm, Washington, beginning August 1, 2024. 

Rev. Telfer is currently serving a circuit of churches in the Church of Scotland. His last appointment in the PNW Conference was to Pioneer UMC in Walla Walla, Washington, from 2011-2017. Yelm UMC’s current pastor, Rev. Douglas Thomison, is retiring.

Crest to Coast District Superintendent Kathleen Weber intends to assign Stephen Dillworth as Lay Pastor of Lakewood United Methodist Church in Lakewood, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Dillworth currently serves as Lay Pastor of West Portland UMC in the Oregon-Idaho Conference. Bringing experience in church and non-profit leadership, he will be working toward licensing as a local pastor. Lakewood UMC’s current pastor, Rev. Hannah Andres, was appointed to the church until the end of June.

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Mele Taumoepeau Aho as Pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Bellevue, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Rev. Aho is a provisional elder in the Pacific Northwest Conference currently serving as Pastor of Mt. Olive UMC in Mount Airy, MD, and as Donor Relations Coordinator at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. It was previously announced that Aldersgate UMC’s current pastor, Rev. Wongee Joh, would be appointed to Seattle First UMC in July.

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Riva Tabelisma as Lead Pastor of Beacon United Methodist Church in Seattle, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Rev. Tabelisma is a provisional elder from the Minnesota Annual Conference, where she currently serves. Born in the Philippines, she made her home in the US in 2016 and earned an M.Div from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, where she continues her studies toward a doctorate.

It was previously announced that Beacon UMC’s current pastor, Rev. Jesse Farias, would be appointed to Port Orchard UMC in July.

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. MiKyung (Mia) Park as Pastor of Redeemer United Methodist Church in Kingston, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Rev. Park is an elder in the Oregon-Idaho Conference currently serving as Associate Pastor of Blaine Memorial UMC in Seattle. Redeemer UMC’s current pastor, Rev. Sheila Marie, is planning to retire.

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Kendra Behn-Smith as Pastor of Prosser United Methodist Church in Prosser, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Rev. Behn-Smith is an elder in the PNW Conference currently serving White Salmon UMC and Goldendale UMC. Prosser UMC’s current pastor, Rev. Bo Bryan, expects to retire in July.

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Drew Frisbie as Pastor of Snohomish United Methodist Church in Snohomish, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Rev. Frisbie is an elder in the PNW Conference currently serving Bay View UMC and Sedro Wooley: Central UMC. It was previously announced that Snohomish UMC’s current pastor, Rev. Janelle Kurtz, would be appointed to Cedar Cross UMC in July.

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Jesse Farias as Pastor of Port Orchard United Methodist Church in Port Orchard, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Rev. Farias is an elder in the PNW Conference currently serving Seattle: Beacon UMC. It was previously announced that Port Orchard UMC’s current pastor, Rev. Shirley DeLarme, would be appointed to Kennewick: First UMC in July.

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Wongee Joh as Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Seattle, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Rev. Joh is an elder in the PNW Conference currently serving as pastor of Aldersgate UMC in Bellevue. It was previously announced that Seattle First UMC’s current pastor, Rev. Jeremy Smith, would be appointed to Edmonds UMC in July.

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Cara Scriven as Interim Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Auburn, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Rev. Scriven is an elder in the PNW Conference who last served as pastor of Puyallup UMC from 2018 to 2023. It was previously announced that Auburn First UMC’s current pastor, Rev. Pat Longstroth, would be appointed to Vashon UMC in July.

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Shirley DeLarme as Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Kennewick, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Rev. DeLarme is an elder in the PNW Conference currently serving as pastor of Port Orchard UMC. Kennewick First UMC’s current pastor, Rev. Mark McMurray, has announced that he is requesting personal leave. 

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Janelle Kurtz as Pastor of Cedar Cross United Methodist Church in Mill Creek, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Rev. Kurtz is an elder in the PNW Conference currently serving at Snohomish United Methodist Church. Cedar Cross UMC’s current pastor, Rev. Cathy Law, has announced that she will be stepping away from leadership at Cedar Cross at the end of June.

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth has appointed the Rev. Hannah Andres as Pastor (½ time ) of Lakewood United Methodist Church in Lakewood, Washington, and as Associate Pastor (½ time) of Riverton Park United Methodist Church in Tukwila, Washington, through the end of this appointment year. She started this new appointment on February 1, 2024.

Rev. Andres is a licensed local pastor in the PNW Conference previously appointed to Moran UMC in Spokane. Her appointment to Riverton Park through June is supported by the conference in recognition of the unique ministerial challenges and opportunities of the moment as the church continues to offer Christian hospitality to migrants seeking asylum in the U.S.

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Pat Longstroth as Pastor of Vashon United Methodist Church in Vashon, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Rev. Longstroth is an ordained elder in the PNW Conference currently serving at Auburn First UMC. Vashon UMC’s current pastor, Rev. Mark Wagner, expects to serve as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force.

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Jeremy Smith as Pastor of Edmonds United Methodist Church in Edmonds, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Rev. Smith is an ordained elder from the Oregon-Idaho Conference currently serving as Pastor at Seattle: First UMC. Rev. Donna Pritchard has been serving Edmonds UMC in retired status since September of 2022.

Associate Pastor at Pioneer United Methodist Church in Walla Walla, Washington. 

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. John Tuckeras Pastor of Langley United Methodist Church in Langley, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Rev. Tucker is an ordained elder from the Oregon-Idaho Conference currently serving superintendent of the Crater Lake District (OR-ID). Langley UMC’s current pastor, Rev. Karen Dammann, expects to retire in July.

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Linda Tuckeras Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Oak Harbor, Washington, beginning July 1, 2024.

Rev. Tucker is an ordained elder from the Oregon-Idaho Conference currently serving as pastor of the First UMC of Corvallis, Oregon. Oak Harbor: First UMC’s current pastor, Rev. David Parker, expects to retire in July.

In accordance with the covenant agreement between the Pacific Northwest Conference of The United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Pacific Northwest Conference of The United Methodist Church, the United Church in University Place has called the Rev. Valerie Garrick under the process and guidelines of the UCC system.

Rev. Garrick has been an ordained minister in the UCC for 25 years, serving previously as a chaplain and several different, skilled pastoral roles. Prior to this new call, United Church was served by Rev. Cathy Law from 2014 to July 2023.

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Danielle Estelle Ramsay as Pastor of Simpson United Methodist Church in Pullman, Washington, beginning August 1, 2023.  

Rev. Ramsay, ordained at this year’s Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, currently serves as Associate Pastor at Pioneer United Methodist Church in Walla Walla, Washington.