PNC treasurer is one of 12 UCC women's consultants

Kathy Youde, PNC’s treasurer and choir director at Tolt UCC in Carnation, is also serving four western conferences as one of 12 national United Church of Christ women’s consultants.

Kathy Youde

Local Church Ministries chose the consultants last fall and offered an orientation in April in Cleveland.

“We learned about the national UCC’s emphasis on mission, justice and peace,” she said, “and learned about the past UCC women’s ministries, which is in transition because of national staff cuts.”

Kathy has a commitment to the UCC mission and to women’s ministries.

Because of her passion for finances and her 30 years of experience in accounting, until she became pastor at Tonasket UCC, Kathy believes that what churches do with their money is a major part of “what we do with mission, reaching out to the world to do justice.”

So along with helping the PNC reinvigorate its financial processes so it can live into its ministry, she also works with a few accounting clients.

“Many years ago, I was not interested in joining the Association of Women Accountants. I did not like making women distinct,” Kathy said.  “In the church, however, I see power in what women can do.

As women’s consultant with the Central Pacific, Montana North Wyoming, Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain conferences, she works with the conference ministers to identify and meet with women in the conferences. 

She will consult with the conferences and churches about women’s ministries or women with ideas for conference-level women’s projects that will help connect women in the churches.

“Globally—as we read in the book, Three Cups of Tea, about Afghanistan, women are under-educated,” she said.

Churches can do advocacy related to such women’s issues.  They also need to increase the active involvement of younger women, Kathy said.

For information, call 509-322-3408 or email preacherladyky@gmail.com.

Copyright © September 2009 - Pacific Northwest United Church of Christ Conference News