Transitions announced

Randy Crowe, managing director of N-Sid-Sen for 21 years announced at Annual Meeting that he will retire in April 2012. Linda Crowe, pastor at Veradale UCC, has announced that she will retire in May 2012. They will still live in Veradale.

Jill Midori Komura was ordained June 10 at University UCC as chaplain at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia.

Cameron Sharp was called as on-call chaplain at Tacoma General Hospital and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital June 23 at Wayside UCC in Federal Way.

Martha Kline was installed June 25 as pastor at Guemes Island UCC.

Peg Faulmann was ordained and installed June 26 at Keystone UCC in Seattle.

Frank Kelsey, executive minister United Ministries from 1975 to 1979, died June 12 at the age of 86. Ordained 1952, he served churches in Oregon, California and Washington, including Eastgate UCC in Bellevue, Fauntleroy UCC and interim at University Congregational UCC in Seattle. He was also an associate minister of the conference from 1968 to 1974, including a year as acting conference minister. His wife, Jane Kelsey, died last year.

Other clergy and PNC leaders who died in 2010 to 2011 include: Harold Jones, who retired from Naselle UCC after serving as an army chaplain and serving churches in Washington, Wyoming and Nebraska; Lincoln Reed, who served churches in Colorado, Oregon and Washington, including First Congregational in Bellevue; Kenneth Rhoe, who served churches in Oregon, Wisconsin and Washington; Stephen Edwards, who served First Congregational UCC in Dayton, and Kathy Youde, conference treasurer and former pastor at Tonasket.

Anti-racism event planned

Diane Schmitz, director of commuter and transfer student services at Seattle University, is co-facilitating a training, “Moving from Talk to Action: A Summer Institute for Anti-Racist White People,” with UCC pastor, Melanie Morrison, national director of Allies for Change, on August 2 and 3. It is an opportunity for white people to deepen their commitment to challenging racism and white privilege in their lives.

The two-day institute, which is limited to 20 people, will be held at University Baptist Church from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, August 2 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday August 3.

For information, call 206-409-7551 or email dschmitz@seattleu.edu.

Justice LED trainings set

Fall opportunities to participate in the national UCC’s Justice Leaders Engaging and Developing (J-LED) trainings include a Young Adult Training for UCC members 19 to 30 years old, Sept. 23 to 25 at Pilgrim Firs. For information, contact Kelly Burd at BurdK@ucc.org.

There will also be Justice Leaders Engaging and Developing training for pairs of people from churches Oct. 14 to 16 at Pilgrim Firs. For information, contact Susan Andresen at susan–andresen@hotmail.com.

The events share biblical, theological and sociological grounding for justice work, give a taste of J-LED for participants to share in their churches and communities to empower people to be faith-based leaders for justice.

Northshore hosts workshop on homelessness, advocacy

Northshore UCC in Woodinville is planning an ecumenical and interfaith “Fall Day of Action,” an advocacy workshop from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at the church, 18900 168th Ave. NE.

Nancy Amidei of the University of Washington School of Social Work will give an overview of advocacy and the importance of progressive Christians engaging in action, said Cynthia Riggin, pastor.

Rich Gamble pastor of Keystone UCC in Seattle, chair of the Justice and Witness Ministries Committee and member of Faithful Action in Transforming Homelessness will speak homelessness on what it means to be progressive Christians.

Jessie Dye of Earth Ministry will lead a session on “Whole Earth.” There will also be a session on advocacy on Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Questioning.

For information, call 425-483-6557 or email pastor@northshoreucc.org.

Copyright Pacific Northwest Conference News © Summer 2011