Ministries in Transition

We lift up the leaders who are guiding ministries through this time of transition: transition teams, call committees, transition pastors, congregation staff and lay leaders, and synod staff. Questions about these vacancies?  Contact Assistant to the Bishop, Pastor Andy Yee. 

NEW VACANCIES

  • Wooden Cross /Woodinville + Pastor

TRANSITION PROCESS UNDERWAY

  • Cross of Christ / Bellevue (Pastoral Care David & Nyla Schoeld)
  • Lutheran Church in the San Juans (Care Pastor: Emma Donahue)
  • Salem, Mount Vernon + Pastor (Care Pastor: David Parks, Deanna Wildermuth, Transition Facilitator)
  • Vashon / Vashon Island + Pastor (pulpit supply)

PROFILE COMPLETE (receiving nominations – find nomination form HERE)

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INTERVIEWING & CALLING

  • Church of the Apostles / Seattle + Pastor (John Barich, Interim Care Pastor, Liz Colver, Transition Facilitator )
  • Our Savior's, Everett + Calling second pastor 

UPCOMING SERVICES & CELEBRATIONS

(Note: we will post newly accepted calls once we receive paperwork confirmation!)

  • Ministry Candidate Anna Czarnik Neimeyer has accepted a call to serve as a pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Belfair (Southwestern Washington Synod.) Her ordination service will be 1/31 at 11am. Clergy are invited to vest - color of the day is red, gather at 10:30am
  • St. John United, Seattle has called Rev. Katie Yahns to serve as their next pastor - Start and installation dates TBD

DID YOU HEAR?

  • Rev. Jim Killogh has retired from Central/Everett - final service was 1/18. 
  • Ministry Candidate Katrina Bentsen has accepted a call to serve as one of the pastors at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland - on Whidbey Island. Her service of ordination and installation was 1/10/26
  • Rev. Muriel Otto has accepted the extended service invitation to serve as the Children, Youth and Family Minister at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Bellingham. (Pastor Muriel is an ordained UCC minister) Her installation rite will be held Sunday, January 11 at 9:30am. God bless this new ministry partnership!
  • Rev. Malcolm Brown retired at end of Dec. Prayers for him as he begins this next chapter, and prayers for United in Grace/Monroe as they enter this time of discernment. 
  • Rev. Paul Ko and Korean mission start of Seattle Community Covenant Church held a holy closure service on Dec. 28 at 10:30am at Luther's Table, Renton. We give thanks for the connections made and witness shared by this ministry. We ask for God's guidance and blessing as Pastor Paul and his family prepare to build a new ministry out of state - and for the members as they seek a new faith homes;
  • Ministry Candidate Jill Nichols Hicks accepted the call to serve as the pastor at Northlake/Kenmore. She began 9/2 - her ordination was 9/12 - her installation service was Nov 2
  • Ministry Candidate Arlene Smith received a synod call (on 7/19/25) to serve as a Clinical Spiritual Care Provider at Harborview Medical Center. Her ordination was Nov 22 at Holy Spirit/Kirkland
  • Rev. Martin Eldred is new pastor at Bethany/Bainbridge Island. He began 10/12 - installed Dec 7 at 3pm.
  • Rev. Eric Griffith has accepted a new call in Idaho - his final service with Wooden Cross / Woodinville is 11/30

Last updated: 1/26/26