During the worship service on February 25th 2024, a letter from our District Superintendent was read that informed that the Rev. Wongee Joh will become the new Senior Pastor of First Church on July 1st, 2024.
You can view the reading of the letter, and words of reflection by our SPRC chair Jane Gregg during worship in the video below at minute 16. If the video does not embed for you, click here.
The content of the letter is below and includes this quote:
Rev. Wongee has a heart for preaching and teaching, training and empowering lay leadership, with strong administrative gifts and a compassionate presence in pastoral care. Rev. Wongee possess a passion for social justice, being unafraid to preach and lead on issues of racism, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, houselessness and poverty, and seeks always to lead the church toward having an outward focus of ministry into the community.
Rev. Derek Nakano, District superintendent
The Staff-Parish Relations Committee of our Administrative Board will be in communication with the congregation in the coming weeks as to next steps. You are invited to be in prayer for the SPRC and for Pastor Jeremy and his family during this time of transition.
For more participation:
- Read the original letter and update about Pastor Jeremy’s move to Edmonds
- Fill out the congregational survey to share onboarding values with Pastor Wongee.
- Mark your calendars for June 9th as our “going away” celebration of Pastor Jeremy and his family.