J. Colleen Michael retired July 31 as district executive minister for Pacific Northwest District, having served for more than seven years since Jan. 1, 2012. The district has appointed a three-member interim team to care for essential functions during a time of discernment regarding organizational structures that will serve the district in the future.
Michael is a life-time member of Wenatchee (Wash.) Brethren-Baptist Church United. As district executive she oversaw a district name change from Oregon Washington District to Pacific Northwest District. During her tenure she helped the district deal with threatening wildfires, including in the summer of 2015 two fires that threatened her hometown and the city of Tonasket, Wash.
She represented the district in denominational leadership, serving on the Compelling Vision Working Group and as chair of the Council of District Executives (CODE). While on the CODE executive committee she was one of the district executives who worked with the denomination’s Leadership Team responding to the 2016 Annual Conference “Query: Same Sex Weddings,” out of which work emerged the compelling vision conversations.
In previous denominational roles she was on the board of the former Association of Brethren Caregivers and transitioned into the Mission and Ministry Board where she served on the Strategic Planning Team. She also chaired the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee.
Interim team
The district has named an interim leadership team of Debbie Roberts, Glenn Brumbaugh, and Carol Mason. Roberts is pastor of Ellisforde Church of the Brethren and adjunct professor of Reconciliation Studies at Bethany Seminary, and will be primary contact for the Office of Ministry, will maintain district files and records and financial reviews. Brumbaugh, pastor of Olympic View Church of the Brethren in Seattle, Wash., will be the district representative to CODE. Mason, an area minister for the district, will care for pastoral placement, congregational property issues, coordination of clergy, congregational ethics, ministers’ credentialing renewal, and will be ex-officio on district board and committees.
The district will receive mail at the Olympic View church address.