Interim Pastoral Team
Pastor Emma Donohew
Rev. Emma Donohew is grateful to be a part of the Interim Team at Faith! She is also the Pastor of Echoes, an experimental church in Bellingham! Her passions include building community in unique places (breweries, forests & parks) and helping people tap into their own God-given creative spirit. She lives on Whidbey Island (Deception Pass) and enjoys hiking & beachcombing with her husband Eric & hound dog Molly.
Pastor Wendell Hendershott
As part of the Interim Pastoral Team at Faith Lutheran, Pastor Wendell will alternate presiding at worship and Holy Communion with Pastor Netsie, his wife. The two of them will also be sharing pastoral care responsibilities and covering
pastoral emergencies. Realizing that he may never have to shovel snow again, Pastor Wendell quickly fell in love with the rain in Seattle, as he got off the plane from Bismarck, ND. That was before he had seen Mt. Rainier of hiked even one of the many trails of the Cascades. Whether teaching teenagers about the grace of God or leading seniors in a new song, he loved meeting people and making new friends. His elementary school teacher even wrote in his report card: “Wendell needs to stay in his seat more. He likes to visit with his friends.”
These days You’re most likely to meet Pastor Wendell in a coffee shop or bump into him on a favorite trail. When you do, you’re likely to notice the garden dirt under his fingernails. The goodness of creation and the bounty of God’s generosity inspire his life and feed his being.
Pastor Netsie Griffith
As part of the Interim Pastoral Team at Faith Lutheran, Pastor Netsie will alternate presiding at worship and Holy Communion with Pastor Wendell, her husband. The two of them will also be sharing pastoral care responsibilities and covering pastoral emergencies.
Though born in east Texas, family vacations to Colorado, gave Pastor Netsie a love for mountains and forests. In fact she often dreamed of living in the Pacific NW because of the trees. Her work in the church led to the fulfillment of that dream when her first church position landed her in Bremerton, Washington.
Though life since then has led her to different terrains (geographically and ecclesiastically), she always has felt most at home in this beautiful region of the world called the Pacific NW. Being able to combine her deep love for the church and its people and this land and its peoples are truly gifts of grace for which she is extremely grateful.