May Christ’s Peace Be with You!
My name is the Rev. James P. Monroe, although I’d prefer it if you just call me Jim. Get into formal names and titles with me and I figure I’m in trouble!
I am the pastor of The Kalama United Methodist Church, in Kalama, Washington. I am a “retired” pastor, with 50 years of ministry behind me. Most of that was spent in various locations in Oregon, including several stints as a denominational executive. I am now in my 4th “unretirement” as Kalama’s ½ time pastor.
My wife, Sue Owen, is also a retired United Methodist pastor, and we live in Cathlamet, Washington, a little over a half hour away from the church. We moved to Cathlamet from Central Oregon, and to Central Oregon from Kenya, Africa, in 2015, where we served in a mission capacity for several years. We love Kenya and the work there so much that we take a team over every year back to the hospital in rural Kenya where we lived and served.
Kalama UMC is a church central enough in town to be into just about everything that is good about Kalama, but small enough to where you don’t get lost coming through the doors. What you will “get” is a warm welcome, a worship service and music based on God’s grace – enough judgment already out there – and some food for thought to get you thinking through the next week.
Before I was a pastor I was in the US Navy, and have a variety of work experiences that steered my life to where I am today. I graduated from The University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, and The Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado.
Sue and I are a “blended” marriage, with three daughters, two sons-in-law and six grandchildren between us.
Bottom line is that we are always ready to welcome you to church; a church that is friendly, accepting of everyone, and ready to be your church and spiritual home.
I keep office hours on Monday and Friday, so if you have a need or question when I am not in the office, please feel free to call me on my cell phone!
Blessings to you,
Rev. Jim Monroe
541-815-3076 cell
