HAZEL DELL — The Rev. Jennifer Brownell has been called to become First Congregational United Church of Christ’s permanent seated pastor. She was voted in by the congregation on Sunday.
Brownell became the church’s interim pastor in November 2015 after the Rev. Brooks Berndt resigned to join the United Church of Christ’s national headquarters in Cleveland as minister of environmental justice. After First Congregation United Church of Christ’s building was damaged by arson in May 2016, the congregation and Brownell agreed to change her contract to designated term pastor, allowing her to serve through 2018 and making it possible for her to be considered as permanent pastor.
Brownell received her master’s degree in divinity at Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry. She’s since been a pastor at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Seattle and Hillsdale Community Church in Portland. She has written a memoir, “Swim, Ride, Run, Breathe: How I lost a Triathlon and Caught My Breath.”
