Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church has a new permanent pastor in place.

After being hired as a “bridge pastor” in June, Ken Colman said he wanted to put his name in for the full-time position and the church’s membership voted in January to bring him on full-time.

“I’m loving it here,” he said.

Colman follows Russ Britton who left the Sequim church in 2023 for a Minnesota pastoral position to be closer to his wife’s family.

Sequim is the seventh church Colman has worked for after last serving as an interim pastor for a year-and-a-half at First Christian Church of Bremerton, Disciples of Christ, as they sought a full-time pastor. He’s also served in the Boston area, Nebraska, Colorado, Renton, Wa., and California since the 1980s.

Colman continues to commute from Kitsap County where his wife Tracy has a job with Kitsap County Mental Health.

“I love the commute,” Colman said. “From June 15 to Dec. 30 I listened to 40 books.”

Traveling isn’t uncommon for him, as he spent some of his childhood overseas when his father worked for the state department. He was born in Iran, lived in Nepal, Thailand, Laos, and went to high school in Afghanistan before returning to Oregon for college.

He experienced a lot overseas and saw a lot of people in need, he said, and several instances and life experiences led to him being a pastor.

His parents also told him that when he was 3-and-a-half, his grandmother predicted he’d become a pastor.

In Oregon as a teen, Colman said he felt he didn’t fit in while at Oregon State University, so he transferred to Linn-Benton Community College and eventually to Pacific University. He met his wife while attending church when he was at Pacific, he said.

Colman went to Andover Newton Theological School and began working in churches in 1981. He was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 1990.

In Sequim

Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church (DVLC) had about 50 regular attendees on Sundays when Colman started, and has grown to about 70.

He has found the Sequim church is “very involved in the community,” and its members notably helped start the Dungeness Valley Health & Wellness Clinic (Sequim Free Clinic). Members support the Sequim Food Bank, grow hundreds of pounds of vegetables each summer for it, and try to help support a number of community issues, Colman said.

“It’s a faithful group of folk who are continuing to look for the mission,” he said.

Before starting in Sequim, Colman was familiar with its demographics and attractions but he’s been drawn to the people. Colman said he’s a people-person.

“No matter who you are, you are welcome,” he said. “Our church will welcome you. If you believe the church is more than a club, come to our church. Our mission is to grow spiritually in our relationship with God.”

As the church’s new pastor, Colman said he hopes to help people grow spiritually “not by telling them what to do but so they can ask questions in their own spiritual journey.”

With his background, he hopes to share some multiculturalism and different perspectives living and serving across the globe and the United States.

Another of his hopes is to connect the church with the area and remain relevant.

Some of the biblical verses/books that have helped him include Micah 6:8 and Philippians 2, he said, because they address humility.

“The theme of humility has been a guiding light since I was ordained,” he said.

“I see myself as a servant to my congregation and anybody who walks into my office. I want to meet them where they’re at.”

Colman has been married 42 years. He and Tracy have two adult children and one grandchild.

Colman holds office hours Tuesdays and Wednesdays and occasionally Thursdays at the church, 925 N. Sequim Ave. Those interested in meeting him can call 360-681-0946 and leave a message. He will return your call.

Church service begins at 9:30 a.m. Sundays with adult education classes at 10:50 a.m. Services are also posted online. For more information on DVLC, visit dvelca.org.