SNOQUALMIE – In the Methodist church pastors aren’t called to churches, they’re sent.

The Snoqualmie United Methodist Church was sent Cathlin Law this summer and so far they seem to like what they’ve received.

“This is the most hospitable congregation,” Law said. “Anyone who comes through these doors will feel loved and welcomed. The hospitality here is very generous.”

Law replaced the church’s former pastor Beryl Ingram, who, in turn, was sent to another church.

In many Christian denominations, pastors are called by a particular church that needs a pastor. The Methodist Church is based on the Anglican system, which has a cabinet that decides who is moved where each year during an annual conference of church leaders. While some clergy members stay in the same church for many years, most are moved to new ones every five years or so in order to match pastors with certain churches that need their particular gifts.

Law said the gifts that sent her to Snoqualmie United Methodist Church probably include energy, enthusiasm, vitality, a gift for connecting with people and bringing them together as well as a passion for church and community.

“I’m excited about having my own church and such a vibrant congregation,” Law said.

Law grew up in Aberdeen where her family attended a Methodist church that she said encouraged her gifts and always made her feel loved.

“I always felt God was holding me in the palm of his hand,” Law said. “As a child, I loved going to church. In college, I went on a six-week missionary trip in Jamaica, that’s when I knew.”

Still, Law ended up teaching third through sixth grade for six years before deciding to go to seminary. When she graduated from the Pacific School of Religion at Berkeley, she became a chaplain in a hospital in San Francisco and then moved on to pastor a small congregation. From there she was sent to a Methodist church in Marysville, where she has served as pastor for the last three years.

Law said she was happy to be sent to Snoqualmie this summer. Law started over the July Fourth weekend, when Methodist pastors traditionally move to a new church if they’ve been sent. Appointments to new churches are made in June during the Methodist conference.

“I was really excited. I had always thought this area would be a great place to serve in the ministry,” she said.

In September, she and some other church members will go on a “visioning retreat” to set goals for the church. “I intend to listen deeply. I want to be able to help connect people to God so they know they are beloved to God, and in turn that love would automatically send them into the service of their neighbor.”

Law also wants to add more small groups to the church as well as a youth choir and youth drama team. Another goal is to boost community outreach.

When she’s not guiding her flock, Law enjoys biking, hiking, playing guitar and piano and reading books. She now lives in Issaquah.

The new tag line for the United Methodist Church, “open hearts, open minds, open doors,” is one that Law feels suits her congregation very well.

“There are a lot of differences politically and theologically,” said Law, “But people really care for each other in spite of their differences and continue to work together, sing together and workshop together.”

Staff writer Melissa Kruse can be contacted at (425) 888-2311 or by e-mail at melissa.kruse@valleyrecord.com