We are Aldersgate - a vibrant, inclusive Christian community growing in faith, love, health, and service located in Bellevue, WA.
Aldersgate United Methodist Church resides on the unceded land of the Duwamish Tribe - the People of the Inside, dxʷdəw?abš - what many know as King County. To learn more about and advocate for the federal recognition of the Duwamish Tribe’s people, culture, heritage, and land, please visit https://www.duwamishtribe.org/.
We believe that God transforms.
We believe that God interacts with us best when we open ourselves to the Spirit. We believe God moves in and through all things, including us, always for the greater good. We believe in the expansiveness of God. Where language falls short, we believe the Spirit will guide us toward inclusivity and justice.
We believe Jesus Christ is the one we are to follow and model our lives upon. We believe that we are called to emulate the love of Jesus Christ in the world. We believe that we must offer the same hope, grace, and acceptance during Jesus’ life and ministry. We are called to worship, pray, teach, heal, and gather all members of Creation as we live into the vision of a reconciled, just world.
Our collective actions, meditations, and prayers guide us toward living in the image of God which we all uniquely bear. Together, we more clearly see, hear and feel the loving presence of our Divine Parent. We commit ourselves to live a life that emulates that of Jesus Christ and follow the movement of the Spirit wherever She may lead us.
We must recognize and confront those actions which harm our fellow members of Creation. We flip the tables of injustice by seeking change in our communities. We continue to discern how to respond to the underlying causes of hunger, homelessness, and injustices that surround us.
We believe in the belovedness, dignity, and sacred worth of all people. As a Reconciling Congregation, we fully affirm and warmly embrace the diverse expressions and experiences of our LGBTQ+ siblings. All are welcome here - and all means all.
We are a vibrant, inclusive Christian community and we respond to this call in many ways. Aldersgate continues to grow in faith, love, health, and service every day. We offer our full selves - mind, heart, body, and spirit - in service to God and all members of Creation.
Reconciling Congregation
As a member of Reconciling Ministries Network, we fully affirm the dignity and sacred worth of all people. We embrace the diverse expressions and experiences of our beloved LGBTQ+ siblings. All are welcome here - and all means all! Learn more about Reconciling Ministries Network and the movement towards the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals in the United Methodist Church: www.rmnetwork.org
Meet Our Staff!
Rev. Wongee Joh (She/Her)
Senior Pastor
Rev. Wongee Joh (she/her/hers) is a Korean-American woman pastor, who initially responded to her call that “things will be different for our daughters” while raising her daughters, Elizabeth and Samantha. Being the change we want to see in our world is the gift of God, and she finds deep joy in this journey. She understands no one walks alone and embraces relationships of solidarity in collective resistance through the freedom and power God gives to us to resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.
Wongee is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, and prior to her appointment here at Aldersgate UMC, she served under appointments in the New York Annual Conference (NYAC) since 2009. In 2019, she was the recipient of the C. Dale and Gwen White Award from MFSA in recognition of her longtime dedication to intersectional collaboration amongst justice seeking groups, especially in the areas of race, gender, and human sexuality.
She also served as staff chaplain at Vassar Brothers Medical Center for six years and as an adjunct professor for Supervised Ministry/Leadership and Formation at Drew Theological School.
Wongee appreciates learning as a life long gift. She enjoys being at creative play through traveling, hiking, running, gardening and cooking with families and friends.
CJ Ingalls (They/Them)
Office Manager & Youth/CYF Admin
CJ Ingalls has been a part of the Aldersgate community since they were two years old! Having attended Aldersgate Christian Preschool, Sunday School, VBS, Confirmation, and countless Youth Group events over the years, CJ is deeply knowledgeable about the programs and the community here at Aldersgate. If they don't have the answer to your question, they know who will.
As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, CJ is dedicated to making Aldersgate an inclusive and safe place for people of all genders, identities, and sexualities.
During their off time, CJ enjoys reading, playing music, and many types of crafting.
Worship Leader
Roger has been singing and playing guitar with the Contemporary Worship Band for nearly 20 years, and has been the Worship Leader and music director since 2016. He’s been a pop/rock/country/folk/dance band member, playing guitar and singing since his teens, playing in living rooms, basements, parties, campfires, bars, hotels, coffeehouses, and now, in service to a community of like-minded Christians. He gives credit to God, his wife Kate, and his 4 wonderful kids for leading him here, as well as all of the musicians and leaders who came before him.
The Praise Band plays contemporary Christian artists such as Matt Maher, Chris Tomlin, Sara Groves, Casting Crowns, Lauren Daigle, Newsboys, Mercy Me, Audrey Assad, and Matthew West as well as countless hidden gems unearthed from B sides and home-made YouTube recordings. Roger has written and performed several originals, and updated traditional hymns to modern music styles, He also tweaks modern songs to fit the message of the church. The band welcomes new players and singers, as long as you can clap on 2 and 4, and not frighten children or dogs when you sing.
When not playing music at Aldersgate UMC and with his other band, Inner Voices, Roger enjoys spending time with his family, helping people with home loans, substitute teaching, talking to random strangers about nearly everything, and getting out in the glorious outdoors in the Puget Sound area.
Jim Peterson
Choir Director
Bio coming soon!
Debbie Daugherty
Finance Secretary
Finance Secretary
Debbie Daugherty retired from the Pacific Northwest Environment Stewardship Council in October 2022 as Finance and Compliance Administrator tracking grants and ensuring compliance. Debbie brings more than 25 years of grant, accounting and administrative non-profit experience to Aldersgate UMC. Before the Stewardship Council, she worked for College Success Foundation based in Bellevue, WA as Quality Improvement Manager, Grants and Contracts. Before that she was Accounting Grants Manager for Hopelink in Redmond, Washington. Other organizations include Northwest AIDS Foundation, The Seattle
Children’s Museum and Hopelink.