An overflow crowd filled Edmonds United Methodist Church on Friday evening, October 24, for United in Faith: A Call to Action, an ecumenical gathering drawing people of faith from Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, and surrounding communities. The event, both in person and online, invited participants to stand together for justice, compassion, and truth amid growing polarization and threats to democratic values.
Pastors Jeremy Smith of Edmonds UMC and Tim Oleson of Edmonds Lutheran offered words of greeting and opening liturgy. Lora Hein and Dan Ford, from a nearby Unitarian Universalist congregation, lit a chalice representing the warmth of community and the flame of our hope for a more just world.
Hosted by the Edmonds Political Action Group (EPAG)—a ministry of Edmonds UMC formed in response to the 2024 election—United in Faith sought to educate, awaken, connect, and empower communities of faith to work together for the common good.
Participants prayed, sang, and affirmed shared commitments to resist the misuse of religion for political gain, uphold freedom of faith, and learn from history. Lively singing was capably led by the Edmonds Music Collective.
Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth, episcopal leader of the Greater Northwest Area of The United Methodist Church (UMC), joined Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee of the Northwest Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as keynote speakers. Together, they called the audience to reclaim the heart of faith as a source of moral courage and public witness.
Edmonds UMC members Kathi Matthes, Carol Megenity, and Claudia Carr offering hospitality for those arriving at the United in Faith: A call to action event at Edmonds UMC on Oct. 24, 2025. Photo by Patrick Scriven, PNW Conference. 
Revs. Jeremy Smith (Edmonds UMC) and Tim Oleson (Edmonds Lutheran) offer greetings to attendees of the United in Faith: A call to action event at Edmonds UMC on Oct. 24, 2025. Photo by Patrick Scriven, PNW Conference. 
Revs. Jeremy Smith (Edmonds UMC) and Tim Oleson (Edmonds Lutheran) offer greetings to attendees of the United in Faith: A call to action event at Edmonds UMC on Oct. 24, 2025. Photo by Ken Pickle, Edmonds UMC. 
Dan Ford, a member of a local Unitarian Universalist congregation, lights a symbolic chalice during the United in Faith: A call to action event at Edmonds UMC on Oct. 24, 2025. Photo by Patrick Scriven, PNW Conference. 
Rev. Tim Oleson (Edmonds Lutheran) speaks to the power of connection at the United in Faith: A call to action event at Edmonds UMC on Oct. 24, 2025. Photo by Patrick Scriven, PNW Conference. 
Pastor Gail Rautmann (Gloria Dei Lutheran Church) reads from the Gospel of Luke 4:16-21 during the United in Faith: A call to action event at Edmonds UMC on Oct. 24, 2025. Photo by Patrick Scriven, PNW Conference. 
Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee offers the first of two episcopal messages at the United in Faith: A call to action event at Edmonds UMC on Oct. 24, 2025. Photo by Patrick Scriven, PNW Conference. 
Rev. Kate Crisci (Ronald United Methodist Church) offers a short, personal testimony before reading from Luke 4:22-30 during the United in Faith: A call to action event at Edmonds UMC on Oct. 24, 2025. Photo by Patrick Scriven, PNW Conference. 
Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth offers the second of two episcopal messages at the United in Faith: A call to action event at Edmonds UMC on Oct. 24, 2025. Photo by Patrick Scriven, PNW Conference. 
EPAG Chair Diana Nielsen issued a call to action encouraging attendees to volunteer with assembled groups during the United in Faith: A call to action event at Edmonds UMC on Oct. 24, 2025. Photo by Patrick Scriven, PNW Conference. 
Representatives from the ACLU staff a table at the United in Faith: A call to action event at Edmonds UMC on Oct. 24, 2025. Photo by Ken Pickle, Edmonds UMC. 
Blake Alford, representing Faith Action Network, speaks with attendees of the United in Faith: A call to action event at Edmonds UMC on Oct. 24, 2025. Photo by Patrick Scriven, PNW Conference. 
Photo from the production booth at the United in Faith: A call to action event at Edmonds UMC on Oct. 24, 2025. Photo by Ken Pickle, Edmonds UMC.
Additional photos are available to view in this Flickr gallery.
Bishop Wee encouraged those gathered to stand up and organize as a matter of faith. “When truth is distorted, when the vulnerable are threatened, when love is mocked as weakness, let us… remember that we are called for such a time like this.”
Bishop Bridgeforth strongly encouraged attendees to be bold, generous, and wise in their support of the most vulnerable, describing accompaniment as “sacred work.”
“In this season, we must think strategically, work collaboratively, strategize intersectionally, and do it underground.”
The evening culminated with a Call to Action, announcing plans to form a new coalition of local progressive congregations for shared advocacy, rapid response, and coordinated service efforts. Following the program, attendees visited a resource fair featuring organizations such as the Faith Action Network (FAN), ACLU of Washington, Edmonds Food Bank, Housing Hope, League of Women Voters, Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest (RISN), South Snohomish County Indivisible, and the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN).
Organizers were heartened by the turnout, with EPAG Chair Diana Nielsen expressing gratitude to all those who helped organize and host the event. In moving personal testimony, Nielsen shared how her daughter had been in a freak accident, leaving her hanging upside down and disoriented as airbags deployed around her. A stranger took her hand as she struggled to leave the car, assisted her in getting out and comforted her.
“That’s us,” Nielsen said. “We’re the people who are going to take the hand that is reaching out, wondering if anyone is there.”
The event was free and open to the public, with people joining online via a livestream. A recording is available on the Edmonds UMC website.
Enlightening to read this. Thank you for the hard work.