Greetings!

Kent United Methodist Church is an active and vibrant congregation providing a gracious space for all.

Whether you’re an adult or child, chances are you’ve got questions about God, Jesus, the church, and the world we live in. At K.U.M.C.’s Worship Services, KidZ JAM, Adult Small Groups, Bible Studies, and Social Events, you’ll find help searching for God’s answers in an open, safe environment with a welcoming community of people who love kids and love God. God promises, “When you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” Hold onto this promise, and come explore what God might have for you! You are welcome here! (Read our Statement of Inclusivity.)

If this sounds like something you would like to be part of, it would be a delight to share this journey of faith.

I look forward to meeting you.
Pastor Jim 

  • LOVE: Disciples at Kent United Methodist Church practice LOVE for God through worship and LOVE for neighbors in everyday life.

    GROW: Disciples GROW in faith with others through participation in a small group or class that focuses on growing in Christ-likeness. Find out more.

    SERVE: Disciples SERVE to build up the Body of Christ, the Church, through regular PRAYER for the ministry of the church, faithful PRESENCE at worship, sacrificial sharing of spiritual and financial GIFTS, ongoing and hands-on SERVICE within the church and in the world, and enthusiastic WITNESS to the power and presence of God their lives through Christ.

    SHARE: Disciples SHARE their faith with others in ways that make a loving difference and which bring others to Christ. And disciples sacrificially SHARE their financial resources to guarantee the success of the mission.

Worshipping at Kent UMC

  • Regular Sunday worship services are held at 10:00 a.m. We offer a relaxed worship experience that blends both traditional and modern elements. You’ll find wonderful music and a meaningful message. During the “Time with Young Disciples” with our children, we use storytelling in a variety of forms that help the children experience the love of God in worship and guide them toward becoming more active participants.

    Other special services are offered during Lent and Advent. Details of those services are published in advance on the church website, on the app, on social media, and through regular communications with the congregation.

  • Communion is celebrated in this congregation on the first Sunday of each month and at special services throughout the year. In the United Methodist Church, communion is offered to everyone regardless of their church affiliation or even if they have none. All are welcome at the Lord’s Table.

  • Many opportunities for your children

    Children: Sunday school for 4-year-olds through 6th grade and nursery care for children from birth through 3 years old is offered at our 10 a.m. service. All children are welcome to be in the service with you if that is what you prefer. Find out more.

  • Youth: Sunday morning worship is an important time in our life as a church family. Our leaders in the service and in the youth ministry spend time carefully preparing in order to make it a truly engaging and discipling time. That’s why we join in worship with the adults. Find out more.

  • Music and other art forms are an important part of the Kent UMC tradition, which is essential to the worship experience. We encourage new participants in all of our ministries. Find out more.

We Are Methodists

  • As United Methodists, we have an obligation to bear a faithful Christian witness to Jesus Christ, the living reality at the center of the Church’s life and witness. To fulfill this obligation, we reflect critically on our biblical and theological inheritance, striving to express faithfully the witness we make in our own time.  Two considerations are central to this endeavor: the sources from which we derive our theological affirmations and the criteria by which we assess the adequacy of our understanding and witness. Wesley believed that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason.  

  • United Methodists profess the historic Christian faith in God, incarnate in Jesus Christ for our salvation and ever at work in human history in the Holy Spirit. Living in a covenant of grace under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we participate in the first fruits of God’s coming reign and pray in hope for its full realization on earth as in heaven.

  • The mission of the Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs.

  • The United Methodist Church has a long history of concern for social justice. Its members have often taken forthright positions on controversial issues involving Christian principles. Early Methodists expressed their opposition to the slave trade, to smuggling, and to the cruel treatment of prisoners.

Kent UMC History

  • In 1855, the first “circuit riding” Protestant missionary in the Greater Seattle area, the Rev. David Blaine, preached the first sermon in a pioneer home here. (He was the founding pastor of Seattle’s First Methodist Episcopal Church.)

    From 1860-1876, the congregation was served by “traveling” ministers from the Seattle Circuit, and in 1877 the Rev. B. J. Sharp was appointed as pastor.

  • The first church building was constructed in 1883 on First Avenue South and was later moved to the corner of Central and Meeker

  • In 1909, a larger, new building took the place of the original church at the same location.

  • In 1970, the sanctuary on East Hill was built.

    The fellowship hall and educational facilities were completed in 1980 to provide opportunities for expanded ministry to the rapidly growing community.

    In 1997, additional classroom space, better known as the “Quad”, was completed. In recent years, we have added additional staff to handle our expanding ministry to people of all ages, and we have recently remodeled our offices, library, and music room.

  • Forty-eight pastors have provided leadership over the years.

    1860-1876,

    Part of Seattle Charge, served by traveling ministry: D. L. Spaulding, Rollin Smith, D. R. McMillan, Martin Judy, George Whitworth, A. Atwood, Samuel Green

    1877-1879, B. J. Sharp

    1879-1881, D. R. Spaulding

    1881-1883, Wm. Mareon

    1883-1884, A. K. Crawford

    1884-1885, John Flinn

    1885-1888, B. F. Van Deventer

    1888-1891, R. Z. Fahs

    1891-1893, W. H. Drake

    1893-1897, C. E. Fulmer

    1897-1901, E. Morris

    1901-1903, A. J. Whitfield

    1903-1905, E. Drake

    1905-1908, C. A. Williams

    1908-1910, George A. Sheafe

    1910-1912, C. Evers

    1913-1915, Richard Oates

    1915-1917, O. Benadom

    1917-1918, H. L. Townsend

    1918-1924, Spencer S. Sulliger

    1924-1928, Harry E. Gardner

    1928-1932, George Abbott

    1933-1935, N. M. Jones

    1935-1936, H. C. Kohr

    1936-1942, William Callahan,

    1942-1944, Wilbur M. Snyder

    1944-Dec., E. E. Beckman

    1944-1952, Earl W. McAbee

    1952-1959, Robert Ortmeyer

    1959-1964, Paul Hamlin

    1964-1975, C. H. Sprague

    1975-1983, Clinton Aiton

    1983-1991, C Richard Boyd

    1991-1999, Bruce Cornely

    1999-2003, Larry Speicher

    2003-2011, Keat Yeoh

    2011-2016, Jonathan Short

    2016- , Jim Head-Corliss

  • The SAAR Pioneer Cemetery, located next to WinCo Foods, 21100 91st Pl S, Kent, WA 98031, is owned by our church. Find out more.

    The Saar Historic Pioneer Cemetery Needs Our Care

    Does Kent United Methodist own a cemetery?? YES, we do!  It is right next to WinCo Foods on 212th.

    Helping hands are always needed; think “pull weeds.” Please contact the church office if you can help pull weeds, enjoy time with others while working, and learn a bit of Kent Valley history. The usual work days are Friday and Saturday, as needed.

First Church

First Church, 1883 to 1909, downtown Kent, Washington

1909 to 1970 in down Kent, Washington

Current building, on the East Hill of Kent, Washington