About Us
At Lakewood Presbyterian Church, we are a small, progressive church in Lakewood, Washington that welcomes people of all ages! Lakewood Presbyterian invites and includes all people to participate in worship. We value our relationships with one another. We believe that through our worship experiences, we grow in our ability to share God's truth in our everyday lives. Our doors are always open, and we welcome everyone to join us on this journey of faith.
WHO WE ARE
We are God’s people doing God’s work in our community. We believe that God created Lakewood Presbyterian to invite and include all people to participate in the worship and ministry of the church.
Worship, which includes the sacraments, is central to the life of each individual and is expressed best by fully incorporating the diversity of the community.
WHAT WE VALUE
We believe we have responsibility to encourage and provide for life/long learning throughout our individual and shared faith journey. As Christians, we are obedient to Christ and, therefore, reach out and serve others. We value our relationships with one another. We believe that, through our experiences within the church, we grow in our ability to share God’s truth in our everyday lives.
OUR COMMUNITY
With open hearts, we the people of Lakewood Presbyterian Church (LPC) seek to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God. LPC is a small and intimate church with its own unique story that reflects both God’s love of us (even as imperfect people), and God’s call to us to be radically transformed in the spirit of that love.
LPC WENT THROUGH A SIGNIFICANT MISSION STUDY PROCESS IN 2022. READ THAT REPORT HERE.
Our Pastor.
Rev. Laura Nile Tuell began her ministry at Lakewood Presbyterian Church in August 2023. Laura grew up in Salem, Oregon before attending Seattle Pacific University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Scriptures. She worked at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Seattle before attending Columbia Theological Seminary and earning her Masters of Divinity. Laura’s first call was as an Associate Pastor in Dayton, Ohio. Laura also holds a Masters of Business Administration from The Citadel Military College of South Carolina.
Laura believes the church’s obligation is to be a place of welcome and inclusion to all who walk through its doors. Laura is passionate about LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the church and is excited to be at an open and affirming church. Laura cares deeply about creation care and environmental justice, particularly as it intersects with racial justice, and is excited about working with the members of LPC to steward the land and resources we currently occupy.
In her free time, Laura enjoys traveling, gardening, swimming, playing board games with family, and doing the New York Times crossword. Laura is married to David and they have a 2 year old son Jack, new twins Viola and Eli who arrived in March of 2024.
Laura works Sunday-Thursday and has "office hours" at the church on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30a-4:30p. She is also available via phone and email throughout the week for any church needs. She is off on Fridays for her Sabbath and Saturdays to be with her family, but can be contacted in case of a pastoral emergency.
Our Staff.
Our Leadership.
ELDERS
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BECKY BUESCHER (clerk)
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JENNIFER ROGIERS
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JIM HALL (treasurer)
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CONNIE DUNKLEBERGER
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SUZY FARLEY
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BRAD TOURANGEAU
DEACONS
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RENEA WILLIAMSON
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CHELSEA WILLIAMSON
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MELINDA ROGIERS
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BARBARA POLAND
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TOM CALLAHAN
We are governed by our people, not our pastor. To contact our clerk of session, click here.
Our History.
Founded in the early 1900s for the Lakes District summer residents, our original church met out of an old schoolhouse. Lakewood Presbyterian Church has roots in the congregationalist tradition (it was chartered as First Congregational Church of American Lake in May of 1913), the Lutheran tradition (the church became Community Evangelical Luther Church of American Lake in 1923), and the Presbyterian church (officially received into fellowship with the Presbyterian Church in 1956.) We are a deeply-rooted historical church for the today's Lakewood.
These days we identify as an intimate and tight-knit, inter-generational, progressive sanctuary for those who need a place that is open, affirming, and inclusive. Throughout our history we have adapted to be a community church for a community people. Let us be community to you; all are welcome.
To read a longer version of our early history, click here.
