OUR STAFF
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Rev. Doug Bunnell
Pastor
In 2002, Doug received a call to be the pastor here at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Doug, his wife Laurie, and children Zachary and Zoe moved on January 1, 2003 to begin this joyful adventure. After six months here Zach was diagnosed with cancer – osteosarcoma – in his right orbital. He courageously endured a host of surgeries and a yearlong chemotherapy program. Zach died on December 24, 2004.
The Bunnells enjoy the PNW. Laurie directs FPC’s First Pres Preschool; she loves the littles! Zoe is a child life specialist at Stanford Children’s Hospital, look it up online, they are cool. Doug loves Jesus, Laurie and Zoe, Bellingham, books, hanging-out, breweries, making good food, eating good food, sunny skies, football, kayaking, giving blood, biking everywhere he can, nap time, and enough Kingdom work to keep him busy for way too long.
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Kerrie Bauer
Commissioned Pastor of Spiritual Formation
Children and Families, Deacons, Visitation/Pastoral Care, Women’s Ministries
Kerrie and her husband Brett started attending FPC in 2011 with their teen-age daughters. She joined the staff in 2014 as the Children’s Ministry Director. In 2018 Kerrie completed the Commissioned Pastor process through the presbytery and now comes alongside deacons and women’s ministry as well as children. Between 2018 and 2022, Kerrie served as a per diem chaplain at St. Joseph’s medical center and experienced Christ’s love expressed in the midst of suffering.
Born in the Pacific Northwest, Kerrie loves the mountains, the water, the forests and the rain! She and her husband love to swim in Whatcom’s lakes in the summer and ride mountain biking trails year round. They now have two adult daughters and a son-in-law.
A highlight of the family year is participating in the Ski to Sea race, which they have done every year since 2000.
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Jocelyn Meyer
Executive Administrator & Worship Director
Jocelyn has lived in Bellingham, WA and attended First Presbyterian Church since enrolling at Western Washington University in 1997. She now serves at FPC as Worship Director and Executive Administrator after many years of volunteering as a worship leader, as well as middle school youth leader and music leader at the INN during her years at the university.
Jocelyn enjoys reading, sports, building and fixing things, gardening, and spending time with her family.
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Alissa Hallet-McSharry
Connections Coordinator
Alissa attended WWU in the late 90s where she was very involved at the INN. After six years working in Alaska, she and her husband Caleb started attending FPC in 2005 and were married at this beautiful church in 2006. They have two boys.
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Emily Bajema
Creative Communications Director
Emily is a third generation attendee of FPC, having attended since before she was born! Her interests include the Mariners, sewing, and recommending good TV to her friends.
Emily has been on staff at FPC in various roles since 2016. She currently provides creative content and graphic design, in addition to supporting various ministries in all sorts of ways.
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Rachel Buri
Children’s Coordinator
Rachel moved to Bellingham from the Seattle area in 2001 to attend Western. She met her husband, Nate, there. They lived in a downtown condo, walking to First Pres. on Sundays for the first eight years of marriage. During that time they led Young Life together in Ferndale and Rachel was an elementary school teacher. They eventually moved to a house to raise their three kids and she became a stay at home mom.
Wyatt, Ava and Liam are in their early years of school, and volunteering in their classes gives Rachel great joy. With her family, Rachel loves to go on walks, watch her kids bike (especially at Trackside,) eat ice cream and travel. On her own she likes to read, sip coffee in silence, jog(ish) and work on photo books.
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Cameron Maddox
Youth Coordinator
Cameron joined First Presbyterian Church in early 2024 and quickly felt at home, sensing God's presence in the welcoming community. He occasionally plays bass guitar with the worship team and is now excited to serve as the Youth Coordinator. Cameron is passionate about creating a safe and supportive space for the youth of FPC.
Cameron is currently studying Management Information Systems at Western Washington University. Outside of his academic pursuits, he enjoys music and running. He has a background in volunteer work, having spent several years with the non-profit Our Treehouse, where he supported youth and families dealing with loss. Cameron looks forward to bringing his experience in empathy and presence to his role at FPC.
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Tammy Rutgers
Organist
Tammy Rutgers began accompanying hymns in elementary school in Western Michigan, choirs in junior high, and congregational singing as church organist in high school.
Her previous Bellingham connections have included St. Joseph Hospital medical transcription for 15 years and Bellingham Festival Chorus for six years. She is now thankful to be a part of classical worship through organ, piano and choir here at FPC, and deeply appreciates her brothers and sisters in Christ who have maintained such a faithful witness to the Bellingham community for over 100 years! Soli Deo Gloria!
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Laurie Bunnell
Preschool Director
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Melissa Kaylor
Preschool Aide
Melissa Kaylor joined FPC late Summer 2024 as the newest FPC PreK Aide! She feels so fortunate to have her husband’s (Sean) job bring her and their family to Bellingham in 2013 just in time to have their 4th kid! She enjoys time slowing down with her family, seeing them grow and become their own people, riding the flowy trails on Galbraith, trail “jogging”, someone else picking good music for her, good food (because who doesn’t love good food) and the rare adventures she gets to share with her husband now that the kids are bigger. She is excited to transfer her knowledge gleaned from years of being a stay at home mom, wanna be artist/farmer into the classroom. She believes kids hold a spark and a light, be it their faith, wonder or kindness, that adults often forget is still in their hearts!