After 18 months with an interim reverend, Vashon Presbyterian Church has installed Leigh Weber as preacher.

Weber began her duties at Vashon Presbyterian last month, but was officially installed as reverend on June 4. She said the island and its churches represent a unique community that requires interfaith cooperation to make differences.

“No one church can take on the immigration or homelessness crises, but when faith communities come together, we can affect tangible change,” she said. “What drew me to Vashon Presbyterian over other churches I interviewed for was the work I saw on the island as a whole. There is this intention toward care for this community and everyone is investing in the community.”

She mentioned the Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness’ free dinners at island churches, the Vashon Maury Community Food Bank’s garden that provides fresh food for those experiencing food insecurity as examples of this community work. Recently, a small group of islanders called the Interfaith Brainstormers, have also started thinking about issues facing the community and how island churches, collectively, can help.

“I see a good thing I want to be a part of,” Weber said, explaining that this community helpfulness aspect can be seen at Vashon Presbyterian through the community groups that meet there: Alcoholics Anonymous, a preschool and Carpe Diem Primary School.

Brownie Carver, a member of Vashon Presbyterian Church’s Board of Elders, said it was this interest in getting involved in the community that made Weber stand out.

“We were looking at four or five candidates and narrowing them down. Her enthusiasm about working with other churches and continuing the things we are already pursuing as a congregation made us feel this is a person we could really work with and could propel us forward,” Carver said.

Weber lives in Renton, but is originally from North Carolina. She moved to Washington in 1993 with her late husband who took a job at Seattle University.

She holds a Master of Divinity from the School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University, as well as a post master’s certificate in Spiritual Direction. She is currently enrolled in a Doctor of Ministry program at Seattle U.

Before coming to Vashon, she served as Associate Pastor at John Knox Presbyterian in Normandy Park. Before that, she was a community pastor to the homeless in Renton through an interfaith partnership of churches.

“Religion is not seeing the boundaries between people, but seeing the values of every person and I really see that here. Hopefully you’ll see us more and more in the community,” she said.

Contact Rev. Leigh Weber

Weber plans to be in her office, or at least on the island, Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Please call the church at 463-2010 ahead of time to schedule a meeting time with her.

For urgent pastoral needs, call her cell phone at 425-221-1142.