Rev. Cody Natland (he/him/his)
Pastor
Pastor Cody grew up in Selah, where his family was active at Selah United Methodist Church. He received his Bachelors of Arts degree from Eastern Washington University before earning his Master of Divinity degree at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, with additional coursework at Boston University School of Theology. He was Ordained as an Elder in 2017.
Cody is excited about life-giving, world-changing ministry and mission. He enjoys preaching and teaching, and helping people to have an "ah-ha" moment as they learn more about God's activity in our lives and our world. He is passionate about justice for the earth and its peoples, and in particular working to be good stewards of God's creation so that future generations can continue to enjoy it. When he is not working, he enjoys reading, cycling, camping, and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest with his family.
Pastor Cody has served Ellensburg United Methodist Church since July of 2023. His previous ministry experience includes working at camps in the Pacific Northwest Conference and New England Conference, and serving as the pastor of Moran UMC (Spokane, WA), Bay View UMC (Mt Vernon, WA), Central UMC (Sedro-Woolley, WA), Avon UMC (Mt Vernon, WA), and West Point UMC (West Point, KY).
Cody lives in Ellensburg with his wife, Crystal; their children Charley, Aleeha, and Cedar; and their dog, Bailey.
Cody is excited about life-giving, world-changing ministry and mission. He enjoys preaching and teaching, and helping people to have an "ah-ha" moment as they learn more about God's activity in our lives and our world. He is passionate about justice for the earth and its peoples, and in particular working to be good stewards of God's creation so that future generations can continue to enjoy it. When he is not working, he enjoys reading, cycling, camping, and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest with his family.
Pastor Cody has served Ellensburg United Methodist Church since July of 2023. His previous ministry experience includes working at camps in the Pacific Northwest Conference and New England Conference, and serving as the pastor of Moran UMC (Spokane, WA), Bay View UMC (Mt Vernon, WA), Central UMC (Sedro-Woolley, WA), Avon UMC (Mt Vernon, WA), and West Point UMC (West Point, KY).
Cody lives in Ellensburg with his wife, Crystal; their children Charley, Aleeha, and Cedar; and their dog, Bailey.
Carol Pederson (she/her/hers)
Church Secretary
Carol grew up in Seattle but has been a resident of Ellensburg since 1976. She completed her education at Central Washington University in 1976 with a degree in Community Health Education. After her two sons started school, she started her 31-year career at the Ellensburg Public Library. She started attending Ellensburg First United Methodist in 2006. Rev. Shalom Agtarap officiated her marriage to Gary Pederson in 2012. They both became members of the church during Rev. Jen Stuart’s time at EUMC. Following her retirement Carol decided she needed to work more! The opening for the church secretary came at the perfect moment, and Carol has been on our staff since March of 2023.
Lee Bates (he/him/his)
Music Director
Lee serves as our accompanist on Sunday mornings, sharing his gift for playing both the organ and piano, and also directs our Sanctuary Choir and Bell Choir.
Lee got his start as a musician at the age of 5 when he sang with the Cherub Choir at Kirkland’s Rose Hill Presbyterian Church, directed by his mother. He has always had a passion for church music. He has served as an organist, choir director and music director since the age of 22 at several Seattle area churches.
With a passion for teaching, Lee enjoyed over a three-decade career in the public school system as a junior high choral director, classroom teacher and K-12 school librarian. He retired from the Lake Washington School District in 2003.
Lee earned his undergraduate degree in Music Education at CWSC, now Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA. He completed post graduate studies in Library and Information Sciences at the University of Washington. Lee also undertook post graduate work in pursuit of an MFA in Sacred Music at Seattle Pacific University.
Lee and his wife, Karen, have been married 52 years. They stay young by trying to keep up with their two dachshunds, Harry and Wally.
Lee got his start as a musician at the age of 5 when he sang with the Cherub Choir at Kirkland’s Rose Hill Presbyterian Church, directed by his mother. He has always had a passion for church music. He has served as an organist, choir director and music director since the age of 22 at several Seattle area churches.
With a passion for teaching, Lee enjoyed over a three-decade career in the public school system as a junior high choral director, classroom teacher and K-12 school librarian. He retired from the Lake Washington School District in 2003.
Lee earned his undergraduate degree in Music Education at CWSC, now Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA. He completed post graduate studies in Library and Information Sciences at the University of Washington. Lee also undertook post graduate work in pursuit of an MFA in Sacred Music at Seattle Pacific University.
Lee and his wife, Karen, have been married 52 years. They stay young by trying to keep up with their two dachshunds, Harry and Wally.