We look forward to meeting you soon: Email the Team Here.

EMMA DONOHEW (she/her/hers)

Emma Donohew is a Visual Artist & Pastor who is grateful to have served churches across the PNW including Seattle, Portland and Bellingham. She joined the Echoes community in 2019 after meeting Charis (Echoes’ founder at a live Storytelling event). She received her MDiv from Pacific School of Religion with an emphasis in Art & Religion. It was in Berkeley, CA, in an art gallery, that she envisioned & created a gathering where art and writing were lifted up as worship, thus beginning Creative Church.

Her passion for experimenting with Church outside the traditional building, has led her to create worship services & ritual connection points out of doors including: Street Corner Blessings, Pub Caroling & Good Friday Walks. For the past 11 years, she has convened discussions in breweries and bars known as Pub Theology (Pub Church), throughout the PNW, rooted in her belief that conversation creates community (you can read her thoughts here). No topic is off the table, as Church should be a place where we can talk about anything, without judgement.

When she’s not using spirituality as a lens for art and conversation, she can be found hiking in the North Cascades or beach-combing the shores around the Puget Sound and Whidbey Island where she lives with her husband Eric & hound dog Madrona.
Email Emma Here.

INTERN: TORIE PILKINGTON (they/them/theirs)

Torie Pilkington has recently graduated with their Master of Divinity from the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. Torie and their husband grew up in North Carolina, but now live near Arlington with their two cats, two dogs, two pigeons, and a sibling. Torie has been sharing their gifts with Echoes since 2021.

Torie is passionate about growing and imagining a church that the community has a voice in. Torie is also invested in finding the sacred wherever a community meets together. Everyone should be able to bring their full selves to church. There is room for doubt, hurt, grief, laughter, awe, and exultation. Torie hopes that you will invite them to hold these things with you as we all journey and experiment together.

FOUNDER: CHARIS WEATHERS (she/her)

Charis had the opportunity to start Echoes in 2013, beginning with hosting a table at Bellingham’s Pride Celebration. We are grateful for Charis’ commitment to building inclusive community, passion for the outdoors, and knowledge of hikes throughout Whatcom County. Check out the TEDx talk that she gave at Western Washington University in 2015, watch the talk here. She is missed but continues the good work as Pastor of Burlington Lutheran Church!