First off, let's recognize that we're on the traditional territory of the Coast Salish People who have been here since time immemorial. They have a thousands-year-old story and presence that is to be honored and respected.
And for our beginnings...
Echoes began as a dream: to initiate a non-traditional church in Bellingham that had non-traditional leadership and was radically inclusive. It could be a spiritual home for those who felt like misfits when it came to church, and it could seek to make Bellingham a better place to live for all life forms.
In 2013 Echoes got its start. Our very first public event was hosting a table at Bellingham Pride. We shared glitter tattoos, met people with a poster that read, "We like Jesus, we're not mean." It was awesome. We believe that the church can be a place where all are truly welcome, especially our LGBTQIA+ siblings, so spreading the love goes far beyond just Pride!
We're not doing this alone. Echoes is very much supported by our regional and national leadership. Although we hope for a day beyond denominations, we are a part of the reforming tradition. Echoes is Lutheran (ELCA). The emphasis on grace, mystery, and "always REforming," are Lutheran values that we particularly love and appreciate.
Since 2013 we have seen a wide variety of persons come through our doors, and we have built connections with a wide variety of organizations and projects. In 2019 a 4 person leadership team collaborated which helped launch our unique rotating gatherings throughout Bellingham. 2022 saw transition from a shared leadership model with original founder Charis Weathers (she currently serves as the pastor at Burlington Lutheran Church in Burlington, WA). Echoes continues with Pastor Emma Donohew, who joined Echoes in 2019. She also helps other churches in the NW WA Synod (ELCA) and beyond who want to experiment with new/ancient ways of creating community through the Cultivate Project.
We are celebrating 11 years as the church that started at Bellingham Pride (in 2024)! We are always REdefining who we are as a Church and as a Community and we would love for you to be a part of it!
Send us a message. We'd love to hear from you.
ABOUT OUR NAME ECHOES
We wanted to have a name for this group that had connections with ecology. Echoes exist in the natural world. We also wanted to emphasize that we want to be a listening community. Echoes are reverberations, reflections of sound waves, which can be heard and felt.
The listening is multi-faceted. We strive to listen to:
God
Bellingham
Others
the Self