Please click on any of the links below to learn more about the clergy at First Congregational:

• Donald Schmidt, Intentional Interim Pastor
• Linda Roddis, Outreach and Pastoral Care Pastor

Donald Schmidt

Since becoming an ordained minister in 1984, Donald Schmidt has served in a variety of ministries. He has served churches in the United Church of Christ, United Church of Canada, and the United Methodist Church. His most recent ministry was as senior pastor of Waiola Church United Church of Christ in Lahaina, Maui, Hawai‘i.

In addition to parish ministry, Donald was editor of The Whole People of God Sunday School curriculum and Seasons of the Spirit, a whole church resource including educational materials, worship resources, and music. Donald compiled several CD’s and songbooks of global music.

Donald was born in Victoria, British Columbia, and grew up just north of there in a small pulp mill town called Crofton. Most of his post-secondary education was done in Montreal, Quebec, where he earned a BA in comparative religion, a Bachelor of Theology, and an MDiv Degree. More recently, Donald earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wisdom University in San Francisco, concentrating in creation spirituality.

He has published a variety of articles and books and articles, including Bible Wonderings: Familiar Tales Retold and In the Beginning: Creation Spirituality for the Days of Advent. He is also involved in a new Bible translation project being undertaken by the United Methodist Publishing House.

Donald is married to Don Osmer and between them they have 6 adult children and 6 grandchildren. Donald's interests include story-telling, music, playing guitar and ukulele, hiking, knitting, and spinning wool. He also has a passion for different languages and the way in which they express their culture.

Donald feels honored and excited about being called as Intentional Interim Minister at Bellevue First Congregational Church and looks forward to working with the congregation to prepare for a permanent minister.

Linda Roddis

In 1989, Linda Roddis became an ordained minister. Her ministry began in a church in Rochester, Minnesota where she served as the minister of Pastoral Care. This was a unique opportunity because Rochester is the home of the Mayo Clinic. Linda's Pastoral Call took her next to Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka, Minnesota which is the 2nd largest Lutheran Church in the Country. In the ten years she served Zion, she had the opportunity to preach at countless services on a Sunday, oversee a confirmation program of 657 students, work with an outreach committee which began a Fareshare program and officiated at many weddings and baptisms.

Four years ago Linda moved to Bellevue and began looking for a United Church of Christ congregation. She found our congregation on the web. After joining FCC, Pastor Tara encouraged Linda to seek ordination in the UCC. While working to complete this process Linda supported her family by working at the City of Bellevue, and most recently at the Eastside Women's Center. While working as Program Manager of the EWC, Linda became more clear that her call was to the ministry where she can freely share faith stories and talk about the Love of God.

Linda finds inspiration in daily Bible reading, particularly in translating a passage of the Bible from Greek into English. She shares her life with her daughter Sarah and little dog Whalen. Her free time is filled with friends, an evening at the the Pacific Northwest Ballet, a walk around a park or a good book discussion.

Linda's role as 2nd Pastor of Pastoral Care and Outreach:

1. Minister to Outreach
2. Minister of Pastoral Care
3. Minister of Confirmation
4. Officiating a worship and preaching once a month