Interim Minister
(2002)
Rev. Dr.
Judith Bardsley
Seattle is
home to Judith. She graduated from Queen Anne High
School and the University of Washington and taught in
the Shoreline School District before making her way
south to the state of California. Her teaching career
continued in the Bay Area as well as her busy life as
wife, mother of three, and involved church member.
God’s call
to ordained ministry was loud and persistent in Judith’s
ear. When her youngest daughter graduated from high
school, Judith answered that call by entering San
Francisco Theological Seminary, graduating in 1989.
Her love
for the very young and the very old resulted in her
being a Minister of Education at a multi-staff church, a
convalescent hospital chaplain, and Hospice chaplain.
She also served as a chaplain at Stanford University
Hospital, ministering to the oncology patients, their
families, and medical staff.
Judith
completed her Doctor of Ministry work at San Francisco
Theological Seminary in 1996. Shortly thereafter,
she also completed a two-year training program
certifying her as a licensed interim minister.
After
serving five churches as interim minister, Judith came
to Suquamish United Church of Christ in 2002 to guide
the church through the in-between time of its life -- a
time for grieving, experiencing change, preparing for
new leadership, strengthening structures within,
appreciating the old, and embracing the new. She
provided the support to help clarify these tasks as well
as serving the church in its regular activities of
worship, mission, stewardship, education, and
visitation.
Judith
currently lives on Bainbridge Island, where she
continues her spiritual journey leading groups,
providing counseling and spiritual leadership, as well
as performing weddings and baptisms for the community.
