Jerry Smith, S.T.D., President
United Methodist Pastor; Psychotherapist and Teacher, Pastoral Therapy Associates; representing First United Methodist Church Tacoma
Jim LeGro, Vice President
United Methodist Pastor, retired; representing First United Methodist Church Tacoma
Gretchen Engle, Secretary
Church Administrator, First United Methodist Church Tacoma
Carol Mariano, Treasurer
Pastor, United Methodist Church Orting; representing Jubilate Worship Arts Institute
Members
Crestina Marez
Representing Amputee Support Group
Jean McCord, CFRE
President, McCord and Associates, representing First United Methodist Church Tacoma
Jesse Rodman, J.D., LL.M.
Attorney at Law, McGavick Graves, P.S.
Don Van Dyke
Educational Specialist for Special Education, Puyallup School District, retired; Special Population Staff, MetroParks, Tacoma, retired; representing First United Methodist Church Tacoma
Program Representatives
Mike Collier
Public Relations Staff Assistant, World Vision; representing Micah Project
Martha Curwen
Executive Director, My Sister's Pantry
Pauline Ross
Executive Director, The Bridge: From Dependency to Community and Beyond
Advisor
Melvin R. Woodworth, D.Min.
Pastor, First United Methodist Church Tacoma
Rev. Dr. Jerry Smith
Jerry Smith serves as the current First Center chairperson. Dr. Smith comes to this task from fifty years of active ministry within the United Methodist Church. He started his work in Tacoma in 1970 as a member of the Tacoma First United Methodist Church pastoral staff charged with starting the first pastoral counseling center in Tacoma/Pierce County.
In 1989 he co-founded Pastoral Therapy Associates where he maintains his practice as a pastoral psychotherapist, a spiritual director, and a supervisor of other counselors. He also teaches at the University of Puget Sound as an adjunct professor within the School of Counseling Education.
Since coming to Tacoma he has constantly involved himself in community outreach ministries like First Center. He believes that the Church must respond to God's call not only to care for its members but also to nurture those who journey outside both its walls and its membership rolls.
He holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Puget Sound, a M.Div. from Garrett Theological Seminary, a M.Ed. from the University of Puget Sound, and a S.T.D. from San Francisco Theological Seminary.
He is a Diplomate in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, an Approved Supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Washington State licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
