Meet Our Bridge Pastor…

Last summer, we entered into a nine-month covenant with Rev. Bev and Pastor Sly, who have faithfully served in a shared three-quarter-time interim role. During this season, they have helped guide us through important milestones—partnering with the Ezra 3 team, revitalizing our committees, completing our mission study, and helping launch our Pastor Nominating Committee. Along the way, they have also led staff, preached, and moderated Session with care and wisdom. We are deeply grateful for their leadership.

Beginning June 1, we will transition to a half-time bridge pastor. This role will include preaching three times a month, leading staff and Session meetings, and helping prepare us to welcome our next solo pastor once the PNC completes its work. Over the past several weeks, we’ve been prayerfully seeking the right person for this next season—a steady and faithful presence to guide and shepherd our church. We hoped for someone who understands our story… someone who already knows this community… someone who loves this church not as a stranger, but as family. And today, we’re grateful to share that God has provided just that.

Our new bridge pastor is not new to us at all. Many of you have worshiped alongside him, learned from him, and been cared for by him before—during his time here as our associate pastor. So it is with both joy and a sense of homecoming that we welcome back Steve Watts as our bridge pastor. We anticipate he will serve with us for up to six months, or until our next solo pastor is called.

Rev. Dr. Steve “Wil” Watts is a Presbyterian Pastor with more than 30 years of ministry experience. Steve’s calling centers on preaching and teaching God’s Word, making disciples, and strengthening congregations through transitional leadership, administration, and community-building ministry. Grounded in a Christ-centered personal life and ministry, his pastoral aim is simple and steady: to point beyond himself to Jesus Christ and to share the good news of Christ’s forgiving grace.

Steve has served in a variety of settings—from university and urban neighborhoods to small cities and large, multi-staff churches—including ten years as Head of Staff at Hamblen Park Presbyterian Church, and pastoral roles here at Whitworth Community Presbyterian Church. He has also taught as adjunct faculty at Whitworth University, helped equip and develop lay leaders, and contributed to wider-church ministry through conference leadership and General Assembly experience. Known for being personable and approachable, Steve looks forward to listening well, loving well, and partnering with the Whitworth congregation.

Steve’s late wife, Kathy, worked as a librarian at Whitworth University. Together, they served at Whitworth Church for 16 years and raised their children, Bethany and Nolan. Following Kathy’s death from cancer, Steve experienced God's love even amid grief. His five-month, 2,651-mile hike from Mexico to Canada revitalized his pastoral ministry and clarified what truly matters. Now, Steve is engaged to Jim Jackson, the General Manager at Conkling Marina on Lake Coeur d'Alene—a stunning location. After losing Kathy, Steve never imagined he would feel happiness again; however, God brought joy into his life through Jim.

Steve is pleased to return to Whitworth Church and partner with us as we discern our new ministry season. He will join us in June; however, during the latter part of the month, he has been elected as the teaching elder commissioner to General Assembly on behalf of our presbytery and selected to serve as vice-moderator of the Assembly’s Racial Justice Committee. Steve is enthusiastic about serving with our congregation over the coming months.