Pastor Arlyce Kretschman

 The Longbranch Community Church and The Reverend Arlyce W. Kretschman united in ministry in January 2006. There are important convergences of ministry that brought the Longbranch Church and Pastor Arlyce together, primarily the focus on growing in Christian discipleship, and putting faith into action.

   The Longbranch Community Church has a long history of being an integral part of the Key Peninsula community, proclaiming faith through times of worship and of fellowship, and bringing aid, resources, comfort, and presence in times of need.

   At the center of Pastor Arlyce's ministry is the scriptural mandate that, as the body of Christ, we are "to proclaim the good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

   "These are exciting and demanding times for the church," says Rev. Kretschman. "There is a hunger in people today to hear a message of hope, for these are difficult and trying times. The Church is the bearer of the good news of God's love through Christ Jesus. The Church must awaken anew to the exciting joy of sharing that vital message through the many ways of witnessing Christ's divine love."

   Rev. Kretschman served as the pastor of the former First Baptist Church of New Tacoma from 2001-2004. Under her leadership a steering committee of representatives from several denominations was established, and in unison with Associated Ministries, a new ecumenical church was established: Urban Grace: The Downtown Church. 

   Prior to serving the Tacoma First Baptist Church, Pastor Arlyce served American Baptist churches in New York State.  She received her Master of Divinity degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, New York, and was ordained by the American Baptist Churches USA.

   Pastor Arlyce and her husband Jerry are the proud parents of two children and the doting grandparents of five grandchildren. They recently bought a home in Lakebay and are delighted to have found such a great community to call home.

 Ordained in the American Baptist Churches USA, Pastor Arlyce served as senior pastor in two American Baptist churches in New York State before coming to Washington. In each of her pastorates, she has actively served in denominational and community leadership capacities.

 She sees the Church as being an integral part of the greater community and an important agent for change in individual and community life. 

  Jerry and Arlyce are the proud parents of two children and five grandchildren.
 Pastor Arlyce's ministry is centered in a small question Jesus asked, that is recorded in the Gospel of Luke: "When the Son of man returns, will he find faith on earth?"
She believes that faith taken seriously is faith in action; that all members of the Body of Christ are vital and necessary to the work of the Kingdom here on earth; and, that all followers of Jesus are called to ministry. 

 An important focus of Pastor Arlyce's ministry has been to create a greater understanding of, and cooperation among, faith traditions. She has been invited to preach in Catholic churches, as well as various protestant denominations; she has led retreats for several faith traditions; and, has taught classes in church administration and the church in the 21st century in an interdenominational setting, among other ministries. 

 Pastor Arlyce and her husband Jerry have located in the Lakebay area and are looking forward to their new ministry with the Longbranch Community Church and also to being active in the community.