New beginning for Reardan church

REARDAN - After decades of being affiliated with a mainstream denomination, the Reardan United Methodist Church has reorganized as Reardan Bible Fellowship. As part of the transition, the church called Dr. Charley Hough, who recently retired from 40 years at the MultiCare Rockwood clinic in Cheney, to serve as its new pastor.

Reardan Bible Fellowship's roots date to its founding in 1903, when it was Grace Evangelical Church. In the 1970s, it became affiliated with the United Methodist Church and remained so until its members voted to leave the denomination in March 2023.

The church is one of 8,000 that has left the United Methodist Church in the last three years.

During the early days of transition, Larry Anderson, the church's pastor, passed away.

Needing a pastor to lead them, church leadership contacted Dr. Hough, who had filled in during Anderson's illness. Hough agreed to take over the pastorate.

"As the United Methodist Church moved toward a progressive agenda, our church became non-denominational," Hough said. "Our goal is to answer cultural questions from a biblical perspective. We hope to become a fellowship of growing and maturing believers who can serve the spiritual needs of the community. I am committed to teaching the word of God to anyone who wants to hear it."

Hough graduated from Washington State University and the University of Washington Medical School. While working as a family medicine specialist in Cheney, Hough attended Gonzaga University, where he earned his MBA.

"I never thought I would do this," he said. "I accepted the position because I was available and believe that I have a teaching gift, so why not?"

For two years, while still working for MultiCare, he taught Medical Management courses at Gonzaga.

"The skill set of being a physician and a pastor are similar and transferable," Hough said. "As a physician, you are teaching people about their physiology and health. As a pastor, you are explaining the word of God."

Church administrator Colleen Kirk said she is proud of the churches in the community and how they all work together.

"We maintain a strong connection, ecumenically in this town, and this change does not affect that relationship," she said.

The church, on the corner of Oak Street and Spokane Avenue, plans to hold a public reception in the spring to welcome Hough and his wife Renee.