Katherine Dale Makus
Profile
I go by "Kathy." I only use "Katherine Dale" when trying to be extremely formal (which doesn't come naturally to me.) My last name is pronounced with a long a and a short u, as in "Makus be good."
I was born on Sept. 5, 1951 in Berkeley, CA. Our family moved across the Berkeley hills to Lafayette before I turned five. I am the oldest of three children.
I graduated from Acalanes High School in Lafayette in 1968. At Pomona College, I majored in International Relations, graduating with a B.A. in 1972. I went on to the University of Washington School of Law, where I obtained my J.D. degree in 1975. I worked as an attorney in Aberdeen and Walla Walla Washington until I left the practice in 1986.
Although I attended Sunday School at Lutheran churches until I was about 10, I wasn't raised as an active Christian. By the time I graduated from High School, I was an agnostic. However, when my daughter began kindergarten, I started taking her and my son to Sunday school at Pioneer UMC in Walla Walla. Shortly thereafter, I had a conversion experience and then felt a call into the ministry. I didn't believe in "all that call hooey" until it happened to me. I like to say that I went "from law to grace." I graduated from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1991. Since then I've served United Methodist churches at Stevenson/Fern Prairie, Dayton, Grangeville/Nezperce/Whitebird, and Colfax.
My daughter, Rebecca, is now 25 and working on her master's degree in theater lighting design at Penn. State. Doug, 23, is a business major in his junior year at Western Washington University.
My favorite "literary" authors include Annie Dillard, Sue Monk Kidd, Rebecca Wells, Amy Tan, and Barbara Kingsolver. I enjoy walking, day hikes, cross-country skiing, jigsaw puzzles, drama, storytelling, plain skinny lattes, and dark chocolate. When the Spirit moves me (once or twice a year), I write poetry and songs. I also write silly jingles sometimes, but I won't blame them on the Spirit. I live with three dogs: two larger outdoor dogs - a hound and a mutt - and an indoor miniature poodle. The poodle, Willy, likes to come to the office and to Board meetings with me.
Theology & Church Stuff
I call myself a liberal evangelical. By that, I mean that I appreciate the focus of the evangelical tradition on the experience of God (including emotions), the importance of prayer both private and with others, and the healing power of a personal relationship with the God of Jesus Christ. I love a lot of the praise music (when the theology isn't obnoxious). On the other hand, I prefer inclusive or balanced God-language, I approach faith with my mind as well as my heart, and I don't believe in the inerrancy of scripture or in hell as a place of punishment after death. I believe in respecting the beliefs of others. I believe that faith must be acted out in works of love and service-not in hitting people over the head with demands that they accept Jesus Christ as their savior so they can avoid the fires of damnation. I have a heart for missions. I am delighted at the prospect of serving a Reconciling Congregation.
Recently, my educational focus has been on organizational theory as it applies to churches. I'm currently taking a class in Spokane on "Process Consultation." Process consultation is a way of exploring problems and solutions by working together in an equal partnership. My dream is to get a PhD in leadership (or related subject) at a university that offers programs for working professionals. I am eager to use my newly-acquired tools in working with a congregation on issues of church health and church growth.