Inspiring United Methodists: #PNWAC26 presents four #BeUMC Awards
The 2026 Pacific Northwest Annual Conference celebrated outstanding faithfulness by presenting the #BeUMC Award to one church, one layperson, and one clergy member who exemplify the vision and mission of The United Methodist Church. Nominees were submitted by their peers for consideration.
The 2026 PNW Annual Conference #BeUMC Award recipients are:
- Lay Recipient: Carolyn Stimbert, Port Angeles First UMC
- Clergy Recipient: Rev. Pam Brokaw, Montesano UMC, Twin Harbors Sub-District lead
- Church Recipients: Shelton UMC and Garden Street UMC
These recipients demonstrate a commitment to discipleship, service, and leadership, embodying the transformational ministry to which United Methodists are called.
Carolyn Stimbert was nominated for the #BeUMC Lay Award for her service coordinating Port Angeles First UMC’s Friendship Dinner for over 27 months, overseeing weekly meals that serve up to 135 community members. She manages 14 ecumenical partner teams, supports volunteers, and willingly takes on any task herself. What sets Carolyn apart is her genuine hospitality — she knows guests by name, honors their dignity, and transforms a meal into true community.
Rev. Pam Brokaw was nominated for the #BeUMC Clergy Award for her extraordinary leadership as pastor of Montesano UMC and lead pastor for the Twin Harbors Sub-District. Coordinating vision work across nine churches, she has fostered collegiality among clergy, supported lay-led congregations, and cultivated a partnership with Summit Pacific Medical Foundation. Her faithful guidance has united a diverse sub-district around a shared vision for ministry together.
Our #BeUMC Congregational Award recognizes that faithful, sustained work bears fruit. In this category, two congregations tied for this honor.
Shelton UMC was nominated for spending three years doing the hard and holy work of rightsizing, becoming a Reconciling congregation, and deepening its community presence — emerging as one of Mason County’s few progressive Christian communities. They’ve opened their building to South Sound Senior Services, supporting 700 to 1,000 senior meals monthly, and welcomed two additional congregations. That fruitful ministry culminated in 17 new members joining on Easter Sunday.
Garden Street UMC was nominated for exemplifying courageous, faithful discipleship. When approached about attending the UMC Day of Faithful Resistance against Immigration Injustice in Washington, D.C., the congregation fully funded the trip for their pastor and three Western Washington University students — without hesitation. Their investment in young advocates, today and in the past, reflects the M.I.L.E. priorities in action, empowering the next generation to be transforming agents of Christ’s love.
Presented by the PNW Annual Conference in partnership with United Methodist Communications, the #BeUMC Awards align with The United Methodist Church’s vision of forming disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously. Through acts of compassion, inclusion, justice, and faithfulness, this year’s recipients illustrate how that vision comes alive in congregations and in individual lives.
“The honorees show us what it looks like to live out our faith in meaningful and impactful ways,” said Jennifer Rodia of United Methodist Communications. “Their ministries inspire the Church to more fully engage in God’s mission in the world.”
A heartfelt thank you to the team who reviewed those nominations and made these selections: Falisha Hola, John Townsend, Rev. Mark Galang, Rev. Amanda Nicol, Rev. Jeney Park-Hearn, Rev. Ferdie Llenado, and Patrick Scriven. Their discernment and care for this process made these awards possible.
Twenty-one annual conferences participated in the #BeUMC Awards initiative this summer, celebrating inspiring United Methodists across the connection.
Learn more about the 2026 PNW Annual Conference session at https://pnwumc.org/pnwac/.
