West Side Presbyterian Church
- Location: Seattle, Washington
- Website: https://wspc.org/
- Denomination: PCUSA
- Hiring for: Pastor of Discipleship & Students
About West Side Presbyterian Church
West Side Presbyterian Church has been a presence in West Seattle for more than a century, serving as a warm, thoughtful, and multi-generational community in one of the city’s most diverse and rapidly shifting neighborhoods. Known for its deep commitment to Scripture, its welcoming posture toward honest questions, and its steady investment in the next generation, West Side has cultivated a culture where faith is lived out with curiosity, humility, and purpose.
The church’s mission centers on becoming an intergenerational, multiethnic congregation that empowers and launches leaders of gospel movements. With a legacy of strong youth ministry, a passion for discipleship, and meaningful engagement in both local and global generosity, West Side is focused on forming followers of Jesus who live faithfully in a complex cultural landscape.
As the church entered a new season of renewed vision and strategic clarity, the Pastor of Discipleship & Students position emerged as a pivotal role — one designed to integrate formation across generations and strengthen the church’s commitment to the 12–27 age range.
The ideal leader needed to:
- Reimagine and revitalize student ministry for a new generation
- Build a cohesive, intergenerational discipleship pathway
- Champion belonging, justice, and spiritual formation for youth and young adults
- Communicate with clarity, warmth, and pastoral presence
- Navigate the cultural dynamics of ministry in a post-Christian urban environment
- Equip leaders and volunteers with confidence, alignment, and vision
Strategy and timing
Vanderbloemen partnered with West Side Presbyterian Church to understand their mission, culture, and unique hopes for this next season. Senior Executive Search Consultant Jay Mitchell led the search, taking time to listen closely to West Side’s leadership, learn their history, and identify the specific competencies this role required within the PCUSA context.
Jay worked closely with Executive Search Recruiter Dawson Penshorn, whose relational approach and deep candidate instincts helped surface a strong national slate early in the process. PCUSA searches often carry layers of complexity — theological diversity, committee collaboration, and governance structure — but the team moved efficiently, providing clarity and alignment at every step.
Through this process, one candidate emerged as an exceptional match: Morgan Smith, a leader with proven discipleship strategy, cross-generational ministry experience, and the spiritual maturity to lead well in West Side’s evolving context.
About Morgan Smith
Morgan brings a rich combination of theological depth, strategic leadership, and hands-on ministry experience. Most recently serving as Assistant Pastor of Discipleship at Cornerstone Community Church in Colorado, he created and implemented a full discipleship pathway, spearheaded the church’s three-year strategic plan, taught and preached regularly, and invested deeply in adult formation.
His previous roles across Indiana, Ohio, and California gave him extensive experience leading youth, young adults, and family ministries — shaping him into a leader who understands how to build belonging, equip volunteers, and guide people through meaningful spiritual formation.
Morgan holds a Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary and a psychology degree from Indiana University, grounding his ministry in both theological insight and interpersonal awareness. His service in presbytery leadership further demonstrated maturity, wisdom, and alignment with West Side’s collaborative culture.
Throughout the process, Morgan’s steady presence, strategic mind, and genuine heart for discipleship resonated strongly with Senior Pastor Laurie Brenner and the hiring team. It became clear that his gifts and calling aligned seamlessly with what West Side needs in this next chapter.
Conclusion
We’re excited to celebrate West Side Presbyterian Church as they welcome Morgan Smith as their new Pastor of Discipleship & Students. This placement reflects the clarity, unity, and thoughtful discernment of West Side’s leadership, as well as the strong partnership between the church and the Vanderbloemen search team.
We’re confident Morgan’s experience, relational warmth, and commitment to spiritual formation will play a significant role in advancing West Side’s mission and investing in the next generation of disciples.
