Damian Carruthers
CHENEY – United Methodist Church of Cheney has a new pastor.
Damian Carruthers, 33, now of Cheney, arrived here from Frankfurt, Germany, on Aug. 4. He began as pastor of the church at 204 Fourth St. on Aug. 15.
"I really would like to get to know this town and the people living here," he said, noting the people he's met here are very friendly."
"Everybody is so friendly over here," he said. "The bank, getting a phone, whatever... Everybody is so nice and welcoming."
Carruthers said it's an interesting change from Germany, where people tend to be more direct.
"They don't like to talk around (in circles)," he said.
Carruthers said he was serving as a Methodist pastor in the Black Forest of Germany for five of the last six years.
Last year, he took a one-year sabbatical to give him time to decide where he wanted to be.
He decided to return to the U.S.
He was born in Fayetteville, N.C.; his father was in the U.S. military and his mother was from Germany.
After he was born, the family returned to Germany, where he grew up.
During his sabbatical, he said he decided to return to the U.S. to learn more about his native country. He selected the Pacific Northwest as an area where he wanted to be and was appointed to the Cheney post by a Methodist bishop.
"I had to say yes," he said. "Washington is a beautiful state; and society and culture is pretty similar to what I'm used to."
Carruthers said the bishop selected Cheney for him because he was among the youngest pastors looking for a place to land.
Being younger will help him fit into the Cheney community, where many things revolve around Eastern Washington University, where the church wants him to start a student ministry.
He'll be starting with a congregation of 170 members, but wants to get to know more local residents.
In addition to the student ministry plans, Carruthers wants to offer a "Bible and beer" night.
Carruthers said the German stereotype on beer holds true.
"I want to have a place outside of church where people can think about life and religion, and engage in faith without the rigors of the church," he said. "In Germany, we drink beer together."
Carruthers said he hope people will come meet him and attend services at his new church.
"We help people learn what life and faith are about," he said. "It's not about rules and commandments, it's about loving God and each other.
"If you want honest and loving relationships, come to church."
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, columnist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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