About Cascade Church
We exist to create space that is both Safe to Be and Safe to Grow.
Our vision as a church is rooted in the belief that all people should be given safe space to be.
When Jesus called his disciples it wasn’t linked to performance, resume or ethical excellence. They were enough the day they were called to come follow Jesus. This kind of acceptance created the environment we believe is necessary for people to grow into who God is inviting them to be. This is what we strive for as a church.
We know that articulating a vision and values and living them out are two different things. We invite our whole community to bring alignment between our hope and our reality. If you connect at all with our vision of church, we hope you’ll consider joining us at Cascade in living it out.
Core Values
As a community we believe that it is incredibly important to own the lenses we use to make decisions about who we are and how we act. We share our core values so that there is clarity about our decision making as a church and so that we can be held accountable.
Intentionality
We engage in relationships a step beyond what is known or comfortable
Prayer
We engage our hopes and fears by directing them to God and allowing space for the responses.
Advocacy
We fight injustices with those who have been treated insignificantly by individuals, systems or indifference.
Curiosity
We recognize there is more that we don’t know about God and the world than what we do know. We lean into mystery with questions and an openness to grow.
Diversity
We better understand God when we live in a community of people who are different from each other
Coffee with a Pastor
New to Cascade or just curious about who we are? Grab coffee with one of our pastors in person or virtually. This is a relaxed conversation. No agenda, no pressure. Ask questions about Cascade, share your story, or simply get to know us before you join on a Sunday.
We’d love to meet you. Reach out below and we’ll set up a time that works for you.
Church Doctrine
In simplest terms dogma, doctrine and everything else are defined like this;
Dogma: What it means to be a Christian
Doctrine: What it means to be part of a church or denomination
Everything Else: That which exists outside of the first two categories
A great way to understand doctrine is to see it in relation with the concepts of dogma and “everything else”.
Some faith communities include a lot of beliefs into their dogma. What it means to be understood as a Christian is an exceptionally long list of do’s and don’ts and agreed upon beliefs. Doctrine can be equally large and can include everything from diet to behavior to music you listen to. The final circle of “everything else” can often be the smallest circle because faith and church identity consumes so much of belief, practice and thought.
At Cascade we believe that dogma is best defined by fewer things so that we don’t push people away from Christ over non-essential issues or conversations. To be clear, we define Christianity via our dogma as follows;
An engagement with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which demonstrate his humanity, divinity, and invitation to live in a way that promotes the mutual thriving of all people.
This isn’t to say that people who hold beliefs outside of this definition are evil or destined for eternal suffering, but rather that their spirituality wouldn’t be defined as Christianity.
Cascade’s doctrine is also intentionally brief. This is based in our desire to focus less on rules and regulations and more on issues of the heart and how we engage one another. We define our heart as a church and what it means to be part of this community by the following scripture;
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ – Matthew 22:37-39
Our church identity is defined by love. This is in response to God’s great love for us to direct our love 3 ways. To God, to self and to others. Specific behavior and beliefs aren’t as significant as our ability to experience and share love.
An important aspect of this love is to live out your beliefs in a way that doesn’t threaten the safety and diversity of the people around you, which includes confronting actions against any person that treats them as less than full participants in God’s story. To that end, Cascade believes that people of all ages, races, physical/mental abilities, socio-economic statuses, gender expressions, and sexual identities belong and are capable of full participation and are eligible for all leadership roles.
Now the final category of “everything else” is quite substantial. This doesn’t mean that everything else doesn’t matter, but that it is all couched in experiencing Jesus Christ, God the Creator and the Holy Spirit. When we start from this space “everything else” matters quite a bit, but not in a way that is driven by fear or control. Our core value of curiosity drives us to wrestle more with “everything else” and allow greater levels of diversity as part of our church.
Leadership Rooted in Community
Staff & Board
Cascade is led by a team of pastors, staff, and board members who share the work of nurturing faith, justice, and belonging.
Kurt Kroon
CO-PASTOR
His journey from California’s Central Valley to the Pacific Northwest shaped his love for open spaces, honest faith, and curious community. He helped found Cascade to explore life’s complexities and Christ’s call to peace with others.
Sarah Swartzendruber
CO-PASTOR
Sarah’s path has always centered on helping kids and students grow in faith. A lifelong learner and teacher, she helped found Cascade to nurture spaces where curiosity thrives and every generation feels seen, heard, and loved.
Jonathan Cotton
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Jonathan brings a heart for inclusion, a mind for organization, and a passion for helping students connect faith with everyday life. He loves seeing people discover God in what already excites them and helping those passions grow at Cascade.
Sam Hedrick
WORSHIP COORDINATOR
Bringing a deep love for music, faith, and inclusive worship shaped by his own journey of authenticity and transformation. He’s passionate about creating sacred, healing spaces where every voice—especially marginalized and queer ones—can encounter belonging and the Divine.
Jana Kelsay
FAMILY MINISTRY ASSISTANT
Growing up in Portland’s Chinese church community, Jana developed a deep appreciation for belonging and representation. With experience in education, nonprofit leadership, and advocacy, she’s passionate about building inclusive spaces where every culture and voice can thrive.
Meet the Full Board
Find Your Place at Cascade
Whether you join us in person on Sunday or catch a podcast episode during the week, we’d love to share the journey with you.