Pastor Brett Stuvland

503.410.3155

Pastor Brett was born and raised on the Westside of the river and graduated from nearby Sunset High School. He continued his education at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, where he received a B.A in Religious Studies and went on to earn a Masters of Divinity in 2016 from Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. He joined up with the United Methodists in the Oregon-Idaho Conference after moving back home to Portland in late 2016, and most recently served as a ¼ time pastor at nearby Aloha United Methodist Church. 

Pastor Brett brings a diverse professional background to ministry at Westside, after years of working in the private sector at a law firm, a hedge fund, and most recently as a Co-Director of Operations at a Portland-based financial services startup. 

As a Portland native, Pastor Brett is passionate about place-based ministry and place-centered identity, encouraging faith communities to deepen their connection to the physical earth and neighborhood where they meet as church.  While at Duke Divinity School, Pastor Brett was awarded a World Vision Justice Fellowship, where he did his project on illuminating how community organizing in rural communities can combat environmental injustice and environmental racism.  

Pastor Brett's hobbies include reading anything and everything related to the story of Jesus, going to the gym, hanging out with his family, hanging out with friends, playing sports, watching NBA basketball, gardening, writing, being silly, and not taking himself too seriously. He expresses his passion for the earth through gardening at home where he and his family grow vegetables, flowers, and new soil from composting dead leaves, plants, and straw.

Pastor Brett is married to Janelle, his life partner of 10 years and is a father to two boys, Kyrie and Levi.

Virginia joined Westside in April 2018. She and her husband, Bryan, moved to Oregon from Texas after becoming ‘empty nesters.’ They have two grown daughters, both of whom have chosen to make Oregon their home as well.

Virginia divides her work life between Westside and another United Methodist Church, where she and Bryan are members. They enjoy exploring the Pacific Northwest, playing board games, and hosting family and friends in their home.