Reverend Joel Aosved grew up in a church family. His father is a retired United Methodist pastor. Rev. Aosved felt a call to ministry early and entered college (Pacific Lutheran University) knowing he’d likely go onto seminary.

Having lived predominately in the Pacific Northwest, newlyweds Pastor Joel and Laura decided to explore a different part of the United States for his seminary education. Pastor Joel graduated in 1998 from Boston University’s School of Theology. Pastor Joel was ordained as a United Methodist pastor in 1997. He was appointed to the United Church of Ferndale in 2021. Prior to this, Pastor Joel has served churches in central Idaho (Grangeville, Nezperce and Whitebird), on the Palouse (Garfield and Farmington), and worked with young adults in Bellingham at Garden Street UMC. While serving Garfield and Farmington United Methodist Churches Pastor Joel also worked for the ecumenical agency Rural Ministry Resources. In 2007, Pastor Joel’s family moved aboard their sailboat to start Winds of Grace, a maritime chaplaincy for those who live aboard their boats. Pastor Joel holds a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Gonzaga University.

Pastor Joel’s theology is deeply Incarnational, and Presence based. The Divine’s Belovedness is all around us. We swim within the Creator’s Presence. We are called to share that belovedness and see that belovedness and receive that belovedness from others. Ministry does not happen in a vacuum, but in collaboration and relationships with others. It is enfleshed in the here and now of this place and this time, calling us forth to include others with compassion and joy.

When not serving the spiritual needs of the local community and the United Church, Pastor Joel loves spending time on the water (especially sailing) with his wife Laura. While Pastor Joel’s three kids are off at college, he enjoys having them home and hanging out with them. He has also recently started sketching. Pastor Joel also enjoys books, being in the outdoors, pets, design, supporting kids in schools, travel, spending times with friends and good conversations around a firepit.