Eastside Foursquare Pastor Is Leaving -- Murren To Focus On National Projects

BOTHELL - After 17 years as pastor of one of the state's largest and fastest-growing Protestant churches, the Rev. Doug Murren is leaving Eastside Foursquare Church here to focus on national evangelism projects and books.

His final weekend of services will be May 11-12.

Eastside Foursquare, which draws more than 4,000 worshipers to its Saturday-evening and Sunday-morning services, began in Murren's home in 1979 with seven members.

Gordon McIntosh, one of the original members, says the congregation grew to more than 100 members in the first two years, meeting in Bellevue schools. It merged with another Foursquare church in 1981.

Under Murren's leadership, Eastside Foursquare, 14520 100th Ave. N.E., grew steadily in the 1980s.

"I think part of the reason was the philosophy of the church; it was a place of love, acceptance and forgiveness," said McIntosh, a Redmond businessman and member of Eastside Foursquare's advisory Church Council. Many people turned to the church to combat alcoholism, drugs and other problems, he said.

Murren crafted a style of worship that combined contemporary Christian music with Bible-based sermons on issues of everyday living, such as child-rearing or facing midlife transitions. The church's motto for its sermons: "If they can't use it Monday, don't say it Sunday."

Baby boomers began packing Eastside Foursquare on weekends. Murren, 44, has said his generation wants in its worship experience

what it found in the original Woodstock rock festival: something spontaneous, informal and celebratory.

But to serve his congregation, Murren was working 60- to 80-hour weeks for years. He preaches at all four weekend services, as well as carrying out other duties.

After 23 years of pastoring, 17 of them at Eastside, Murren decided it was time to do something else, McIntosh said. He has opportunities from publishers to write books and to teach at seminars around the country. author of "The Baby Boomerang: Catching Baby Boomers as They Return to Church" and other books, Murren will continue living in Redmond.

A send-off celebration is in the offing; plans have not been worked out yet.

McIntosh says the Foursquare denomination, headquartered in Los Angeles, will consult with the Church Council before naming an interim or permanent successor.