Longtime Cheney doctor leads Reardan church

REARDAN - After decades of being affiliated with a mainstream denomination, Reardan United Methodist Church has reorganized as Reardan Bible Fellowship.

As part of the transition, it called Dr. Charley Hough - who recently retired from 40 years at the MultiCare Rockwood Clinic in Cheney - to serve as its new pastor.

Reardan Bible Fellowship's roots date to its founding in 1903, when it was called Grace Evangelical Church.

In the 1970s, it became affiliated with the United Methodist Church and remained so until church leadership voted to leave the denomination in November 2023. The church is one of 8,000 that has left the United Methodist Church in the last three years.

"As the United Methodist Church pursued a progressive social and political agenda, and disregarded the Bible's complete authority, we desired to return to our Biblically based foundation," trustee Jack Soliday said. "We are now a non-denominational church whose goal is to answer cultural questions from a truly Biblical perspective."

During the early days of transition, Larry Anderson, the church's pastor, passed away.

Needing a pastor to lead them, church leadership contacted Hough, who had filled in during Anderson's illness. Hough agreed to take over the pastorate.

"I never thought I would do this," he said. "I accepted the position because I was available and believe that I have a teaching gift, so why not?"

Hough graduated from Washington State University and University of Washington Medical School.

While working as a family medicine specialist in Cheney, Hough attended Gonzaga University, where he earned his MBA. For two years, while still working for MultiCare, he taught medical management courses at Gonzaga.

"The skill set of being a physician and a pastor are similar and transferable," Hough said. "As a physician, you are teaching people about their physiology and health. As a pastor, you are explaining the word of God.

"Our goal is to become a fellowship of growing and maturing believers, who can serve the spiritual needs of the community. I am committed to teaching the word of God to anyone who wants to hear it."

Church administrator Colleen Kirk said she is proud of the church's role in the community.

"We maintain a strong connection, ecumenically in this town, and this change does not affect that relationship," she said. "In fact, it will strengthen it."

The church, on the corner of Oak Street and Spokane Avenue, plans to host a public reception in the spring to welcome Hough and his wife, Renee.

The church has adopted the slogan 'Loving God and Loving People.'

"We do that in an environment that is warm, fun and welcoming," Hough said.