Pastor of Overlake Christian Church resigning

Rick Kingham, senior pastor at Redmond's Overlake Christian Church, announced Sunday that he was resigning his position as spiritual head of one of the largest churches in the state.

"During his eight years on staff, Pastor Rick served with honor and integrity and helped lay a spiritual foundation on which future ministry will be built," Bob Senatore, chairman of the church elders, said in a statement.

Kingham, 54, will lead one more service, on Feb. 25, after returning from training Christian pastors in India, Senatore said.

Kingham's resignation comes about a month after church elders requested he take a sabbatical, something he had not done in eight years. The intent was for him to rest and get re-energized, Senatore told congregants at the time.

About 3,500 people attend Sunday services at the nondenominational Overlake church. Although last year's attendance was up from the year before, that's still below its peak attendance of up to 6,500, when the church was headed by Pastor Bob Moorehead.

Moorehead, who had led the church for 28 years, resigned in 1998 after several men came forward saying he had touched them inappropriately years ago. Moorehead denied the accusations but resigned, saying his credibility had been damaged. After first supporting Moorehead, church elders later said they believed the allegations. Kingham helped the congregation get through the tumultuous period that followed.

Before coming to Overlake, Kingham had served as a vice president and founding minister of Promise Keepers, a revival movement for men. He had also been pastor at Metro Denver Church on the Rock from 1977 to 1994.

Janet I. Tu: 206-464-2272; jtu@seattletimes.com