A graduate of Western Evangelical Seminary (now George Fox Seminary), Retha McCutchen served Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends in pastoral roles and as assistant superintendent for approximately 18 years, after which she went to work in the Middle East. She served Friends United Meeting—international headquarters of 28 yearly meetings worldwide—for approximately 12 years, first as director of the Ramallah Friends Schools in Palestine, then in the headquarters office as director of world missions, and then as general secretary. She retired in 2006.

Retha has two adult children and three grandsons.