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MEET OUR PASTOR -- Edward HopkinsThe Reverend Edward Allman Hopkins, Pastor |
| Ordained a Deacon in the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1982, and ordained an Elder in 1985. Edward answered God's call to ministry in 1980 after spending three months in the hospital and undergoing five brain operations. He lost the use of his voice, legs and hands, and worked for six months with physical, occupational, and speech therapists to regain his strength and full use of his arms, legs and voice. | |
| His pastorial career includes: | |
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| Edward has served as the Chaplain for the
Charlottesville Police Department
for 10 years. Bicycle riding is his greatest recreational joy, and he is currently training for the second-annual 223-mile Holy-Roller bike ride from Charlottesville to Hampton to raise money for mission projects of the United Methodist Church (Visit the Holy Roller website). He loves to play the guitar and the trumpet, and he enjoys singing for shut in folks every Thursday afternoon with a group called the Hintonnaires. He is married to Janet and has two sons, Isaac and Jeremy. |
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YOUTH PASTER-- Kristen BarnerKristen Barner was born and raised in Pennsylvania but spent every summer at Massanetta Springs Bible Conference in Harrisonburg, VA. She attended Mary Baldwin College and earned her BA in English, Theater Arts, and Secondary Education. Right after graduation, Kristen went to Americus, GA where she went through training to be an IP (International Partner) with Habitat for Humanity. During her time in Americus, she had the privilege of having Jimmy Carter as her Sunday School teacher and spent Sunday afternoons at Koinonia Farms, where Clarence Jordan wrote The Cotton Patch Gospels. In January, 1991, Kristen moved to Ghana, West Africa. She worked with HFH, Intl. for two years. She stayed in Ghana another two years and taught at the American School, teaching English and starting their drama program. Kristen returned to the US to earn her Master of Divinity in Theology from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Following Seminary, Kristen returned to Virginia and worked at a variety of non-profits, including teaching and college administration. She has spent the last few years working in Youth Ministry and pursuing ordination. Kristen is also a full-time Chaplain Resident at UVA's Medical Center. Kristen married American Shakespeare Center actor, David Loar in August of 2004. Kristen and David live in Staunton with their dog, Monty. |
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SECRETARY -- Frances Marshall |
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CUSTODIAN -- Bill Miller |
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CHOIR DIRECTOR-- Gary Bibb
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ORGANIST --Amy TaylorAmy Taylor graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Classics. She is currently working on a Master’s Degree in Classics from the University of Virginia and a Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting from Hollins University. Amy has been involved in church music for as long as she can remember. Her mother is an organist/choir director and Amy grew up singing in the youth choir and playing the handbells at Warrenton Baptist Church in Warrenton, Virginia. She lived for a year in Philadelphia and sang with the Episcopal Cathedral choir and most recently served as interim organist for the Marshall Baptist Church in Marshall, Virginia. |
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DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT -- Brenda BilerBrenda Biler, the pastor of Grace Church on the Peninsula District, has taken the reins as the Charlottesville District Superintendent. She began her new job on June 22, 2005, following Clarence Brown who was appointed to superintend the Norfolk District.Dr. Biler, who holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration, served on the Board of Ordained ministry for eight years, chairing it from 2000-2004, and continues to serve on the Annual Conference Rules Committee. She co-authored the “Study of Clergy in the Virginia Annual Conference 1997-1998” which examined the “apparent disproportionate attrition” of clergywomen from the Virginia Conference. “I am looking forward to hearing the faith journeys of the laity and clergy on the Charlottesville District,” she says, “and to discerning together how God is inviting us to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ.” |
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PRESIDING BISHOP -- Charlene Kammerer |
