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Pastor Elizabeth is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. She was ordained in 1989 and has been serving churches for 35 years in the Virginia Conference–rural churches, small-town churches, urban churches, and suburban churches–all over the state.
Pastor Elizabeth grew up in a military family and moved frequently. Her father, CAPT Robert N. Foss, was retired Navy and served on submarines for most of his career. He was the commanding officer of the USS Stonewall Jackson, SSBN 634, a nuclear submarine. Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where she majored in economics, and an honors graduate of Candler School of Theology, where she received her Masters of Divinity, and Wesley Theological Seminary, where she received her doctorate.
She is passionate about discipleship and wants to help people to have a solid and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. Fostering a strong prayer life, studying God’s word, sharing God’s love in the community and world through mission endeavors, and helping others to do all those things, are all important to her. So is listening. She wants the church to be a place where people can tell the truth about their lives–their ups, downs, doubts, worries–the whole of life, because God is a part of all of it.
On a more personal note, she has two cats, and she loves reading and bead work. And military airshows!
If you’d ever like to talk with her, you can call the church to set up a time. She would welcome and value the opportunity to talk with you.
A native of Kingsport, Tennessee., Morris was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran tradition. An Eagle Scout, he graduated from Radford University (Bachelor of Arts, 1989) and Virginia Union University School of Theology in Richmond (Valedictorian, Master of Divinity, 2001). He completed a full unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center in Richmond (1999). Prior to entering full-time ministry, he worked in radio broadcasting at 98.5 WTFM (Kingsport); The March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation (Richmond); Marketing Director at Chesterfield Towne Center (Midlothian); and part-time in-game operations for the Richmond Renegades Hockey Club (East Coast Hockey League) at the Richmond Coliseum.
He connected with The United Methodist Church at River Road UMC in Richmond and served as Youth Pastor at Skipwith UMC, also in Richmond, while moving through the candidacy process for ministry. He was licensed a full-time Local Pastor in the Virginia Conference in June of 1997. His appointments have included the Prospect Charge [Prospect/Olive Branch/Smyrna—Farmville District, 1997-99], the Pamplin Charge [Pamplin/Centenary/Piney Ridge/Evergreen—Farmville District, 1999-2000], Pleasant Grove [Danville District, 2000-2005], Blacksburg (Associate Pastor, 2005-08), and Newport-Mt. Olivet (Giles County-Valley Ridge District) since 2008. He is currently serving on the Virginia Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and has previously served on The United Methodist Board of Church & Society at both Conference and District levels. In 2018, he completed EarthKeepers training at The United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries in Atlanta.
Morris is one of the founding members of the To Our House winter/thermal shelter for homeless adults in New River Valley and has served as an officer on the board of To Our House since its inception in 2008. In 2018, he was the recipient of the New River Valley Leading Lights award for volunteerism and service to the Giles community. His interests include ice hockey (avid Washington Capitals fan), college football (especially the University of Tennessee), and military history. He has a deep love and appreciation for music from Classical to Classic Rock.
He has provided leadership for over a decade as a part of the board of the Giles County Christian Service Mission, a non-profit organization located in Pearisburg that serves the neediest families/individuals in Giles County (food, clothing, diapers, utility assistance, etc.). Since 2012, he has also been a member of the board for the Giles County Emergency Shelter (a.k.a., The Hope House) located in Narrows. He is also a part of the Giles County Local Board for the Federal Emergency Food & Shelter Program and the NRV Thrive: Food Access Network. He and his wife of 35 years, Marcie, reside in Christiansburg. He and Marcie have two adult children: Matthew (30) who is a math teacher at War Hill H.S. in Williamsburg, and Melanie (23) who is in her second year at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond.
Some of his favorite Christian authors include Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Barbara Brown Taylor, Henri J. M. Nouwen, Richard Rohr, Brian Zahnd, and Frederick Buechner.
A native of Richmond, Anne started singing in church at four years old and later studied piano with their church organist and choir director. She sang in public school choruses beginning in fifth grade through college, including auditioned choruses, community choruses, three professional opera choruses, and the Virginia Symphony Chorus.
Piano lessons began in sixth grade and organ in high school. She earned a B.M.Ed. and M.M.Ed. from JMU, followed by postgraduate studies in principal leadership. She taught public school music, all grades, for 32 years. Her solo students and choruses were consistently awarded superior ratings at many festivals.
Currently serving our church as Interim Choir Director/Music Director, Anne and her husband, Bryant are blessed to worship and serve in such a welcoming, spirit-filled fellowship of loving servants.
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