Mary Elder maryelder@shadygroveumc.org
Mary grew up in Newport News and came here most recently from Emory University, where she got her Master’s in Divinity with a certificate in Christian Education. While there, her contextual education assignments were in refugee resettlement and campus chaplaincy, where she led Emory’s campus wide worship, helped student religious leaders lead and plan events and programs, co-led Bible studies, and offered individual spiritual care. She has also worked and volunteered with a number of camps and missional non-profits around the Virginia Conference. At Shady Grove, she has been working closely with our growing youth ministry alongside the Youth and Young Adults Coordinator, teaches confirmation, serves as the staff liaison to the missions committee, and is excited to begin more work on rebuilding discipling opportunities at Shady Grove as we begin the new school year. Her email address is MaryElder@ShadyGroveUMC.org, and her in-office days are typically Sunday and Tuesday-Thursday, but she’d love for you to reach out to schedule a meeting!