UPSem Alumni Luncheon at the United Methodist Virginia Annual Conference

Thirty alumni and friends gathered for a UPSem luncheon on Friday, June 21, 2019 during the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, meeting in Roanoke. President Brian Blount spoke on “Resurrection and the Walking Dead.”

Several of our seminary alumni were recognized for significant rites and achievements in their ministries. Lori Beach (M.A.’98, M.Div.’01) of the Eastern Henrico Cooperative Parish, was recognized as one to be commissioned in her ministry by the Annual Conference. To be ordained by the bishop that evening included the Rev. Emily Moore-Diamond (M.A.T.S.’08), a pastor for Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Alexandria, and the Rev. Mandy Newman (M.Div.’14) pastor of the Woodland UMC, Windsor, VA. Emily offered the blessing for the meal. The retirement of the Rev. Dr. Paul Baker (M.Div.’12), who has served at senior pastor for Heritage UMC, Lynchburg was recognized and celebrated at the luncheon. Paul closed the gathering with a benediction.

After several door prizes were award, and the luncheon concluded, Dr. Will Willimon, Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry at Duke Divinity School and a bishop in the United Methodist Church, stopped by the banquet room where we gathered at the Blue Ridge Hotel, to extend greetings to Brian and Sharon Blount.

W. Clay Macaulay
Alumni Director
26 June 2019