Introducing Pastor Julie

Over the past several months you have seen a new face assisting in worship on Sunday mornings or at the community food pantry, my friend and colleague Rev. Julie Wilson. Pastor Julie serves as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church (just like Pastor Jenna). Deacons are ordained United Methodist clergy who lead the church in Word, Service, Compassion and Justice. They may work primarily in congregations or they may work primarily in settings like hospitals, social service agencies, mission agencies, schools, counseling centers, denominational agencies, and more.

For the past several years Pastor Julie has worked with one of our denomination's ministries in North Carolina. Now they've returned home to Maryland and have made our congregation at EUMC their church home. Pastor Julie isn't appointed to EUMC, but is excited to voluntarily join our community in our work! I think that is something incredibly special. We've included Pastor Julie's bio below. Please take the time to welcome Pastor Julie when you get the chance.

Pastor Julie's Biography

Julie Wilson started their career as a high school biology teacher who occasionally helped with their church youth group and outreach ministries in Vermont. After a difficult bout with Lyme disease and a lot of wrestling with her call, she and her husband, Heath, moved with their son, Jeffrey, to southern Maryland so that they could attend Wesley Theological Seminary. They liked the area, the people, and the possibilities for ministry, so they decided to stay. Julie graduated from Wesley with a Master of Divinity degree in 2011 and was soon after commissioned as a Provisional Deacon by Bishop John Schol. After serving at the global church level with the General Board of Church and Society, as well as serving at the local church level in areas of outreach and mission, they moved again, this time to Frederick County, MD.

Rev. Julie began working for the Calvary-Centennial Cooperative Parish in 2014 as the Deacon of Outreach and Advocacy. Julie was ordained a full member of the Order of Deacons of the Baltimore Washington Annual Conference in the spring of 2016 by Bishop Marcus Matthews. In Frederick, she served on the Frederick County Coalition for the Homeless as well as the board for Second Street and Hope, a 501c3 focused on serving neighbors in need operated out of Centennial Memorial UMC. Frederick is also where they began their ministry with immigrants, particularly the Hispanic/Latino community. Julie served on the BaltimoreWashington Conference Board of Church and Society for several years and was the chair of the board 2016 - 2018.

After a brief stint as an interim pastor in Carroll County, Julie accepted a position with the General Board of Global Ministries as a Church and Community Worker in 2020. They moved to North Carolina and became the Executive Director of the Open Arms Community, an outreach ministry serving primarily Mexican American families in an impoverished neighborhood of Winston-Salem. After another serious health issue, Julie had to return to MD and rejoin her spouse who is now pastoring two churches in Lothian, MD. (Their son is grown and living his best life back in Vermont). Julie finished her Doctor of Ministry degree in Community Advocacy and Social Justice from Hood Theological Seminary, Salisbury, NC, in 2025. Rev. Dr. Julie is currently in search of their next ministry opportunity.