Foundry United Methodist Church

	Dean Snyder Senior Minister Phone ext. 220 \| dsnyder@foundryumc.org Dean became senior minister in 2002. During 30 years of ordained ministry, Dean has been a local church pastor in Philadelphia, a campus minister, and college instructor. Before his appointment to Foundry, he served as director of communications for the Baltimore–Washington Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. His writings on theology, Biblical interpretation, and Christian mission have appeared in dozens of publications. View Dean Snyder's Blog
	DeeAnne Lowman Associate Pastor Phone ext. 218 \| dlowman@foundryumc.org Dee came to Foundry in 2006 from First United Methodist Church in beautiful Burlington, Vermont where she served as associate pastor. Over the past 12 years, Dee has served churches in both Vermont and New York, serving also as Troy Conference’s Director of Camping and Spiritual Formation. She is an ordained Elder in full connection with the Troy Conference, and has a life-long connection with the Methodist tradition.
	Stanley J. Thurston Director of Music Phone ext. 256 \| sthurston@foundryumc.org Stanley served as Interim Director of Music from October, 2007 until June, 2008 when he became our Director of Music, joining Foundry’s staff with over 30 years of experience in choral directing. He is a graduate of Morgan State University and The American Academy of Conducting at Aspen. In addition to giving leadership at Foundry, he is the founding music director of The Heritage Signature Chorale and Artistic Director with the Washington Performing Arts Society.
	Jana Meyer Minister of Missions Phone ext. 215 \| jmeyer@foundryumc.org Jana came to Foundry from Louisville, Kentucky where she worked for an organization that helps immigrants who are survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, Jana has master's degrees in both social work and divinity. She has worked with the homeless and people suffering from HIV/AIDS. For three years, she served in a United Methodist hospital in Mozambique, Africa during a time of civil war. Jana staffs Foundry's very active Mission Council and oversees all of our mission activities.
	Theresa Thames-Lynch Minister to Children and Families Phone ext. 222 \| tthames@foundryumc.org Theresa joined Foundry's staff in 2007 as our Minister to Children and Families. In May 2006, she graduated from Duke University Divinity School with a Masters of Divinity degree. She was ordained in the American Baptist Churches of the South, USA in February, 2007. Theresa initiates and oversees quality Christian education and formation programs for our children and families. Theresa brings to Foundry a passion for children, women's ministry and religious academia.
	Mark Schol Youth Minister Phone ext. 230 \| mschol@foundryumc.org Mark joined the Foundry Family this summer. Growing up in the United Methodist Church as the son of a pastor he was very influential in Mission in the community while in High School. He helped plan trips to North Carolina, Arizona and Georgia where he helped to repair a firebombed church, among others. Mark graduated with a degree in Hospitality Administration from Boston University in 2003 and is currently in the Masters of Divinity program at Wesley Theological Seminary.
	Robert McDonald Director of Membership Services Phone ext. 251 \| rmcdonald@foundryumc.org Robert has been working in Membership Services since he came to Foundry in 2004. He is the point of contact for arranging baptisms, weddings, Pre-Cana Weekends, funerals and memorial services. Robert also staffs the Communications and Stewardship Committees and is the editor of the Foundry Forge.
	Katy Wheat US2 Young Adult Missionary Phone ext. 253 \| kwheat@foundryumc.org Katy is working with Foundry as a US2 Young Adult Missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. As such, she works closely with several of Foundry’s mission groups, including the ESL Program, Walk-In Mission, and Day Labor Outreach. She is also the coordinator of Foundry’s Mustard Seed Mission, a monthly service opportunity in the District of Columbia.
	Lakisha Lockhart Racial Ethnic Fellow Phone ext. 238 \| llockhart@foundryumc.org Lakisha R. Lockhart is a vibrant young woman hailing from Columbus, Georgia, by way of Waynesville, Missouri. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Religion at Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. She treasures her many life experiences such as: studying abroad in Granada Spain for a semester, interning with the NAACP, introducing Senator Barack Obama at a Legislative Black Caucus gathering, being a Mellon Mays Fellow, and interning with the United Methodist Church as a part of their Ethnic Young Adults Program. She is working on her dual degree program, where she is striving to obtain her Masters in Divinity from Wesley Seminary and International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University.
	Mal Vasanth Manager of Administration Phone ext. 223 \| mvasanth@foundryumc.org Mal Vasanth served as Church Administrator for Faith United Methodist Church of Rockville since 2001. There, he oversaw building management and maintenance, office administration, personnel administration, and other administrative functions. He is credited by the leaders of Faith Church with significant cost savings, building improvements, and strong planning and organizational skills. He is a member of Memorial First India United Methodist Church in Silver Spring where he has held many church offices.
	Ed Koch Controller Phone ext. 229 \| ekoch@foundryumc.org Ed Koch is native of Arlington, Virginia. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Accounting from The College of William and Mary. After graduation and graduate work, he returned to Washington and managed several group medical practices in the District and Northern Virginia. A career shift led him to begin doing financial management for churches. He has been a staff member for three churches in Northern Virginia before joining the Foundry staff.
	Bob Benn Assistant for Operations and Communications Phone ext. 219 \| bbenn@foundryumc.org
	Thomas Daniels Custodian

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FOUNDRY'S STATEMENT OF CALL

We at Foundry are called by God

to deepen faith through transcendent worship and challenging study,
to create engaged community through inclusion and caring, and
to transform the world through active service and prophetic leadership.

OUR KEY SCRIPTURE

One of the religious scholars came up...he put in his question: "Which is most important of all the commandments?"

Jesus said, "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord you God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.' And here is the second: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment that ranks with these."

Mark 12: 28-31, from The Message

STATEMENT OF RECONCILIATION
In 1995, Foundry became one of the first larger United Methodist Churches to publicly affirm its commitment to the full inclusion of all persons when it joined the Reconciling Congregation Movement. Here is Foundry’s Statement of Reconciliation:

We, the friends and members of Foundry United Methodist Church, hold deeply our commitment to help bring about a peaceful, loving, just and accepting world. We are proud of our active, diverse congregation and have seen how each person has graced our community with his or her talents. We believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in all.

We acknowledge our oneness with all of God’s creation and invite gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons to share our faith, our community life, and our ministries. We also affirm the same for all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, economic status, or physical or mental condition.

We seek to be an inclusive congregation, and we proclaim our commitment to seek the reconciliation of all persons to God and to each other through Jesus Christ.

As we journey toward reconciliation with all, we proclaim this statement of welcome to all, including our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters: God loves you and we love you, we affirm you, and accept you, we treasure you. We welcome you.

At the same time, we recognize that there remain differences of opinion among us on issues relating to sexuality. We do not seek to erase our differences, but to journey together in faith toward greater understanding and mutual respect.

In becoming a Reconciling Congregation we believe that we are being reconciled to God and to one another.

FOUNDRY'S HISTORY
Originally located in Georgetown and later at 14th and G, Foundry dedicated its first building in September 1815. Henry Foxall, a Methodist layman and influential businessman, donated the land and building after his Georgetown iron foundry survived the British attack on Washington in the War of 1812.

For almost two centuries, the church has been home to presidents, members of Congress, and others in public service. President Abraham Lincoln became a Life Director of the Methodist Missionary Society, and President Rutherford Hayes attended Foundry nearly every Sunday during his term. President Franklin Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill attended a special service at Foundry on December 25, 1941. President William Clinton and his family attended regularly.

Foundry has long been active in mission, with work that mirrors the humanitarian concerns of the times. In 1995, Foundry affirmed publicly that it was a reconciling congregation, now one of nearly 200 United Methodist Churches in the Reconciling Congregation Movement.

A CARING COMMUNITY
Foundry United Methodist Church has been a spiritual leader in the nation’s capital for more than 186 years. In a city often characterized by transience and change, Foundry has remained a steadfast beacon — long recognized for its commitment to mission service, social justice, and reconciliation. Foundry’s ministers are viewed as models of influential and dedicated parish leadership. Distinguished by their scholarship, oratory, caring counsel, and deep commitment to Christian principles, they have extended the church’s reputation as a voice of conscience, reason, and hope for residents of and visitors to our city.

Located at 16th and P Streets NW in Washington’s Dupont Circle neighborhood — one mile north of the White House — Foundry is easily accessible by public transport. Get Directions!

CHURCH ORGANIZATION

Foundry is organizing itself as a congregation to respond to what God is calling us to do and be. As we worship and study, congregate, serve, and lead, we want to bear the fruit that John speaks of in the following passage. This passage instructs us to bear fruit based on the central commandment of loving one another.

John 15:16-17
I appointed you to go out and bear fruit, fruit that shall last; so that God may give you all that you ask in my name. This is my commandment to you: love one another.

As Foundry organizes for councils and ministry teams to bear fruit within the congregation and in the world, we need to keep Christ’s teachings at the center. As we commit to transcendent worship, challenging study, engaged community through inclusiveness and caring, active service, and prophetic leadership, we must base our choices of ministries on Bible study that reveals what God expects of us.

Ministry teams are the vibrant center of Foundry’s life. Ministry teams enact what God calls Foundry to do and be. Ministry teams can be instrumental, visionary, or both. They can fulfill a particular task or have a wide scope of responsibility. Every ministry team works with one of six councils responsible for visionary thinking and leadership of a particular area: Congregational, Worship, Mission, Discipleship, Fellowship, and Resources.

COUNCILS

All councils have the responsibility and freedom to lead in their area of responsibility. This charge means that each council continues to develop knowledge about its area, to think ahead about future needs, to allocate and reallocate resources among its ministry teams, and to communicate about its activities and plans to other councils.

Congregational Council - This Council is charged with overall lon-term visioning for Foundry. In a process that includes the congregation and staff, it selects church-wide goals. Council members ate at-large leaders who are responsible for Foundry's spiritual health and prophetic leadership.

Worship Council - This Council is the visionary thinking body for worship, doing strategic planning concerning all aspects of worship, including current services, potential services, elements of worship, and worship on recurring and one-time special occasions.

Mission Council - As the visionary thinking body for mission at Foundry, this Council does strategic planning to provide necessary ministry teams, coordinate work among ministry teams, and represent mission activities to the congregation and to the world.

Discipleship Council - This Council aids Foundry members in identifying and using their gifts and talents as they respond to God's call. It also plans activities and programs that help Foundry members, from young children through adults, develop their faith through challenging study.

Fellowship Council - As a visionary thinking body to develop fellowship at Foundry, this Council does strategic planning about ways that Foundry members work together to create an engaged community, where members accept and provide care for one another. It also reaches out to potential constituents of Foundry through a variety of strategies.

Resources Council - This Council is responsible for planning regarding Foundry's financial, human, and physical resources. It works in conjunction with the Congregational Council to allocate resources to Councils based upon church-wide goals and needs of the Councils and their ministry teams.