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What
does it mean to be a member of Foundry Church?
There’s one thing that Christians worldwide can agree upon:
if you have been baptized, you’re already a member of the church.
Being part of a particular United Methodist congregation means placing
your name officially on its rolls.
Are all United Methodist churches the
same?
No. While all United Methodist churches follow the Book of Discipline
in regard to doctrine and practice, churches are as varied as people.
Some have a very conservative nature and others are more liberal.
Can someone attend worship without being
a member?
Of course! Our average Sunday attendance is around 600 (our total
membership is more than 1,300), and perhaps as many as 10 percent
of attendees are not members.
What are the demographics of the Foundry
congregation?
We have never done a formal census, but it’s safe to say
our membership comprises individuals of many income groups, racial
and ethnic backgrounds, and political persuasions. Because we are
a downtown church, we draw heavily from our surrounding neighborhood
and across the District of Columbia as well as Virginia and Maryland.
What does being a “reconciling
congregation” mean?
The United Methodist Church is open to all persons who seek to follow
the teachings of Jesus Christ. In acknowledging our oneness with all of God's creation, a reconciling congregation invites gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons to share our faith, our community life and our ministries. But it does not stop there. A reconciling congregation affirms 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 at Foundry seek to be an inclusive congregation. We proclaim our commitment to seek reconciliation of all persons to God and to each other through Jesus Christ.
Are children welcome at services?
Absolutely. We believe that the presence of children make us a more
faithful and vibrant congregation. Our services make a special effort
to include children, including mini-sermons that are directed especially
at children before they depart to their Sunday school classes.
What’s the hierarchy of the church?
The United Methodist Church is overseen by regional bishops. Our bishop
is the Rev. John Schol. Our ministers are formally introduced as “Reverend,” but in more informal conversations you should feel free to skip the
honorifics.
Can I get texts or recordings of Sunday
sermons?
Yes. Audiocassette tapes and CD recordings are available. Texts of selected sermons are also available on the web site.
What is the annual Foundry budget?
Foundry’s operating budget totals approximately $1.6 million
per year. In addition, we conducted a separate capital campaign in
2001-2002 to boost church holdings that will allow us to make some
necessary building renovations. More than $2 million was pledged to
that campaign.
Can anyone participate in communion
at Foundry?
Our communion table is open. All are welcome to participate in the
Lord’s Supper. At Foundry, we celebrate Eucharist on the first
Sunday of every month in the sanctuary, and all other Sundays in the
chapel. Communion is usually served by intinction, in which the bread
is dipped in the wine and both are taken together.
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Senior
Minister’s Sermons
Dean Snyder, senior minister, is a preacher,
writer, and activist who coordinates a talented ministerial
and lay staff. Prior to being appointed to Foundry, Snyder
served the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference as a
communications director, editor, and specialist in congregational
development and new church starts. He also served congregations
in Philadelphia, as a campus minister and as a college
instructor. A graduate of Boston University School of
Theology and Albright College, Snyder’s articles
have appeared in dozens of publications.
View Sermons
View Senior Minister's Blog
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Africa
University
Located in Mutare, Zimbabwe, Africa University opened in 1992 as
the first private, international university in Africa. Africa University
is a United Methodist Church-related project. Foundry joined this
effort in 2002 and offers daily prayers and financial support.
Appalachia
Service Project
Each summer, Foundry youth and adult advisors spend a week in the
Appalachian Mountains participating in work projects to improve
housing and living conditions for low-income residents in mostly
rural and isolated communities.
Christ
House
Foundry volunteers help cook and serve lunch to residents of this
32-bed medical facility and residence for homeless men located on
Columbia Road.
Concert
for Life
An annual musical event, presented in cooperation with the
Foundry Choir and Orchestra, that has raised more than $600,000
over the last fifteen years to assist persons affected by HIV/AIDS.
Democracy
Project
This nonpartisan and nonpolitical group seeks to energize communities
of faith in Washington and elsewhere to seek full voting representation
in Congress for citizens of the nation’s capital.
McKenna’s Wagon
McKenna’s Wagon is a service of Martha’s Table that
distributes soup and sandwiches from traveling vans, mostly to homeless
individuals in downtown Washington. Foundry volunteers ride on the
vans to distribute food twice a month.
N
Street Village
Foundry provides resources and volunteers for overnight supervision
at the N Street Village women’s shelter at Luther Place Memorial
Church near Thomas Circle.
SOME
Foundry members help cook and serve breakfast twice a month for
So Others Might Eat (SOME), a multi-dimensional nonprofit service
for poor and homeless families.
Summer
Camps
Foundry children in grades 3 through 12 are encouraged each year to
attend one of the summer programs available at Camp Manidokan and
West River Camp, both in Maryland, and operated by the UMC’s
Baltimore-Washington Conference.
United
Methodist Women
This community, open to women of all ages in the church, conducts
intensive study programs on national and international issues especially
as they affect women and children. Foundry UMW serves as a key channel
of information and support for projects of the Baltimore-Washington
Conference.
Volunteers
in Mission (VIM) / Global Outreach
Inaugurated in 2003, VIM helps organize participation by
Foundry members in the short-term mission projects of the international
Volunteers in Mission program of the General Board of Global Ministries
of the United Methodist Church.
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