Staff @ Fairfax United Methodist Church

Pastors

Senior Pastor
Rev. Tim Gerde

Phone: (703) 591-3120 ext. 102
Email: tgerde@fairfaxumc.org

Tim Gerde

Growing up in Minnesota was a wonderful gift. In the early 60’s my mom and dad moved my older brother Steven, me, and my younger sister Holly (and later younger brother Mark), from South Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park, then the far northern reaches of the Minneapolis suburbs. If you went any further you would be in fi elds of potatoes, or the best sweet corn in the world. It was a childhood fi lled with playing ice hockey in the winter, I was the goalie; fi shing, mostly in the summer; and drinking coffee all year round. Another joy of my childhood was the day we found out Calvin Griffi th was moving his Senators from Washington D.C. to the Twin Cities. Watching the Minnesota Twins play in the old Metropolitan Stadium filled many Saturday afternoons.

However, just as I was entering 7th grade, I had a serious orthopedic problem. I had surgery at the University of Minnesota Hospital, and spent three months in a hip spica cast. It was in the hospital that I first understood that God might be calling me into ministry. It took a number of years for this calling to be fully realized, but I understood then that I wanted to help people in the midst of their suffering. I can still recall some of the other children on the ward; they were in much worse shape than I was, and yet I was inspired by their courage and their kindness toward me.

My mother and father were examples to me of living faith. Both took an active role in church, and made sure we children attended each Sunday. Mom for many years was Superintendent of the Sunday School at Osseo UMC. Sunday School began with all the classes meeting together and Mom telling a Bible story using the best technology available: a felt board. There were also many hours spent at our home singing with Mom playing the piano and Dad practicing for choir. It was their example and love, giving expression to faith in Jesus Christ, that allowed me to frame and understand my experience in the hospital as the inkling of a calling to serve our Lord in the church.

In the 11th grade, my father was transferred from Minneapolis to Milwaukee, bringing to an end my hopes of playing hockey for the US Olympic team. I finished high school, stayed in Milwaukee to attend the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, and graduated with a degree in psychology in December of 1977. I was accepted to Wesley Theological Seminary and began my theological training in January 1978. That summer, I spent three months as a chaplain intern at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in D.C. Over the next number of years, I explored hospital chaplaincy as the realization of my calling, serving two years at Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Washington, DC, and two years at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia.

At University of Virginia I met Marilyn Bower, a diabetes nurse educator, and we married in 1988. We have two children, Elizabeth, a rising high school senior, and Sarah, a rising 8th grader. During the past nine years, Marilyn realized her calling to education by teaching preschool at Peakland UMC, completing elementary teacher licensure, and is in her sixth year teaching kindergarten with Amherst County Public Schools.

In 1996, I completed a Doctor of Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary. I am currently an adjunct professor at Wesley, teaching in the Summer Course of Studies program. The appointments I served in the Virginia Conference include Mineral, Sterling, Arlington, Vienna, Lynchburg, and now, Fairfax.

My passions in ministry are preaching, teaching, and pastoral care and visitation. As a pastor, I believe that good humor and a welcoming nature are integral to our life in community and reflect a Gospel that is a vessel of joy and hospitality. In the practice of ministry I seek to bring a thoughtful approach to the pulpit, and a practical, joy-filled application of the Gospel to all people. In worship I delight in both the Wesleyan tradition of Anglican liturgy and the vitality of our revivalist heritage. I believe in the transforming grace of God given to us in Jesus Christ. Our hearts and the life of our congregation are characterized in three ways by this transforming grace. First, we are Christ-centered. We are believing, loving, and open about our relationship to Jesus Christ. Secondly, we are missional. We seek to care for, serve and invite our neighbors to the work of the reign and realm of God given to us in the life of Jesus Christ. Thirdly, we are directional. Through transformed hearts our congregation has the courage, vision, and hope to guide the decisions and choices we make.

Associate Pastor Rev. Jason W. Snow

Phone: (703) 591-3120 ext. 103
Email: jsnow@fairfaxumc.org

Jason Snow, our Associate Pastor, was born in Hollywood, FL, brought up on Long Island, NY, and raised in Richmond, VA. Jason graduated from James Madison University in 2000 with a Music Education Degree. While there, Jason sang with The Madison Project, a pop a cappella group, and was in Kappa Kappa Psi, a band service fraternity.

After college, Jason was the assistant choral director at Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas. In 2002, Jason answered his call into ordained ministry and began his seminary education at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. While in seminary, Jason trained in clinical pastoral education at Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital in Atlanta. Jason also had the opportunity to be part of the worship group which sang for the 2004 General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh. During this time, Jason also worked for the Office of Worship for Candler helping to begin the Kairos worship service for the seminary. He received his Master of Divinity from Candler in 2005. Jason was ordained as an elder in full connection at the 2008 Annual Conference.

Jason was married in 2005 to Sarah Doeppner. Jason and Sarah had their first child, Hunter Isaac Snow, on September 16th 2008. In May 2009, Jason is currently working on his Doctor of Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary with a concentration in Church Leadership Excellence. Jason enjoys spending time with friends, watching movies, singing, and playing games!