Interested in joining?

We're so glad you are interested in learning more about being a part of our community.

We can pair you with someone to serve as a "shepherd" to introduce you and help you discover which ministries and volunteer opportunities are a good match for you. We can arrange a tour of the church so you can learn about our history and figure out how to navigate our campuses. Whatever we can do to answer questions or acquaint you with our community, we are ready and eager to help.

I'm interested in membership!

Use this form to reach our clergy. You can learn more about the church, find the date of the next New Member Event, or learn more about the process for joining our church as a member.

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MEANING OF MEMBERSHIP

Membership at National United Methodist Church is open to all interested and engaged individuals who have been baptized and have professed their faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that faithful membership in the local church is important to personal and communal spiritual growth.

When a person becomes a professing member, he or she professes a faith in God, in Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. They publicly claim their faith and their desire to live as a follower of Jesus. Membership is a covenant between the church and the individual joining, and all members of Christ’s universal church are invited to share in the ministry of the church of Jesus Christ.

There is a hope and expectation that all who join will offer mutual love and care as we seek to extend radical hospitality, transform lives, and pursue justice. In the United Methodist Church, we live out that vision in the local church by participating through our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness.

As a part of the church universal, we believe baptism is a sacrament of initiation and incorporation into the body of Christ. Therefore, we recognize all Christian baptisms.

Welcome New Member - Sunday, January 15, 2023

Lauren Beshore:

A search for a spiritual home in Washington brought me to National UMC for the first time and the warm, welcoming and inclusive culture brought me back. I really enjoy the National UMC services and look forward to joining a community where God's peace and love are so present.

I was raised Catholic and have been baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. My husband attended a Methodist church growing up and how he described his experience has always intrigued me. After exploring the Methodist faith more intentionally recently, I am excited to be joining a community that will allow me to deepen my faith and my commitment to service and fellowship.

I cherish my time with my husband and two young children, William (2 years) and Isabelle (2 months) and am blessed to be able to spend my free time with them. We enjoy time outdoors, getting together with friends and love a good laugh.

Welcome New Member - Sunday, January 8, 2023

**Meet Jon Meade and Natalie Anderson**

Jon and Natalie live near Metropolitan Memorial Campus of NUMC and were pleasantly surprised in their first visit. According to Natalie, “After hearing the organ I was pretty much sold but the Pride service convinced me this is where I wanted to stay.” Each year around the time of Pride Parade in Washington DC, National UMC offers a bright, beautiful witness to God’s expansive love in a special worship service. Jon agreed with girlfriend Natalie “We mostly started coming due to how close it was [to our apartment] but stayed because of how open and warm the people are! Everyone we’ve met has been very committed to building a strong community of faith that makes positive change in the world.”

Natalie grew up in a series of Baptist and Evangelical churches and Jon was raised Methodist. They were both glad to join National UMC on Sunday, January 8th and look forward to getting better acquainted with everyone here. Natalie enjoys art, social dancing, and music whereas Jon enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. And they both argue that their cat Poppy is “the sweetest cat in the entire world!”

Meet Lynne Welters and her daughter Raigan

Lynne and Raigan were introduced to National UMC by a family friend, Dr. Mary Ellen Lane, her husband Colin Davies, and a father of one of our ballet students, Thomas Laryea, Esq. When we attended one of the Wesley Campus services, they also learned that the Grandmother of another of our ballet student, Carolyn Maatta, attended as well.

When Dr. Mary Ellen Lane passed away, her family asked Ballet Elite dancers to pay tribute to her at the Service. While attending this event, Raigan and Lynne say they appreciated the special care that clergy displayed while performing the memorial.

“So many of the offerings and prayers reminded me of the Catholic Faith that I grew up in ... I felt completely comfortable and safe during this Service, and this feeling has remained with me, as I have joined other Sunday Services,” Lynne shared in a letter to the church. “Along the way, I have had the blessings to also know and work with members Paula Pree, and Rita Guenther at Wesley.”

Lynne and her daughters teach a small group of children classical ballet classes, and when they lost space at a nearby community building NUMC granted low-cost access to Wesley’s Fellowship Hall. Raigan explains that the safety and care she and her students have found at NUMC convinced her to consider joining the church.

“When we began also teaching children’s ballet at National UMC, we had to take the church’s safe sanctuary training. Growing up in the Catholic Church, and as a young adult, I lost my trust in the church’s failure to protect so many generations of innocent children from violation and harm. When we learned about the extraordinary effort NUMC has taken to secure that children are protected from harm , I felt safe and I believed that children will be safe and protected.”

Raigan also appreciates National UMC’s commitment as a Reconciling Congregation.

“I grew up in an artistic family. I also studied ballet with talented young men and women who are gifted in the arts and who where also gay. Many of those childhood friends came from strict Christian households and many of their family’s and church’s shunned them for being gay. It broke by heart. I learned that NUMC embraces all of God’s children and does not shun members of the community who identify as LGBTq.

In addition to running Ballet Elite, Lynne is the President of our Affordable Housing Coop Brightwood Gardens, Inc. She enjoys Classical Music, Opera, classic literature, and watching PBS on television. Her daughter Raigan also enjoys opera and other live theater especially Shapkespeare, and full length classical ballet. She also loves the outdoors and hiking with her family.

When asked whom she considers her “beloveds,” Lynne responded,

“I have taught and nurtured many generations of students, as a result of these many years of giving, my Beloveds are first My Heavenly Father, who continues to give me strength to continue, my family and daughters who continue to stand beside me to continue the journey with the arts, and my many former students who are Professional Artist and still come back to give their talents to the next generation of Young Dancers. Oh and for the latest Blessing in our lives, one year old baby, Buddy Ricardo.

Watch the video below to learn more about Esther and Tex and their child Rodney

Welcome New Member - Sunday April 3, 2022

**Kevin McKeever:**
My name is Kevin McKeever. I was born in 1969 in Chicago, Illinois, where I lived until I graduated from High School in 1987. Growing up, I attended South Shore United Methodist Church located on the corner of 73rd and Jeffrey Boulevard in Chicago. Between 1979 and 1987, I regularly attended Sunday School and church along with my mother, father and sister. In the fall of 1987, I left home to attend Northwestern University. While attending college, I took the opportunity to visit a variety of different churches including non-denominational, Lutheran, Baptist, and others. However, whenever I was home for spring break, summer break, or Christmas break, I continued to attend South Shore United Methodist Church. In June of 1991, I graduated from college and moved to California to begin my career in the United States Navy. Between 1992 and 1996, I was assigned to two different U.S. Navy Ships (USS Kansas City 1992 – 1994 and USS Princeton 1994 – 1996). During this time, I usually attended church services and Bible Study led by the ship’s Chaplin. In 1996, I was ordered to become an instructor at Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, Rhode Island. While there (1996 – 1998), I attended worship services at the base chapel and other local non–denominational churches. In 1998, I moved to Iowa to attend law school. Between 1998 and 2001, I attended several churches including an AME church, and several non–denominational churches. In 2001, I moved to Minnesota, where I lived until 2007. While in Minnesota, I primarily attended Park Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, MN. I moved back to Iowa City in 2007, where I now live. I have attended several churches including a non–denominational church and a Baptist church.
            In February 2016, I met Rita Guenther, her mother Sue Gates, and two of their friends at a small courthouse in Vinton, IA. The meeting was purely by chance, but I had a great conversation with Rita and Sue, and I remained in touch with both of them, frequently having coffee with Sue at a local coffee shop when I serve at the Benton County Courthouse. As time passed, I eventually became good friends with both of them. My friendship with Rita and Sue was a significant factor in my eventual journey that found me at the doorstep of National United Methodist Church. Right before the pandemic struck with full force in March of 2020, Rita and I attended the same national seminar regarding implicit bias. Shortly thereafter, Rita and I were comparing notes on the restrictions the pandemic had imposed on our lives. One complaint I had was the fact that church services at my local church in Iowa were no longer in person, and many of the classes offered by my church had been cancelled or postponed. Rita then mentioned that she attended a church which had successfully moved many of its classes to an online format. She invited me to attend Food for Thought with Rev. Janet. I accepted the invitation and absolutely loved the class. I asked Rita about other classes and offerings, and she invited me to Science, Religion, and Society class and the Wednesday Night at Wesley Prayer and Praise Service. I now regularly attend the Wednesday night service, Food for Thought, and Science, Religion, and Society. I was also fortunate to have attended several Coffee Hours and other events such as the Talent Show. It has now been nearly two years since I attended my first Food for Thought class, and I feel strongly connected to the community at National United Methodist Church. Who would have thought that one could feel so close to a community when the physical distance was so great? I love being part of this community and I hope to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
            Regarding my personal life, I was married in 1992 and I have two children, ages 24 (daughter) and 26 (son). My wife’s name is Candace, my son’s name is Kevin and my daughter’s name is Ebony. My son and daughter are both college graduates. My son is a software engineer (although he is currently rethinking that career choice), and my daughter is in her second year of law school. My wife, Candace, is retired after working for various companies in logistics and process improvement for approximately 25 years.
Thank you for taking the time to read about my faith journey, my personal life, and what led me to National United Methodist Church.

With Love,
Kevin McKeever

Welcome New Members - Sunday March 13, 2022

**Rick and Dakota Kenney:**
**Dakota:**
**1. What brought you to NUMC for the first time and what led you to return?**

We attended the first service because Frances Stewart was on staff. She was the Youth Minister at Damascus UMC for our twins all through their middle and high school years, so we knew her quite well. We came back to services primarily because we liked your preaching. It was informed, thought provoking, and challenging in our lives.

**2. What is your faith background?**

I joined our local Methodist Church while in middle school and remained active in the youth program through high school. I was away from church for many years and returned because of a relationship I developed with a Baptist pastor. It was through that relationship I graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. and continued on in hospital chaplaincy.

**3. What do you enjoy in your free time? Who are your beloveds?**

Probably my biggest joy in free time is traveling on a catamaran for different sailing trips, mostly on various islands in the Caribbean. We share these experiences with our kids and other family members.

We have twins who are now 33, a boy and a girl born on Christmas Day. Our son got married last year, and he and his husband are living in Lansing, Michigan while our son-in-law is in law school. Our daughter lives in DC, and is currently living with us while she is seeking a new job. We moved back to MD 3 years ago from San Francisco, to be closer to our children.

When COVID began 2 years ago, our extended family decided to do a once weekly zoom call. We recently changed that to twice a month, but continues with 8-10 different family members. This has become our greatest joy from having to live through COVID. I don't see us ending this call anytime in future.

Hope my responses give you a flavor of why we want to begin our official relationship with NUMC. It seems to me, there is some serendipity at work in the timing of our coming to this church. It's during a time of self evaluation of the church, and, also, for myself.

Thanks for all you have done to make and welcome us into this special place of worship.
**Rick:**

**What brought you to National UMC for the first time and what led you to return?**

We had been searching for a new church home in 2019 after we moved back to Maryland from San Francisco and were looking for a church that has a good choir and musical program, along with strong liturgy-based pastors. We had known Frances Stewart for many years, as she was the Youth Pastor at our church in Damascus and a major force in our children's lives as they grew up. It was wonderful to make that connection again and to see Pastor Doug come in as the new Senior Pastor when we were deciding which direction to go and starting to get to know other members. Once the pandemic hit, we had to turn to an on-line relationship but have still managed to get to know many of the members here and are excited about finally being able to call this our church home.

**What is your faith background?**

I am the son of a Presbyterian minister and married a Baptist chaplain, so have been pretty closely tied to the church my whole life! We settled on a Methodist church when we moved to Maryland in the 90's and are have been Congregationalists for the past several years when we lived in California.

**What do you enjoy doing in your free time? And who are your beloveds?**

I have always enjoyed getting outdoors, whether it was hiking and skiing where I grew up in the Rockies or sailing and diving in the Caribbean. I am passionate about bike riding, despite a few setbacks with accidents! While I work pretty hard, I cherish the time with my beloved wife and (now adult) twins and am always trying to find ways to get out to have fun with them as we are able.

**Katie and Dave Cochran**
**Katie:**
**1. What brought you to NUMC for the first time and what led you to return?**
We first started attending Metropolitan in 2015. We were looking for an inclusive, welcoming church. I was teaching at American University's School of International Service and passed Metropolitan everyday. The rainbow flame behind the cross made me think that this community might be what we were looking for. Our initial pull to the church was the beautiful music and challenging sermons, but ultimately it was the community that kept us coming back. We have always felt so loved by everyone here, while at the same time being challenged to deepen our faith and live out Jesus' call to service. The Science and Religion class offered an incredible community where I could wrestle with tough questions and explore faith with incredible people who were doing the same. In the Godly Play classroom, I joined the children and other teachers in wondering about where I fit into God's story. It filled me with a wonder that is a cornerstone of my faith today. I was grateful every Sunday for Janet's children's sermons and for a Godly play approach that created space for my boys to explore our sacred stories with awe, wondering, and play. We moved in 2017. but started attending online when the pandemic hit. Getting to be part of this community again was a bright light during that time. We moved back in the summer of 2021, and are so excited to be part of national again. I'm especially loving the Thursday morning bible study and teaching the Joyful Spirits and Bible Explorers. National has felt like home for a very long time and we are so grateful for this community.
**2. What is your faith background?**
I grew up Catholic, but Dave and I have explored multiple denominations since we've been married. We are really intentional about finding the right faith community at each assignment and that has led us to be a part of a non-denominational church in Idaho, an episcopalian church in Florida, and a Methodist church here. It has been a blessing to learn different spiritual practices and perspectives as we've moved around the country.
**3. What do you enjoy in your free time? Who are your beloveds?**
I have too many beloveds to name! Obviously the boys and Dave hold my heart, but we've also been so blessed to bring other family and friends to National as well. My parents and Dave's grandma sometimes join us. Dave's mom often joins remotely from SC. The military life has blessed us with family and friends all over the country and here in the DC area. Reading, hiking, biking, poetry, yoga, and strategy games are some of my favorite things to do.
**Dave:**
**1. What brought you to NUMC for the first time and what led you to return?**

Katie spotted NUMC when she was teaching at American and said we should check it out. We were in the middle of the church-shopping ritual that has accompanied each of our military moves and were hooked right away. The music, the sanctuary, the clergy, the kids programming, the welcoming congregation and the message all synced with our values. Justice, hospitality, warmth, and mutual support were a compelling draw! After getting involved in Dayspring and sitting in periodically on the Science and Religion class, we knew we had found our home. Returning to NUMC was one of the things we looked forward to most when we moved back into the area last year.

**2. What is your faith background?**

I grew up in a military family and my parents came from Methodist and Lutheran backgrounds. Because we moved around so much, we became less tethered to denomination-specific traditions and after each move sought to find a local church that fit our needs. Sometimes we found great communities and attended regularly; sometimes we didn't and attended on holidays. In those cases we'd hold out hope that we'd find a good fit after the next move...

**3. What do you enjoy in your free time? Who are your beloveds?**

With free time, I love hanging with Katie and our boys (and dog Rider), especially if the weather's good and we can go for a hike, run, bike ride, play frisbee, basketball, soccer, whatever! I love playing music, reading, cooking, getting together with friends, crossword puzzles, movies, hanging out with family, and planning our next adventure.

Welcome New Members - Sunday February 6, 2022