Friendship United Methodist Church is truly blessed to have strong leadership and a caring and loving pastor and staff. We welcome you to come visit them and the rest of our congregation.
Rudolph “Rudy” White – Lead Pastor
Phone: (410) 257-7133
Email: pastor@friendshipmethodist.org
Pastor Rudy is a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. He was raised at Whatcoat UMC in Dover, DE. Pastor Rudy is an Ordained Elder in the Peninsula-Delaware Conference of the United Methodist Church where he has served on numerous Conference committees and at two different churches over his 17-years in the ministry. He has served as the Senior Pastor of Centennial United Methodist Church in Smyrna, DE and was there 14 years, and the church grew significantly. In November 2012 he also became the Campus Minister of the Wesley Foundation at Delaware State University. In July of 2019, Pastor Rudy accepted the cross racial/cross cultural appointment at St. Georges UMC in St.Georges, DE, where the church also experienced significant spiritual and numerical growth.
Pastor Rudy has an undergraduate degree from Delaware State University, where he obtained a BS in Chemistry. He achieved his Master of Divinity degree from Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University. While at Palmer, Pastor Rudy also met and later married his lovely wife, Pastor Vernette. Currently, Pastor Rudy is in the Doctor of Ministry program at Palmer Theological Seminary. His favorite scripture comes from John 14:27 where Jesus tells his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
The SPRC and church leaders who have met with Pastor Rudy in preparation for this transition have found him to be warm, friendly, positive, and enthusiastic, and we are excited and blessed to welcome him to Friendship!
Please take the time to welcome Pastor Rudy and Pastor Vernette to Friendship in the coming weeks! Thank you!
Bonnie Dean – Church Secretary
Phone: (410) 257-7133
Email: bsuedean@friendshipmethodist.org
Darrell Rison – Organist and Choir Director, 11:00 am service
Darrell is a lifelong church musician, first falling in love with the music of the church as a youngster at his grandparents’ Baptist church in Charles County. He was baptized there as a teen. He studied pipe organ and sacred music at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and began receiving professional church appointments shortly after graduation. Darrell particularly values diversity of musical expression and along the way has served in capacities including music minister, liturgist, choir director, and organist, as well as professional chorister, vocal section leader, and soloist. He has experienced loving and creative musicians and colleagues at parishes urban and suburban, large and small, and with all manner of musical preferences and styles. He was confirmed as an Episcopalian as a young adult and continues as an active communicant. Darrell is excited about the passion and energy at Friendship and is honored to be a part of the long legacy of quality music here. He is especially eager to get to know everyone, so please reach out and make yourselves known!
Micah Cooley – Pianist, 8:30 am service
Micah has been with FUMC for nearly a decade, expressing his love for God through his musical output as the 8:30 service’s pianist. Growing up with the piano, Micah has had a penchant for modifying and rearranging the musical scores he would receive during lessons throughout childhood, shaping them into harmonious remixes through use of his discerning ear. It is these nuances that Micah tenderly translates onto the piano at Friendship for maximum relaxation and meditation. Micah considers Friendship to be his home away from home and is committed to making you feel equally safe and at peace in the house of the Lord with his playing.
