Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

My name is Mary Dadisman and I’m excited to be appointed as the new pastor of Carson UMC!  I am looking forward to getting to know the people and village of Carson.  I can’t wait to see what God is already doing among you and where God will be leading us next!

A bit about me: I am originally from Harrisonburg, VA in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.  I attended JMU.  I studied music for two years and then received my degree in Sociology with minors in History and Women’s Studies.  I was active in the Wesley Foundation (UM campus ministry) and the Marching Royal Dukes.  After college, I was commissioned by the General Board of Global Ministries as a young adult US-2 missionary.  My mission was working with youth in Southern California. 

After serving 2 ½ years, I returned home to Harrisonburg.  I worked in insurance customer service and volunteered in my church, worked with youth and young adults, took mission trips to Russia and South Africa, and started a ‘contemporary’ worship service.  I also took a few classes in seminary at Eastern Mennonite.

After about 10 years, I responded to God’s call to pastoral ministry (which was always there) and moved to Chicago to attend seminary at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.  After spending three years in study on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, I returned home to Virginia.

I have served the Virginia Annual Conference as the Associate Pastor of Haygood UMC in Virginia Beach and the Pastor of Kenwood UMC in North Dinwiddie.  In 2017, I was ordained an elder by Bishop Sharma Lewis at Annual Conference.

I love being in ministry with others, especially outreach and mission.  I play clarinet, saxophone, and handbells.  I love to sing.  My favorite music is Broadway musicals and movie soundtracks. I like working on crafts, reading novels, going to plays and movies.  I like kayaking, hiking, and the opportunity to sit in a mountain stream and contemplate God’s incredible handiwork.  I like to travel and most recently had the opportunity to go to Israel and see the Holy Land sites.  My favorite sites on the trip were the Pool of Bethsaida, Capernaum, Magdala, and the Dead Sea (but who can choose, they were all amazing!).

Most of my family lives in the Harrisonburg area, including my parents, Kemper and Kitty, and brother and sister-in-law, Wes and Lisa.  I live with a “genuine United Methodist itinerating” cat, named Peek.

I look forward to meeting you soon!