Virlina District Leadership
Daniel L Rudy District Executive Minister |
Daniel L. Rudy (Dan), began as District Executive Minister of the Virlina District on February 6, 2023. A native of Frederick County, Maryland, Dan graduated from Linganore High School in 2004. He graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Philosophy and Religion and a minor in Peace Studies from Bridgewater College in 2008. Following his undergraduate studies, Dan enrolled at Bethany Theological Seminary, graduating in 2011 with honors in Biblical Studies and Historical and Theological Studies.
Dan has valued the Church of the Brethren from a young age. He was raised in the Glade Valley Church of the Brethren in Walkersville, Maryland and served on the Mid-Atlantic District Youth Cabinet in High School. Before beginning his service in middle judicatory leadership, Dan served as pastor of the Ninth Street Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Virginia from 2011 through 2022. While serving as pastor at Ninth Street, Dan was Chairperson of the Southeast Roanoke Chrisitan Partnership, a member of the Virginia Council of Churches Coordinating Cabinet, a member and later chairperson of the Virlina District New Church Development Committee and a member of the Virlina District Board. Dan also served the Church of the Brethren denominationally from 2017 through 2022 as a member of the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee. Dan has been the husband of Tabitha Rudy since 2013. The Rudys have two daughters, Evelyn and Josie. Beyond his service to the church, Dan is an avid golfer, a fan of the Washington Capitals and Baltimore Orioles and enjoys cooking on his charcoal grill. |
Mary Sink St John Director of District Conference, Nurture and Witness |
Mary Sink St John has been serving as the Director of District Conference, Nurture and Witness since March 1, 2019. She has been a familiar face in leadership in the Virlina District for twenty years, however. Mary served as Camp Bethel’s first full time resident Program Director for six years, and as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for ten years.
Mary graduated from Lord Botetourt High School in Daleville, Virginia and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. She is a life-time member of Roanoke, Ninth Street Church of the Brethren. Mary considers writing and planning programs a strength, as she has written summer curriculum for Camp Bethel, coordinated three National Youth Conference district bus trips, coordinated five FaithQuests, directed five District Conferences, as well as served denominationally on the Outdoor Ministries Steering Committee and National Junior High Youth Conference committee. Mary has been married to her husband Frank for thirty-two years and they make their home in Bedford, Virginia. They are the parents to three young adult children; Sam, Maggie and Betsy St.John. |