Pastor
Reverend Frances Waldren Stewart is a native of Covington, Virginia, and comes from a family committed to serving the Lord. She grew up in the Baptist Church, but became a United Methodist when she joined Goshen UMC in Gaithersburg, MD in 1983. She received the call to ministry while serving in leadership at Goshen.
Reverend Stewart is a 2008 graduate of the Local Pastor Course of Study School at Wesley Theological Seminary, and was elected as an Associate Member of the Baltimore Washington Conference in 2010.
Pastor Stewart was first appointed to serve as a part-time local pastor at Elijah UMC in Poolesville, MD. She is in her 14th year of service as pastor of Friendship United Methodist Church on the Damascus-Friendship Charge in Damascus, MD. From 2000 to 2006, she was the full-time Youth and Family Ministries Pastor at Damascus UMC, while maintaining her lead pastoral responsibilities to Friendship Church.
She is deeply committed to making disciples for Jesus Christ and is passionate about being a witness to the marvelous works of God in the world. She enjoys Bible Study and has led numerous Disciple I, II, III and IV classes and other short-term Bible Study groups. She is a gifted speaker and facilitator and relates well to people of all ages. Pastor Stewart has organized and directed many retreats for youth and for women.
Reverend Stewart has served on several Volunteers in Mission teams to support communities in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, New Orleans (after Hurricane Katrina) and South Africa. She is a Stephen Ministry Leader and serves on the Commission on the Status and Role of Women for the Baltimore-Washington Conference. She has also received training in bereavement support through Montgomery Hospice.
Pastor Stewart is the mother of four wonderful children and six beautiful grandchildren. She enjoys traveling, going to the beach, taking nature walks, and playing Scrabble.
