Bryan Carper

Pastor Bryan is a licensed local pastor and served at Rocky Run United Methodist Church in Dewitt, Dinwiddie County from 2015-2024. He had been an active certified lay speaker since 2009. Bryan came into pastoral ministry directly after serving as Vice President of Stewardship Ministries for the Virginia United Methodist Foundation. Before that, he had a 35-year career in investment banking for a major regional bank. Bryan graduated from Colonial Heights High School in 1976, then received his BA in History from Virginia Tech in 1980. He most recently graduated in 2021 from the five-year residency Course of Study for Ordained Ministry through Duke Divinity School in Durham NC. He is a cradle Methodist whose family roots in the faith stretch back to German immigrants in 18th century Southwest Virginia. In 1968 he belonged to an Evangelical United Brethren church in Columbus, where the first stirrings of the spirit were guiding him to a future in pastoral ministry. That was the year that the EUB and Methodist Churches made their historic unification. Bryan previously served on the Board of Directors for the Petersburg Festival Chorus. Music and choir are a lifetime passion. He currently serves on the board of directors and is treasurer for the Petersburg Methodist Home for Girls Foundation, a group that awards scholarships and grants to the greater region. He is married to Debra, and they just celebrated their 40th anniversary in May 2024. She retired from Colonial Heights Schools in 2023. His two adult daughters are both teachers.

His favorite day is Sunday, and favorite activity is worship and liturgy. His favorite verse is Philippians 4:4-8 (English Standard Version). Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.