REVEREND  K. WAYNE GRIER -- Our New Pastor

Reverend Grier, and his wife Becky, moved to Easton from Laurel, DE where they had served the Centenary UMC since 2008. Married in 1980, they are the parents of two: Erin, who lives in Madison, WI, and earned a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, and Joel, who lives near Portland, ME, and works with U.S. Cellular.

Wayne grew up in Woodside, DE, just south of Dover, where his mother still resides. He earned his undergraduate degree from Delaware State University in Dover, and his Master of Divinity from Drew University in Madison, NJ here was only one church in Woodside, a UMC, so Wayne’s background is grounded in the Methodist tradition. While in college, he began feeling the call to ministry and started preaching in his home

Return

Main Menu

church in 1970 under a Lay Speaker’s certification. After his ordination as a Deacon in 1973, he was appointed Associate Pastor of the Camden-Woodside Charge, with primary responsibilities still at Woodside. In 1974, the Hartly UMC was added to his responsibilities, and he began to “ride” the circuit. His next assignment found him truly a circuit-riding pastor, since he had the responsibility for four churches, with the two smaller ones alternating Sundays. That was his first experience with preaching three sermons each Sunday, a practice he is now experiencing once again. He asks that we pray for his energy level, since he left that “circuit” back in 1979!

Wayne’s other pastorates include: Ocean View Charge (’79-’86); Grace in Georgetown (’85-’92); Asbury in Smyrna (’92-’97); and in our neighboring county at Centreville (’97-’08). Wayne has been active in the district and conference, most recently serving as Registrar for the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time outdoors and working in the yard, studying Bible prophecy, and is a self-proclaimed “news junkie.”

Becky, a native of NC, lived in various parts of that state as a UMC PK (preacher’s kid) – good training for a Pastor’s wife! Her family moved to the Eastern Shore when she was in 9th grade, and she attended N. Caroline H.S. for three years, but graduated from Easton H.S., since her father was pastoring in Oxford at that time. She earned a B.S. in Home Economics/Interior Design from the U. of NC at Greensboro. Her father and mother, Kyle and Margaret Smith, live in Laurel, DE, and attend the church the Griers just left.

Upon college graduation, Becky worked at various jobs in her field.  After the children were born, she  home schooled them. She enjoys reading, cooking, physical activity, crafts, and growing and cooking with herbs.

The Griers enjoy traveling to new places, most recently to Germany to see the Passion Play and then on to Israel for a tour of the Holy Land.  Both Wayne and Becky are looking forward to getting to know all of us and becoming involved in their new community.

Top