Guest Preacher – Rev. Dr. Michelle Holmes Chaney

A native of New York City, Dr. Chaney received her Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Tech, a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary. Her dissertation focused on Faith and the Health of Communities, paying specific attention to the role of leadership in the African American church in creating healthy communities.

She was ordained an elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2000. She became an elder in full connection in the United Methodist Church in 2013 and has 15 years of experience in human resources, in addition to 26 years in ministry. Dr. Chaney is a trained coach and consultant in church vitality, starting new ministries, and leadership development. She has worked with denominational annual conferences and non-profit boards across the country and has served rural, urban, small, large, and cross-cultural churches.

Currently, she is in extension ministry as the Director for Leadership and Church Vitality for the Northern Virginia District of the Virginia Annual Conference, where she supports the 100+ churches and over 150 pastors in the District as they seek to be relevant and vital through training, facilitating, consulting, and coaching.

She is married to Rev. Dr. William T. Chaney, Jr., who is the pastor at St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church in Burke, VA. He is a certified coach and consultant, and together they serve as principal partners of Chaney Coaching Group. They have a daughter, Courtney Elizabeth, who recently graduated from college and desires to work in human rights and social justice.

Rev. Dr. Michelle Holmes Chaney is an ordained elder, trainer, consultant, and coach in the United Methodist Church who oversees church vitality and leadership development efforts in Northern Virginia.