Wilson, Julie M.

Julie Marie Wilson is a missionary with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, serving as Church and Community Worker. She serves as Open Arms Community Center program coordinator in Winston- Salem, North Carolina.

Julie grew up in Vermont. She is a deacon in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference. She holds three degrees: Bachelor of Science in biology and secondary education from Elmira (New York) College (1998); Master of Education with a focus on diversity issues from Vermont College of Norwich University, Montpelier, Vermont (2001); and Master of Divinity, plus certification in urban ministry, from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C. (2011). She is studying for a Doctor in Ministry at Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina.

She worked as a conference relations organizer at the General Board of Church and Society, Washington (2011-12); deacon of outreach and mission, Trinity United Methodist Church, Prince Frederick, Maryland (2012-13); deacon of outreach, Centennial Memorial UMC, Frederick (2014-18); deacon of outreach and service, Calvary UMC, Frederick (2014-19); and interim pastor, Taylorsville UMC, Mount Airy, Maryland (2019-20). She is married to the Rev. Heath Wilson; they have an adult son.

Raised in the Roman Catholic Church, Julie has always loved liturgy and ritual. However, she feels closest to God when she engages in community with others. “Exposure to diverse theological worldviews in college,” she said, “encouraged me to find a denomination where I felt more comfortable as a woman called to leadership in the church.” That led her to The United Methodist Church.

Julie’s love of diversity also drove her passion to pursue experiences in her faith walk and her educational and professional life that challenged and stretched her. “My drive for ministries of justice and compassion,” she continued, “led me toward ordained ministry as a deacon. The more time I spend with the people of God, the more I want to explore the nature of God and the many ways one can encounter the Almighty.”

Serving as a church and community worker allows Julie to “help those who are hurting, those who are looked down upon by society, those who have been treated unjustly and those who simply need to know that someone loves and cares for them,” she said. She believes that every opportunity that she has had over the years is being woven into a tapestry of preparation for wherever God is calling her to serve. “I am so excited to see what God has planned!” she added.