New President to Lead the Foundation & DevCo
GLEN ALLEN, Va. (April 4, 2025) – The Virginia United Methodist Foundation (VAUMF) announces the appointment of a new president to lead the Foundation and its affiliate, Virginia United Methodist Development Company (DEVCO). The Rev. Dr. Steven J. Summers will begin his term as president of both organizations on July 1, 2025. Dr. Summers is currently serving as the chief operating officer and assistant to Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson of the Virginia United Methodist Conference (VAUMC).
In this role, Dr. Summers provides leadership for a conference of 252,226 United Methodists and 861 congregations located throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Since becoming an ordained elder of the United Methodist Church in 2007, Dr. Summers has served in churches of all sizes, as well as becoming the district superintendent of the former Winchester district of the VAUMC from 2018 to November 2020 when he assumed the role of director of connectional ministries at the conference office in Glen Allen, Va.
He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University in Madison, N.J., with a dissertation entitled “When Church Space Becomes God’s Place: Reframing the Presence of the Holy in the Mission and Ministry of the Local Church.” In addition, Dr. Summers holds a Master of Divinity degree, having attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and the School of Theology at Virginia Union University.
Before being called to the ministry, Dr. Summers served as vice president, CEO and co-owner of a commercial leasing and equipment business in Chesapeake, Va. This knowledge of business operations and financing will be beneficial to his new role as president of the Foundation and DEVCO.
“We are very fortunate to have someone of Steve’s experience and knowledge of the Church in Virginia joining us,” according to Mark Manasco, chairperson of the Foundation’s board of directors. “In my mind there is none better to lead the Foundation in this exciting new chapter in addition to our traditional role.”
David Dommisse, Virginia conference treasurer and interim president of VAUMF and DEVCO, added his perspective by saying, “I am excited that Steve will be serving in this role. The experience he brings from business, serving local churches, as a district superintendent as well as his roles at the Annual Conference makes him uniquely qualified to lead the Foundation as it works to support churches and their ministries to their local communities.”
The Foundation is a supporting organization of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church (VAUMC) and is dedicated to serving all districts within the VAUMC. Its relationships with the conference, clergy and laity are key to the success of fulfilling the mission God has bestowed upon the Foundation, your faithful partner in stewarding God’s entrusted resources.
For more information about how the Foundation can assist your church in meeting your investing and/or stewardship goals, contact the Foundation team at foundation@vaumc.org or 804-521-1121.
