Valley Ridge District of the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
The Valley Ridge District connects members of 118 United Methodist Churches in Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Highland, Montgomery, Roanoke, Rockbridge, and Rockingham Counties and the cities and towns of Buena Vista, Clifton Forge, Covington, Lexington, Roanoke, Salem, Staunton, and Waynesboro with the Virginia Annual Conference, the United Methodist Church, and the World in ministry to others on behalf of Christ. At our best, we are the spirit-filled, resilient, connected, missional, faithful, diverse, deeply rooted, committed, disciple-making, Jesus-seeking, generous, justice-seeking, world-changing people of God called The United Methodist Church.
The clergy and laity of the Valley Ridge District are supervised by a Conference-appointed District Superintendent. The Virginia Conference comprises eight districts serving over 875 local United Methodist congregations across most of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of July 1, 2026, the District Superintendent of the Valley Ridge District is Rev. Alan Combs. Find our District Staff team list HERE.
Virginia Conference Bishop: Sue Haupert-Johnson
Fishersville Office
Address: 26 Orr Drive, Fishersville, VA 22939
Phone:540-932-1055
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 AM-3:30 PM and Friday 7:30-noon
In 2009, the Virginia Annual Conference adopted the Green Church Initiative. This covenant congregation program empowers local churches to be faithful stewards of and live justly with all God has so lovingly created. Since its inception, over 100 churches have become Green Churches, and each year, we recognize exemplary churches at the Annual Conference with the Green Church Award. We invite you to become a part of the Green Church Harvest.
Greetings Valley Ridge District,
My name is Alan Combs, and I am excited to serve as your new District Superintendent. I have already had the opportunity to meet and know many people on our District, as I have served on the former Roanoke District and current Valley Ridge District for the past 9 years at First United Methodist in Salem, VA. I am grateful that my new appointment allows me to remain and serve on the Valley Ridge District, which my family and I have grown to deeply love during our time here.
I want to extend a special thank you Rev. Dr. Sarah Calvert and Rev. Jay Carey for serving both their own districts as well as our district over the past year. I experienced the gifts of their leadership both as a pastor on the district as well as an incoming District Superintendent. We are fortunate to have had such faithful leadership, and I continue to learn from them about how to be faithful and effective as a District Superintendent.
I also want to extend my deep gratitude for Rev. Dale White as he transitions from being our Director of Congregational Excellence to the pastor of Christ UMC in Staunton. Dale has been so instrumental in keeping our district connected, helping train up new leadership, and leading churches in strategic conversations about their mission, ministry, and leadership. In that same light, I want to welcome Rev. Paige Swaim-Presley as she begins her appointment as our Director of Congregational Excellence. Finally, I am grateful to Donna Desper for all the help she has provided as I learn my way around the District Office and leadership.
Recently, I was able to do a drive by tour of 23 churches in the northern portion of the district Rev. White, Rev. Swaim-Presley, and District Lay Leader Larry Dickenson. I enjoyed seeing the beauty of our churches and the surrounding communities, and I look forward to connecting with more folks around our Valley Ridge District. This will include onboarding receptions on each end of the District in August. We will share dates and registrations with more information soon.
There is certainly more to say, but for now, I ask that you please keep me in your prayers and join me in prayer for our churches and pastors. Please especially pray for all of our churches and pastors in the midst of transitions to new appointments and assignments. I am excited for what is to next!
Sincerely,
Alan