Born Sep. 13, 1967, in Kingsport, Tenn., Morris was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran tradition. An Eagle Scout, he attended Radford University (B.A. 1989) and Virginia Union University School of Theology (Valedictorian, M.Div. 2001). He completed a full unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center in Richmond (1999). Prior to entering into full-time ministry, he worked in radio broadcasting at 98.5 WTFM in Kingsport, Tenn.; Marketing Director at Chesterfield Town Center in Midlothian; and in-game operations for the Richmond Renegades Hockey Club (East Coast Hockey League).
He connected with The United Methodist Church at River Road UMC in Richmond, Virginia and served as Youth Pastor at Skipwith UMC-Richmond while moving through the ministry candidacy process. He became a full-time Local Pastor in the Virginia Conference in June of 1997. His other appointments include the Prospect Charge [Prospect/Olive Branch/Smyrna-Farmville District-1997-99], the Pamplin Charge [Pamplin/Centenary/Piney Ridge/Evergreen-Farmville District-1999-2000], Pleasant Grove [Danville District-2000-2005], Blacksburg (Associate Pastor, 2005-08), and Newport-Mt. Olivet (Valley Ridge District) since 2008. He has served on The United Methodist Board of Church & Society at both Conference and District levels and recently completed EarthKeepers training at The United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. He was one of the founding members of the To Our House winter/thermal shelter for homeless adults in New River Valley and has served as an officer on the board of TOH since its inception in 2008. Recently, he was the recipient of the Leading Lights NRV award for volunteerism and service to the Giles community. His interests include ice hockey (avid Washington Capitals fan) and college football (especially the University of Tennessee), community theater, and military history.
He has provided leadership for over a decade as a part of the board of the Giles County Christian Service Mission, a non-profit organization located in Pearisburg, Virginia that serves the neediest families/individuals in Giles County (food, clothing, diapers, utility assistance, etc.). Since 2012, he has also been a member of the board for the Giles County Emergency Shelter (a.k.a., The Hope House) located in Narrows, Virginia. He is also a part of the Giles County Local Board for the Federal Emergency Food & Shelter Program and is part of the THRIVE: Food Access Network. He and his wife of 35 years, Marcie, reside in Christiansburg. He and Marcie have two adult children: Matthew (29) and Melanie (23).
Some of his favorite Christian authors include Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Barbara Brown Taylor, Henri J. M. Nouwen, Richard Rohr, and Frederick Buechner.
