The Rev. Gary Meekins

CAMBRIDGE — The Rev. Gary Meekins will be the guest speaker at the Annual Men’s Day on Oct. 14 at 3:30 p.m. at Waugh Chapel United Methodist Church, 425 High St. The theme of the celebration is “Methodist Men...Where Are You?”

The Rev. Gary Meekins, a native of Cambridge, is pastor of Mt. Calvary United Methodist Church in Bridgeville, Del. and Bethel United Methodist Church in Federalsburg.

Rev. Meekins is a 1970 graduate of Livingstone College, Salisbury, N.C. with a bachelor of arts degree. He began his ministry as a member of the Peninsula Conference of the United Methodist Church. Ordained a Deacon in 1971, Rev. Meekins received his masters of divinity in 1974 from Wesley Theological Seminary. He was ordained an Elder at the Annual Conference in 1974.

While a member of the Peninsula Conference, Rev. Meekins served as pastor of various churches on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and in Delaware. During his tenure, Rev. Meekins achieved several accomplishments. During his first appointment at Janes and Emmanuel UMC, he played an instrumental role in having a new church erected, Emmanuel UMC, Chestertown.

Rev. Meekins went on to serve the Lewes Charge, Lewes, Del. and the Bridgeville Charge, Bridgeville, Del. In 1980 while serving the Berlin Charge in Berlin, he helped to erect an educational facility at St. Paul’s UMC which bears his portrait and plaque acknowledging his leadership.

He served as Campus Minister at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 1984 while also serving as Pastor of Metropolitan UMC, Princess Anne. In 1985, he was named to a cross-racial appointment as the first African-American to serve as senior pastor in the history of Silverbrook UMC in Wilmington, Del.

In 1988, Rev. Meekins transferred to the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and served in Philadelphia as associate pastor at the nationally known Tindley Temple United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, Pa. From 1989 to 1995 Rev. Meekins was appointed senior pastor of Mt. Zion UMC; from 1995 to 1999 he was appointed to Wharton Wesley UMC; and from 1999 to 2004 he was appointed to Camphor Memorial UMC, wherein 2004, he was appointed by Bishop Peter Weaver to Pocono Lake UMC in Pocono Lake, Pa. as the first African-American to serve this congregation.

In 2008, Rev. Meekins returned to the Peninsula Delaware Conference where he served until 2010 as the first African-American pastor at Chester Bethel UMC, Wilmington, Del. He also served as secretary of the Methodist Action Program (MAP), secretary of the Vision Team for the conference and was a member of the Wilmington District Committee on Urban Ministries.

Rev. Meekins served as pastor of Coleman Memorial UMC and Brandywine Community UMC in Wilming-ton, Del. from July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2011. On July 1, 2011 he was appointed to Coleman Memorial United Methodist Church.

On Oct. 1, 2012 Rev. Meekins officially retired from full-time ministry. However, on Oct. 1, 2012, Rev. Meekins was asked by the Dover District Superintendent to return to pastor Mt. Calvary and Bethel on the Bridgeville Charge. Also, he currently serves as treasurer of the Black Methodist for Church Renewal (BMCR) and on the Conference Sessions committee.

He is married to the former Fonda L. Burton of Lewes, Del. and they are the parents of two sons, Sean and Mark; four grandchildren, Shyrain, Rita, Shatir and Taylen, and two great-granddaughters, Sarai and Torian.

The public is invited to the service. Refreshments will be provided after the program. For more information, contact the church at 410-228-5189.

The Rev. James C. Whitaker is the host pastor. Greg Meekins, president of Waugh Chapel Methodist Men, is the chairperson of the event.