About Us

Our Mission

Meet Our Staff

Scott was born and raised in Atlanta in the Northeast suburbs where he lived until he left for college. He attended Young Harris College from 1981-1983, Mars Hill College from 1985-87 where he graduated with a BA in Religion with focuses in Philosophy and Christian Education. He then attended Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina from 1987-1990. He entered into pastoral ministry in 1987. In 1989, Scott moved to Louisville, KY where he attended Southern Seminary from 1990-1992 and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree with a focus in Pastoral Care. Scott did Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Baptist East Hospital where his focus was in the area of Substance Abuse. Following this time, he continued this field of work in the inner city of Louisville with families of addiction. Scott has done seven years work in the area of Bowen Family Systems Theory with the Center for the Study of Human Systems and is now in the Post Graduate Program at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family in Washington DC. He was an elected member of the Virginia Annual Conference Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, served as the Virginia Conference Peace With Justice Coordinator for the United Methodist Church, a member of the Methodist Federation for Social Action and the Reconciling Ministries Network.

Brenda Scott came to Peace UMC in Sept. 1995 as choir director and pianist.  Since playing her first service at age 16, she has played organ and piano in ten states and Japan and has sung in choirs since age 14. She also has enjoyed playing for community choruses and local community theater musicals. She established the Peace Bell Choir in 2003. She and her husband, Jim, reside in Stafford and are the proud parents of 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

Tim joined the staff at Peace United Methodist church in July of 2015, coming from Chattanooga, TN where he served as the Administrative Coordinator for 4 ½ years at St. Luke United Methodist Church. Prior to that, Tim spent 33 years in the steel industry along with 29 years as a volunteer firefighter/EMT. He has an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Jefferson Technical College. He and his wife, Denise, who is a RN, a Certified Lay Servant and a Certified Lay Minister, live in Spotsylvania. They are members at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church. You can contact Tim at [email protected]

Karen Portillo grew up in Cheverly Maryland. Her family belonged to the Cheverly Community Evangelical United Brethren Church, where she was active in the children’s choir and was one of the 1st girl acolytes in the 70’s. She is an alumna University of Mary Washington and of Stuart Hall. Karen has worked in the medical field as a dialysis therapist and in the home furnishing industry in customer service and sales. However, her favorite job was full time mom and homemaker. Karen has been an active volunteer here in Fredericksburg since moving here 2001. First with the local MOMS Club then here at Peace UMC serving on numerous committees and the preschool. Karen was a Den Mother for Pack 21 and a leader in Boy Scout Troop 21. You can contact Karen at [email protected]