BIO
The Reverend James D. Canody
Pastor Jim was raised in Falls Church, Virginia in a loving and caring family who loved their church. Jim grew up at Graham Road United Methodist Church. He has been on a faith journey since his birth - attending Sunday School and worship, being active in UMYF, Youth Choir, the GRUMC ASP Mission team, and Chancel Performance Team.
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In his first year of college Jim received his call to the pastoral ministry. With the help of many people, through many situations, and through many hours of fervent prayers God's call towards ordained ministry was confirmed.
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Jim graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College with a BA degree in the Liberal Arts Management Program and a focus on religion. During his time at VWC Jim served in the Chaplin’s office, served in various leadership positions and was the director of youth ministries at Trinity UMC, Smithfield on the Peninsula District.
He joined the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1984 while completing his final year at Wesley Theological Seminary. During seminary Jim served two years on the Arlington District at Walker Chapel and one year on the Washington East District (Baltimore/Washington Conference) at Good Shepherd UMC in Waldorf, Maryland. In 1983 Janice and Jim were married at Rockville UMC.
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Jim and Janice’s first full-time appointment was a single rural church on Harrisonburg District, Parnassus UMC, where they served for three years. During this appointment Jim was involved with Border Missions (Hidalgo, TX) and began working with the Society of St. Andrews’ Harvest of Hope. [1985-1988]
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They then moved to the Eastern Shore District where they served the two-church Wachapreague/Quinby Charge for four years. During their stay on “the Shore” their son Jake was born. Jim was on the Executive Council of Camp Occohannock on the Bay, was Vice President for the District Clergy, and continued his work with the Society of St. Andrews’ Harvest of Hope. [1988-1992]
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The family then moved back to “the Valley” to the Staunton District and served Mint Spring UMC for two years. [1992-1994]
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For five years the family served the King William Charge, a three church charge, on the Ashland District. Jim was the chairman of the Small Membership Church task force, served on the Executive Committee of Acquinton Elementary School’s PTA, and was the Elementary School’s representative to the King William County School Board. [1994-1999]
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The Canody’s were then sent to the Alexandria District where they served Cranford UMC for six years. During his time at Cranford Jim began studying Bowen Family Systems Theory. [1999-2005]
The family was then sent to the Arlington District where for ten years they served Friendship UMC. During their time of service the church worked closely with the Annandale Christian Community for Action, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness, and helped found the Friendship Shelter (an orphanage) in Gopalpur, Odisha, India. [2005-2015]
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Jim then had the honor of serving at his home church, Graham Road UMC. At GRUMC Jim assisted the congregation in a discernment process about the future of their ministry. The congregation partnered with the Vine (UMC) Dunn Loring to plant a second site (the Vine @ Graham Road) within the current congregation. [ 2015-2018].
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Jim then served Warwick Memorial UMC for a year. WMUMC was a wonderful opportunity to learn first-hand about contemporary worship services and the vast mission reach possible with a larger congregation.
Thrilled to be back on their beloved Eastern Shore, serving Onley UMC, the Canody’s look forward to many years of making a positive impact on their community and beyond.