Leadership

Rev. Rachel Plemmons has been the Pastor of Front Royal United Methodist Church (FRUMC) since July 1, 2021. 

With over a decade in the ministry she has previously served churches across Virginia in Kenbridge, Emporia, and Lancaster County on the Northern Neck. Starting ministry as a last-minute lay supply pastor, Pastor Rachel has moved through the ordination process in the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church (VAUMC), becoming Licensed as a Local Pastor in 2014, Commissioned as a Provisional Elder in 2018, and Ordained as an Elder in Full Connection in 2025.

Growing up in nearby Winchester, Pastor Rachel first began feeling called to the ministry around the age of 14. Her pursuit of this call led her to Virginia Wesleyan College (now University) in Virginia Beach, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Theater. Upon graduation, she moved to Durham, NC to pursue her Master of Divinity from Duke University, where she also met her husband, Joe. The two got married after her graduation in 2012 and reside in Front Royal,

Virginia with their cat, Maesie. Joe was Commissioned as a Provisional Deacon in the VAUMC in 2024 and serves as the pastor of John Wesley UMC and as a teacher at Randolph-Macon Academy.

In addition to being bossed around by her cat, Pastor Rachel enjoys reading, video games, music, and introducing Joe to the parts of the Shenandoah Valley that he hasn’t discovered yet.

As a pastor, she feels called to lead spirit-filled worship, engage in mission and ministry that connects the church to the world, and share the love of God with everyone she meets. She is passionate about the church being a place where all can feel welcome, regardless of who they are and where they’ve been. She hopes that you will want to come and have some fun with her and the FRUMC congregation as they proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ!

Email: Pastor@frumc.org

Rhonda Thompsen is the Administrative Assistant at Front Royal UMC. She began working as Administrative Assistant in 1986. Rhonda was born and raised and has always lived in Warren County. She was married to Rois in 1995 by The Reverend Larry Thompson, former pastor and retired  Winchester District Superintendent. Together they are very blessed to have a son, Nathan and a daughter, Taylor.

Rhonda’s favorite things to do: Spend time with Family & friends (& her dogs), home renovation projects, and the beach.

Favorite Bible Verses:

Hebrews 13:2 “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

John 15:13 “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Office hours: 9:00–4:00 pm, Monday–Thursday; 9:00-12:00 pm, Friday

Office phone: 540-635-2935

Email: rhonda@frumc.org