The Rev. Dr. Adriane Burgess completed her undergraduate study at the University of Virginia, on an Air Force ROTC scholarship and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate in political science with a minor in Spanish.  

 

She also earned a Master of Education in Counseling from the University of Maryland while on active duty.  She attended Emory University’s Candler School of Theology as a Woodruff Scholar and graduated with honors.

 

Afterward, she completed a pastoral care residency at the Veteran Affairs hospital in Atlanta.  For eight years, Dr. Burgess served as associate pastor at Bethany United Methodist Church, a 3,400 member congregation in Summerville, SC. Their contemporary worship service grew from 40 to 350 worshippers and two worship services under her leadership.  

 

She also led adult discipleship ministries, local missions, and an international mission trip to Ecuador.  She has served on the Boards of Ordained Ministry and the Epworth Children’s Home for the South Carolina Conference.  

 

After relocating to Columbus, she completed her Doctor of Ministry degree at Emory University.  

 

Prior to her appointment at St. Mary’s Road United Methodist Church, she served as associate pastor at St. Luke United Methodist Church.  She provided leadership in local missions, pastoral counseling, women’s ministry, and preaching in the traditional, contemporary, and Spanish-speaking services. 

 

Dr. Burgess also continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves.

 

Her husband Craig is a graduate of The Citadel and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina.  He joined Columbus State University as its first General Counsel in 2016.  

 

They have two bright, young, energetic sons, Zach and Zander.  They are excited to raise their young family in the nurturing, passionate environment at St. Mary’s Road UMC.