Meet Our Pastor

Reverend Joseph L. Upole

Joe has been pastor in United Methodist congregations since 1983 when he began as a student pastor of six rural congregations in Upshur County West Virginia while majoring in Religion and minor in Christian Education at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buchannon, West Virginia.

He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in 1986. After beginning his seminary education at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, Joe finished his seminary career at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC graduating magna cum laude in 1991 while serving as student pastor of a four church charge in Garrett County, Maryland. Joe has also done post graduate work in Constructive Theology at The Graduate School of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

Joe is married to Joan Upole, a Nationally Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Licensed Mental Health Counselor who presently works independent contracts with military personnel and their families. While Joe and Joan have no natural children, they have a wonderful story of a “borrowed boy” (Joan’s phrase), Irakli Tatishvili, a native of the Republic of Georgia, who has been like a son to them since 1994. Irakli works for Goldman Sachs in Manhattan. Ask to hear the story – it’s a good one! Joe and Joan also live with Sophie, a female border collie mix, and Seymour, Sadie, and Sarah, their three cats.

Joe is an avid reader and also a huge fan of West Virginia University football and basketball, as well as of Cincinnati Bengals football. He plays pool in a Bay Ridge APA pool league for relaxation.