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Refuge Youth Retreat’s planning team unites members of various United Methodist Churches throughout the Baltimore Washington Conference. While our home congregations are at different stages of the discernment process for the inclusion of LGBTQIA individuals, the leadership team of Refuge Youth Retreat is united in welcoming all people into full participation and leadership regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability, the nation of origin, immigration status, socio-economic status, and political ideology.

Refuge Planning Team: 

• Scott Karsner (He/Him), Youth Director at Asbury UMC [Volunteer Coordinator at Refuge]
• Rev. Jennifer Karsner (She/Her), Lead Pastor at Asbury UMC Arnold
• Donna Meoli (She/Her), Youth Director at Emmanuel UMC
• Rev. Chris Broadwell (He/Him), Pastor at Eastport United Methodist Church
• Iris Saunders
• Tori Saunders
• Kris Neale (She/Her), Youth Volunteer at Asbury UMC Arnold [Secretary at Refuge]
• Jenn Shipley (She/Her), Director of Young People at Calvary UMC Mr. Airy [Registrar at Refuge]
• Rev. Emily Berkowitz, Pastor at Ashton UMC
• Molly Budzinski, Youth Director at Ashton UMC
• Micah Smart, Youth Pastor at St. Pauls Kensington
• Eric Bowman, Volunteer at Asbury UMC Arnold
• Matipa Chiweshe, Asbury UMC Arnold