Christ Episcopal Church 107 South Washington Street

Christ Episcopal Church
107 South Washington Street, Rockville, MD 20850

The Reverend John S. McDuffie has a background as a clinical social worker, serving individuals and families in Portsmouth, Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, and Fayetteville, North Carolina, from 1974 through 1984. He had received his bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Religion from Boston University in 1972 and went on to earn a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina.

Deciding to enter the ministry, John attended the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, and received his Master's of Divinity, cum laude, in 1987. He then went to Akron, Ohio to serve as Curate in St. Paul's Church. While at St. Paul's, he was responsible for the youth ministry program, and was active in pastoral care, Christian education, and liturgical planning. He was also active in community and diocesan ministry. He mobilized volunteers for community service programs. He served on his diocese's Stewardship Commission, on the Board of Homeless Shelters for Akron, and on the Ohio Board of Church World Service.

In 1989, John accepted a call as Rector of St. Dunstan's Church in Bethesda, Maryland. In his time at St. Dunstan's John has served in many capacities, as preacher, evangelist, spiritual leader, and administrator. Among the accomplishments he can cite with pride are the successful conduct of a long-term development project, strong growth in the children's education program, healthy growth in stewardship, and the building of strong lay leadership and effective parish administrative planning by recasting the vestry into proactive management roles.

John has continued his active participation in diocesan affairs. He served as President of the Board of the Washington Episcopal Clergy Association. He has served on the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Washington and on the Diocesan Commission on Liturgy and Music. Also, he has been a Group Leader of the Christianity and Literature Conference in Kanuga, North Carolina. He is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. He has been active in development of field education for the Virginia Theological Seminary.

John and his wife, Mary, live in Bethesda. Together they have five children, as well as a dog, three cats, two birds, and several goldfish. His hobbies include music of all kinds. He is a jazz saxophonist and a former bandleader. He also enjoys reading, jogging, and watching baseball games.

Fr. McDuffie's first celebration of services with Christ Church was on Sunday, September 6th, 1998. He was formally instituted as Christ Church's twenty-fifth Rector on December 5th, in a joyful ceremony with Bishop Ronald Haines presiding.

This web site is dedicated to Ned Prettyman and Wally Keene.