Morris Fleischer

A native of Kingsport, Tennessee, Morris was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran tradition.  A graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School and an Eagle Scout, he attended Radford University (Bachelor of Arts, 1989) and Virginia Union University School of Theology (Master of Divinity, 2001).  He completed a full unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center in Richmond (1999).  Prior to entering into full-time ministry, he worked in radio broadcasting, marketing, and public relations.

He connected with The United Methodist Church at River Road UMC in Richmond, Virginia and served  as Youth Pastor while moving through the ministry candidacy process.  He became a full-time Local Pastor in the Virginia Conference in June of 1997.  His other appointments include the Prospect Charge, the Pamplin Charge, Pleasant Grove, Blacksburg, and Newport-Mt. Olivet (Valley Ridge District) since 2008. 

He has served on The United Methodist Board of Church & Society at both Conference and District levels and completed EarthKeepers training at The United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries in 2018.  He is currently on the Virginia Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.

He was one of the founding members of the To Our House winter/thermal shelter for homeless adults in New River Valley and has served as an officer on its board since its inception in 2008.  In 2021, he was recognized as an New River Valley Outstanding Leading Light, an award for volunteerism and service to the Giles community.

He has provided over a decade of leadership as a part of the board of the Giles County Christian Service Mission, a non-profit organization located in Pearisburg, Virginia that serves the neediest families/individuals in Giles County (food, clothing, diapers, utility assistance, etc.).  Since 2012, he has also been a member of the board for the Giles County Emergency Shelter (a.k.a., The Hope House) located in Narrows, Virginia.  He is also a part of the Giles County Local Board for the Federal Emergency Food & Shelter Program (FEMA) and is part of the THRIVE: Food Access Network of foodbanks and feeding ministries across the New River Valley. 

His interests include ice hockey (avid Washington Capitals fan) and college football (especially the University of Tennessee), community theater, and military history.

He and his wife of 35 years, Marcie, reside in Christiansburg. He and Marcie have two adult children: Matthew (30) and Melanie (23).

Some of his favorite Christian authors include Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Barbara Brown Taylor, Henri J. M. Nouwen, Richard Rohr, and Frederick Buechner.