Rev. Nancy Johnston Varden is a lifelong Methodist. She was baptized at Edenton Street UMC in Raleigh, NC and confirmed at Wesley Memorial UMC in Wilmington, NC. A graduate of William Peace University (A.A., 1990) and North Carolina State University (B.S., 1993), Nancy married John G. Varden in May 1999 right after they both graduated from The Divinity School at Duke University (M.Div., 1999). She and John have three children that all help with a small family farm near their home in Western Kentucky.

Nancy was ordained on June 1, 2008, in Jackson, TN and is currently appointed as the Purchase District Superintendent in the TWK Annual Conference. She has served churches in North Carolina, Kentucky, and even Great Britain. She has also served on the Executive Boards of the Board of Ordained Ministry and Reelfoot Rural Ministries. Additionally, Nancy offers leadership as a board member and Gathering planner for The Ekklesia Project an ecumenical network of Christians rooted in their common love of God and the Church.

With a deep love for rural, farming communities and the strength of connectional ministry in the body of Christ, Nancy has been a part of The Vine UMC from the founding of this movement of living love. In this next chapter, Nancy hopes to continue to foster innovative and creative ministries alongside the Vine team.