Dr. Binder first worshiped at Pohick as a visiting Boy Scout, receiving communion from the hands of the Rev. Albert Jones, Rector in the 1970s. He returned as a seminarian in the 80s and mentored with Mr. Jones' successor, the Rev. William Brake, Jr. After ministering in parishes in Miami and Dallas, the Vestry of Pohick Church called him back as Rector in 2001.

Dr. Binder received his PhD in New Testament studies from SMU in 1997, where he also served as an adjunct Professor. His doctoral dissertation, Into the Temple Courts, was published by the Society of Biblical Literature in 1999. Along with a companion website, it explores the earliest synagogues and their relationship to the Jerusalem Temple before it was destroyed in 70 AD. A follow-up volume, The Ancient Synagogue, was published by Brill in 2008. He has excavated in Israel and has written numerous articles on various topics in his field. More recently he has taught at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria.

As Rector of Pohick, Dr. Binder oversees all areas of parish life and provides direct leadership over weekly worship and adult education. He is also a singer and guitarist in the Pohick Pickers, a folk ensemble he helped establish while a seminarian. Outside the parish, he serves as Dean of Region VI and is past Chair of the Liturgy and Music Commission for the Diocese of Virginia.

Dr. Binder is married to Chris, who teaches a women's Bible study at Pohick. They have two teenaged boys and a young daughter, who all enjoy playing with their dog Riley and their cat Lydia.

A Few of Dr. Binder's Past Newsletter Articles:

• Soccer and the Sabbath
• The Meaning of Easter
• The Sacrament of Confession
• Making Moral Decisions
• Pohick's Initial Response to the 74th General Convention
• Pohick's Follow-up Response to the 74th General Convention
• Pohick's Mission to the Community
• Finding Some Spiritual Direction
• Choosing a Bible and a Bible Commentary
• The Place of Ancient Synagogues

Donna was ordained to the diaconate in 1987 and remained in that order for nearly fifteen years as she ministered on or near the military bases where her husband, Lt Col Michael Foughty (USAF), was posted. These included the chapel at Florennes Air Force Base, Belgium, and parishes in Rapid City, SD and Grand Forks, ND. During a posting in the Washington DC area, Donna completed her Master of Divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary in 1995.

Upon her husband’s retirement, Donna was ordained to the priesthood in this diocese in 2002. She has served in several interim positions since then, including those of Associate or Vicar at St. George’s, Arlington, St. Margaret’s (Episcopal), Woodbridge, and All Saints (Sharon Chapel), Alexandria.

Beyond her wide liturgical experience, "Mother Donna" has been very involved in working with young people, a ministry she continues at Pohick, where she has primary responsibility over our Youth Program (EYC).

Donna and Mike live near Kingstowne and have two grown children.