November 2026 — Rev. Dr. Evalina Huggins serves as Presiding Elder of the Baltimore District in the Philadelphia and Baltimore Annual Conference, overseeing a district of 19 churches. A driven, passionate, energetic, authentic, intelligent, and compassionate servant leader, Dr. Huggins has provided outstanding leadership for more than 40 years in The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.
Rebuilding Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church
In October 2019, Bishop W. Darin Moore appointed Rev. Dr. Huggins to pastor Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church in Potomac, Maryland, following a devastating flood that severely damaged the church’s walls and foundation. Determined to rebuild one of the oldest Black congregations in Montgomery County, Maryland, she immediately began developing partnerships with community organizations. The congregation includes descendants of the formerly enslaved people who helped establish its historic legacy.
Under Dr. Huggins’s leadership, the church’s excavation, restoration, and rehabilitation began in March 2024, following five years of worshipping outdoors and participating in services via Zoom. Working alongside architects, she helped design the building while preparing the people for what God was about to do.
Through the generosity of community partners, grants secured by Dr. Huggins, and the collaboration of numerous supporters, Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church completed a $12.2 million restoration project without incurring debt.
The project’s donors and funding partners include:
In 2026, Partners for Sacred Places awarded Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church the prestigious Faith & Form International Award, recognizing excellence in religious architecture, design, and art. The Scotland project was one of 12 selected from 75 entries for the 2026 award.
Bishop Brian R. Thompson, Sr., recently commended Dr. Huggins’s accomplishments, stating:
“Congratulations to Presiding Elder Huggins and to the members Scotland A.M.E. Zion! Elder Huggins has used her innovation, influence, and community relationships to raise over $ 10 million for the local church, with no debt. This is to my knowledge unprecedented and speaks directly to her leadership abilities.”
Today, Scotland’s membership has tripled over the past two years. The congregation has also evolved from an entirely African American membership into a multicultural community that reflects the surrounding area.
The church is developing a $1 million endowment to support long-term sustainability, with a full campaign scheduled to launch in early spring 2027. It also maintains a database of more than 1,500 donors and financial supporters.
In addition to its historic restoration, Scotland is embracing environmental sustainability. Two bioretention ponds on the property help mitigate flooding and manage stormwater runoff.
Innovative Partnerships and Community Engagement
Dr. Huggins has consistently demonstrated an ability to identify innovative ways to strengthen church finances and expand ministry opportunities. Under her guidance, Scotland has established partnerships that provide consistent facility use and rental income while remaining aligned with the congregation’s mission and vision. These partnerships include local schools, civic groups, nonprofit organizations, and grassroots initiatives.
The church’s on-site Courageous Conversations Café provides a gathering place where community partners engage in meaningful discussions about faith and community. The café also serves as an additional source of revenue for the congregation.
Negotiations are underway to install two or three electric vehicle charging stations in the parking lot, creating another potential income stream. The church is also preparing for a $200,000 stream restoration project near the property and plans to install industrial generators to help maintain electrical service.
Additionally, Scotland partners with the Scotland Juneteenth Foundation to host one of the largest Juneteenth festivals in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland.
Scotland’s History and Commitment to Restorative Justice
Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church was founded in 1924. Its history is rooted in the determination of freed men and women who established a church and school to support their community. By the 1960s, during a period of rapid suburban expansion, residents faced significant barriers to accessing public water. Discriminatory and racist banking practices further restricted economic opportunities and contributed to the community’s financial hardship.
Today, Scotland continues its partnerships with the wider community that have proved to enhance the church’s mission to seek “Restorative Justice” for the discriminatory and racist practices that robbed its members of their right to economic, educational, social, and spiritual uplift.
A Distinguished Ministry and Educational Journey
Dr. Huggins serves as the spiritual and administrative leader of the Baltimore District, a position she has held for many years. She previously served as Presiding Elder of the Kingstown District in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. She has also been elected as a clergy delegate to six consecutive General Conferences.
Known affectionately by some as “Easy E” or “Revalina,” Dr. Huggins is the only daughter of Elvin and Martha Huggins. She graduated from T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, and attended Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, North Carolina, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Philosophy. She also pursued minors in Spanish, History, and Coaching Athletics.
With the assistance of Bishop James Clinton Hoggard and his ecumenical connections, Dr. Huggins attended Lexington Theological Seminary, where she earned a Master of Divinity degree and a degree in Counseling through a dual-degree program.
She subsequently attended Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, to pursue doctoral studies before continuing her academic journey at Southern Illinois University, where she pursued a Doctor of Education degree. She later earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
In 2012, Dr. Huggins returned to the University of the District of Columbia to pursue an associate degree in applied sciences. She graduated with a degree in Mortuary Science, further expanding her professional expertise and service to others.
Her professional experience also includes clinical pastoral education. While working at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C., she reached the supervisory level in Clinical Pastoral Education and was assigned to work with patients who had severe mental illnesses and were involved in the criminal justice system.
Dr. Huggins is certified in Missouri as a Qualified Mental Health Professional and is licensed as a professional counselor in Maryland and Washington, D.C. She is also a licensed embalmer in the District of Columbia and Maryland, with privileges in Virginia.
Author, Educator, and Grant-Funded Ministry Leader
Dr. Huggins is the author of three books:
She is currently compiling the first Presiding Elders Manual for the office of Presiding Elder in The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.
Her commitment to ministry extends beyond the local church. Within her district, she has secured grants to assist in planting a new congregation, provide resources for the Evangelism Department, support the Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society (WHOMS), and strengthen several smaller congregations through programmatic funding.
Within the Mid-Atlantic Episcopal District, Dr. Huggins has written and served as project manager for five grant awards through the University of Maryland Department of Health. These grants enabled pastors and laypersons throughout the Episcopal area to engage in COVID-related referrals, education, and event planning addressing various health disparities. The funding has also provided significant assistance to local churches, helping them establish alternative revenue streams to sustain and expand their ministries.
Dr. Huggins currently serves on the Prince George’s County School Board Parent Advisory Council. She is also a former member of the Prince George’s County Local Development Council, which oversaw $10 million in grant funding to nonprofit organizations from MGM Casino.
Leaning Into Life and Ministry
Dr. Huggins has learned to “lean into life and ministry.” Despite managing numerous projects and responsibilities, she remains committed to mentoring young preachers and serving the broader church. At the Conference and Connectional levels, she serves as Chaplain of the Presiding Elders’ Council.
Rev. Dr. Huggins is an exceptional pastor and progressive Presiding Elder whose influence can be seen and felt throughout the church. Without seeking fanfare or recognition, she has consistently served as an agent of change, transformation, and hope in the congregations and communities entrusted to her care. Under her leadership, Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church is preparing for a bright, innovative, and creative future while remaining firmly committed to its mission: “to make disciples.”
Dr. Huggins is the glue that holds her family together. She loves to travel, cuddle with her two English Bulldogs, Tank and Thor. Her great-nephew and niece, Zion and Emani make her happy and bring much joy to her life.
Her story is a testament to what can happen when faith, education, perseverance, community partnerships, and visionary leadership work together to transform a congregation and strengthen an entire community.
As she continues to embrace the opportunities and challenges ahead, Dr. Huggins remains grounded in her faith and committed to the ministry God has placed before her.
“Whatever God has destined for me next, I’ve got to trust him through the process while leaning into the ministry God has set before me.”
— Rev. Dr. Evalina Huggins
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