About the Author: Rev. Darrell L. Goodwin

The Rev. Darrell L. Goodwin, a Chicago native, currently serves as the first Executive Conference Minister of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ. As the chief vision keeper, he is responsible for guiding the conference and its affiliates to have a positive and lasting impact in our world. Prior to this role he served the Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota Conferences as an Associate Conference Minister. In that role he offered care and support to the pastors and churches in the Nebraska Conference as well as supported the work of Search & Call across the Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota Conferences. Darrell is a member of the United Church of Christ Board, the UCC Council for Health and Human Service Ministries, and the UCC Cornerstone Fund. He brings to his varying leadership roles extensive experience in pastoral ministry and higher education. He has served as Pastor and Founder of Liberation United Church of Christ in Seattle, Everett United Church of Christ and Chaplain Intern at VA Puget Sound Health Systems). Before full-time ministry, he served in several positions in higher education including Dean of Students. The Rev. Goodwin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Theology from Boston College; a Master of Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from The University of Vermont; a Master of Arts in Transforming Spirituality from Seattle University; and is currently a doctoral candidate in San Francisco Theological Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program where his dissertation topic is, " Praying Through: Using group spiritual direction as a strategy for the retention of African American men in predominantly white seminaries in the United Church of Christ (UCC). In his spare time, he is an avid dinner party host with his husband Kentavis Goodwin and is committed to bridge building. Learn more at www.revgoodwin.com