Tell us about your current ministry placement. Why are you passionate about that work?

I am the lead pastor at Wesley Memorial UMC in Wilmington N.C. I am passionate about ministry because I deeply believe in the mission of the local church to help form disciples of Jesus Christ. 

I have been moved by the connection and love Wesley clearly has for their local community. Wesley is a church that has gone through a lot of transition amid the realities of COVID and disaffiliation in the UMC, however, there is a renewed energy regarding the future of this community, and I am thankful to have the opportunity to journey with them on the way. 

Why did you choose to join the D.Min. program at Duke Divinity School?

I was ready for the next step in my growth as a pastor and leader. I know the landscape for the church in America is changing rapidly, and while aspects of that might be scary, some aspects are quite exciting. I feel called to be part of that movement. Being part of a cohort of other leaders also engaged in ministry while studying and learning from the incredible faculty at Duke Divinity felt like the right next step. 

Is there an area of study that you are interested in focusing on during the program or for your final project? Why is that important to you?

Ultimately, I hope to grow my capacity for leadership in this new season of local church ministry. I believe the church requires innovative leadership right now, and I know in my local context that will require long-term strategic vision and community development. This is critically important to me because statistics show that if we can’t turn this around, most mainline churches will be gone within the next generation or two. I hope to see those trends shift, both in my local context and beyond.

What are some of the unique challenges that you’ve faced in ministry that surprised you? How are you hoping the D.Min. program will help you face those challenges?

I think COVID-19 surprised just about everybody. On top of the technological hurdles that many churches had to overcome overnight, the challenge of leading large groups of people from a distance was significant: How would we keep people engaged? How would we help people see that the church truly is not dependent on a physical location? 

The surprise of COVID helped me see that in order to lead well in a rapidly changing environment, I would need to take intentional time to stretch and grow by reading, listening, conversation, and practicing. I’ve spent the past four years getting very intentional about my continuing education each year, and when the opportunity arose to come back to Duke for the D.Min. program, it just felt like the right next step. 

How has this program improved your skills for your leadership position so far?

I think the greatest gift this program has offered so far is a broadened perspective on how to lead well. Through the diverse readings, brilliant lectures, and group conversations with other students also engaged in full-time ministry, the window of leadership in my life has been greatly expanded. I feel I can see and have access to so much more than I had before. I have literally logged off of class sessions and immediately put content to use in my local setting. This gift has resulted in a direct benefit to my local church, which is evident in that every metric we use to identify the current state of things is trending in a positive direction. 

What else would you like us to know about you and your ministry journey?

Like many others, I often deal with imposter syndrome. I look around at the opportunities I have received and the people I get to journey alongside, and I just feel like I don’t belong. Duke Divinity has been one of the constant forces in my life, reminding me that I have actually been called to this work and I do belong where I am. I knew that eventually I wanted to go back and get my doctorate, but I also knew that if it couldn’t be at Duke Divinity, I wouldn’t have been interested in pursuing it anywhere else. This place has become a home for me, and I am thankful for the opportunity to continue my learning journey alongside my incredible classmates and professors.