Dr. Kurien: Director of Connectional Ministries

The Rev. Dr. Christopher Jacob Kurien was appointed by Bishop Peggy Johnson to be Director of Connectional Ministries/Executive Director of Congregational Transformation beginning July 1, 2011.  

About The Rev. Dr. Christopher Jacob Kurien

Christopher was born to missionary parents in India. Growing up, he lived in various places and settings which has allowed him to appreciate and understand different cultures and people, and to become fluent in five languages. He completed his Bachelors, Masters, and Theological studies in Andhra, Kerala, Annamalai and Serampore Universities respectively. He was ordained in 1985 and served the Church in India in various settings, including planting a church, before coming to the U.S. to pursue his doctoral studies in Pastoral Care and Counseling at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

While a student in Chicago he served the CSI congregation in Chicago, Illinois and Toronto, Canada, and planted an Indian congregation in Detroit, Michigan. After completing his studies in Chicago he returned to Bangalore, India and served a large congregation in Bangalore and later taught at the United Theological College. He is one of the founding members of the Indian Association of Clinical Pastoral Education and has served as the Vice Chair of the Chaplains section of the Christian Medical Association of India.

After finishing the CPE residency program at the Memorial Herman Hospital in Houston, Texas he joined the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and was appointed to Reading: St. Matthew’s UMC.  Following this, he was appointed as the Northwest District Superintendent and then as the Southeast District Superintendent. He served as Dean of our cabinet for the last four years.

Dr. Kurien serves on various boards and agencies in the Annual Conference including: Board of Ordained Ministry, Board of Trustees, Commission on Conference Sessions, Committee on Nominations and Commission on the Latino Plan and Ministries, and the Methodist Hospital Foundation.  He is a board member of the General Commission on Religion and Race and also a member of the NE Jurisdictional committee on Appeals. He embodies the Global nature of our church.  Christopher brings his vast experience in pastoral counseling, administration, new church starts, ecumenical relations and conflict mediation. 

He enjoys family, traveling, playing the guitar and listening to music.  He is married to Christy, a Math teacher at Reading High School and they are blessed with three daughters, Susan and Elsen, who are finishing their Doctor of Pharmacy Degree, and Ann, who is a student at Boston University.

Contact Dr. Kurien: 610-666-9090, ext. 230 or ckurien@epaumc.org.