Lew Parks is a member of the Central Pennsylvania UMC Annual Conference where he chairs the Episcopacy Committee and serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry. Prior to joining the faculty of Wesley Theological Seminary in 1998, he was the pastoral leader of congregations throughout Central Pennsylvania from 1966 to 1995 and served as superintendent of the Chambersburg District. He is particularly interested in the theology behind effective ministry and congregational vitality, church leadership, UM church law and small membership churches. His current project include:
- a project to bring new life to small churches through the use of gatherings of lay and clergy leaders where the ministry potential of the small church is celebrated and tools for transforming small churches are taught;
- a book entitled Preaching in the Small Membership Church for Abingdon Press;
- an article on the repertoire of tools the apostle Paul employs to help congregations whose self-narratives are in various stages of health or disrepair for the Journal of Religious Leadership.
Courses Taught:
- Paul and Church Leadership (with Craig Hill )
- The Study of Jesus and Leadership (with Craig Hill )
- Church Leadership from 1 and 2 Samuel (with Bruce Birch )
- Pastoral Leadership in Biblical Perspective from 1 and 2 Samuel (with Bruce Birch)
- Church Growth Leadership
- Church Growth from a Wesleyan Perspective
- Church Growth with Integrity
- Leadership and Administration for Small Churches
- Polity of the United Methodist Church
- Doctor of Ministry Project Seminar
Education:
- Lock Haven University, Pennsylvania, B.S.
- Wesley Theological Seminary, M.Div.
- St. Mary's Seminary-Baltimore, Ph.D.
