Kevin Murriel

As assistant professor in the practice of practical theology and the school’s first Black Methodist Seminarians program director, the Rev. Dr. Kevin Murriel creates and implements a mentoring program to support Methodist students as they prepare for parish ministry within Black congregations, which includes bringing Black scholar-practitioners to campus for lectures and preaching events. He also works collaboratively with Candler’s Methodist Studies and Teaching Parish programs, as well as the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church, to create inclusive programming and increase participation of students of color in Candler’s summer ministry internship opportunities.

Murriel earned his master of divinity from Candler in 2011 and his doctor of ministry from Duke Divinity School in 2014. He is the author of Who’s Afraid of the Journey? 8 Steps to Help You Walk in the Confidence of Christ (Xulon, 2010) and Breaking the Color Barrier: A Vision for Church Growth through Racial Reconciliation (Redd House, 2015). He has served as assistant pastor at Atlanta First United Methodist Church, senior pastor at Antioch United Methodist Church, associate pastor for the Young People’s Division of Cascade United Methodist Church, and senior pastor of Cliftondale United Methodist Church. In 2017, Murriel was appointed to Cascade UMC as senior pastor, where he currently serves.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers, Sponsors, and Collegium of Scholars, Morehouse College, 2021