The Board of Directors of Disciples Home Missions is glad to announce the call of Rev. B. Chris Dorsey to serve as its new President and CEO. In an extensive search process, led by Rev. Derrick Perkins, the Search Team sought a transformative and visionary leader who can help DHM move into this important time in the life of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Rev. Dorsey came to DHM highly recommended by many leaders in the church and leaders of institutions of higher learning. The Board of DHM believes that Rev. Dorsey is the one who can help Disciples Home Missions develop resources to form changemakers and leaders, support the ministries of both congregations and regions, as well as offer leadership to bring innovation and intention to address equity and justice and strengthen ministry support for youth and young adults.
Rev. Dorsey is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciple of Christ) and has most recently served as President of Higher Education and Leadership Ministries (HELM). He has also served as a Professor of Theology and Preaching at Western Theological Seminary and as the Vice President of Development and Marketing at Chicago Theological Seminary. Rev. Dorsey has also served as Chaplain and Director of Religious Life at Clark Atlantic University, Atlanta, GA and as Senior Pastor at Woodlawn United Methodist Church, Chicago.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas in 1991 and a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 2001, followed by a Graduate Certificate from Northwestern University in African Studies in 2002. Rev. Dorsey is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago.
Rev. Dorsey shared with the Search Team his model for leadership: “Having served as President of HELM for the last six years, I understand the structure, history and mission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)….I consider myself to have been formed in the mold of co-laborer, servant leader, and consensus builder, with a commitment to justice, social transformation, and ministry for and with those whom Christ calls ‘the least of these’.” Upon receiving the official call, he had this to say: “I’m humbled and honored to receive the call to serve. DHM is uniquely interconnected in multiple ways to every expression of the church. I look forward to working with leadership across the wider church to strengthened DHM and as we continue to equip and empower Disciples everywhere to better serve in mission.”
Rev. Dorsey resides in Indianapolis, Indiana. His appointment concludes an extensive search that followed the executive search model as approved by the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Search Team was led by Rev. Derrick Perkins, DHM Board Member and Senior Pastor at Centennial Christian Church in St. Louis, MO. He was joined by Jennifer Larson, Chair of the DHM Board; Rev. Dr. Nadine Burton, Executive Regional Minister in the Great River Region; Dr. Mary Cooley, Principal Consultant for HR Solutions; Rev. Dr. Don Gillett, II, Regional Minister of the Christian Church in Kentucky; Rev. Cisa Payuyo, Director of Church Relations at Chapman University; and Rev. Dr. Juan Rodriguez, retired Regional Minister.
Rev. Dorsey will begin his work on August 1, 2022.