Donald E. Messer

Dr. Messer is the Henry White Warren Professor of Practical Theology at Iliff School of Theology, a full time faculty member teaching half-time and half-time directing the new Center for Global Parish Ministry. Additionally, he serves as a consultant regarding global theological education to the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.

Donald Messer served as Iliff's President from 1981 to 2000, following ten years as president at Dakota Wesleyan University. Pastoral experiences include service at First United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Park Hill United Methodist Church in Denver, Colorado.

His most recent book is entitled Breaking the Conspiracy of Silence: Christian Churches and the Global AIDS Crisis. (Fortress Press, 2004) He is also the author of Contemporary Images in Christian Ministry; Christian Ethics and Political Action; Send Me? The Crisis In Itinerancy (ed.); A Conspiracy of Goodness: Contemporary Issues of Christian Mission; Caught in the Crossfire: Helping Christians Debate Homosexuality (co-ed.); Calling Church and Seminary Into the 21st Century; How Shall We Die? (co-ed.); Unity, Liberty and Charity: Building Bridges Under Icy Waters (co-ed.); and The Befuddled Stork: Helping Persons of Faith Debate Beginning of Life Issues (co-ed.). His areas of interest are Christian social ethics, religion and politics, and the mission and ministry of the church.

Dr. Messer has been elected to the World Methodist Council, the General Conference and the Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church. He is listed in Who's Who in America. Having served as director of both the General Board of Global Ministries and the Commission on Christian Unity and Inter-Religious Concerns, he currently serves as a consultant to both boards. Messer has long chaired the Advisory Board of the Russia United Methodist Theological Seminary in Russia. He is the director of the Center for Global Parish Ministry, and president emeritus of the Iliff School of Theology.

For further information visit www.iliff.edu/about_iliff/faculty_donald.htm