Discipleship Ministries Announces Rev. Dr. David Stark as Director of Preaching Ministries
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nashville, TN — Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church is pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Dr. David M. Stark as the new Director of Preaching Ministries, beginning in July 2026. In this role, Stark will lead initiatives that equip clergy and lay preachers across the connection with resources, training, and collaborative networks that strengthen preaching and proclamation for the life of the church. Stark will also direct the Hey Preacher project, a Lilly Endowment-funded grant aimed at supporting preachers via cohorts, videos, and other various learning experiences.
An ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, Stark brings extensive experience in both parish ministry and theological education. His work centers on homiletics, biblical interpretation, and prophetic leadership, with a particular focus on helping preachers proclaim the gospel in ways that engage diverse cultural contexts and contemporary challenges.
Stark currently serves as Director of the Kerygma Initiative and Instructor of Homiletics at Palmer Theological Seminary at Eastern University, where he oversees a Lilly Endowment-funded Compelling Preaching Initiative focused on the intersections of innovation, justice, and formation in preaching. Through projects such as the Preaching Innovation Lab, he has helped pastors strengthen their preaching practices through collaborative learning, peer coaching, and engagement with leading scholars and practitioners.
He previously served as Assistant Professor of Homiletics at the University of the South’s School of Theology and has taught preaching in a wide range of contexts across the United States and internationally.
Stark holds a Doctor of Theology degree from Duke Divinity School with a focus on homiletics and Hebrew Bible.
In addition to his teaching and ministry leadership, Stark is a published scholar and editor of the International Journal of Homiletics. His books and research explore preaching in relation to issues such as anti-racism, intercultural dialogue, and the faithful proclamation of the Old Testament in contemporary contexts.
“Faithful preaching continues to be central to the church’s mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” said leaders at Discipleship Ministries. “Dr. Stark brings a rare combination of pastoral experience, academic depth, and creative leadership that will help preachers across the connection proclaim the gospel with clarity, courage, and hope.”
Discipleship Ministries, a general agency of The United Methodist Church based in Nashville, Tennessee, provides leadership, resources, and training that support congregations and leaders in cultivating vibrant discipleship in their communities and around the world.