Rev. Dr. Ken J. Walden, PH.D.

Rev. Dr. Ken Walden was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Saint George, South Carolina.  At an early age he served in leadership positions within various organizations such as the Junior Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Boy Scouts of America, and church congregations.  He is an ordained clergy-member of the California-Pacific Conference of The United Methodist Church.

He is currently a Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve.  His military assignments include the following:

1. Pope Air Force Base (NC) 2002-2003
2. Selfridge Air National Guard Base (MI) 2003-2005
3. March Air Reserve Base (CA) 2005-2012
4. Joint Base Annacostia-Bolling (DC) 2012-2014
5. Shaw Air Force Base (SC) 2014-2019
6. Warner Robbins Air Force Base (GA) 2019 to Present.

He is a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal from the United States Air Force. 

Prior to being named Senior Pastor of Holman United Methodist Church, Dr. Walden served as the 16^th President of Gammon Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center located in Atlanta, Georgia.  When the Board of Trustees named Dr. Walden as President-Dean of Gammon Theological Seminary, he brought an ambitious theological imagination, negotiated new institutional partnerships, displayed a tireless commitment, created a robust continuing education program, and expanded the donor base.  During his tenure, the Center for Chaplaincy was created to foster awareness, exchange information, and explore opportunities and practices in the field of professional chaplaincy.  Additionally, clergy retreats, spiritual retreats, and writing retreats were launched to energize and revitalize leaders in various communities.   

Prior to his service at Gammon Theological Seminary, he served as Director of Supervised Ministry, Founding Director of The Center For Chaplaincy, and Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Hood Theological Seminary located in Salisbury, NC.  In those roles, he provided administrative and academic leadership to the seminary.  His service to the larger community included serving as a board member of the following organizations:

1. Center for Faith and the Arts
2. Civitan International – Salisbury Chapter
3. Lee Street Theatre
4. Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) – Salisbury Chapter 

Before his tenure at Hood Theological Seminary, Dr. Walden served as a Senior Advisor for a Department of Defense Program in Washington, DC.  He provided advisement pertaining to trauma, strategies related to stress, spiritual enrichment, family support, managing conflict, problem solving, and effective communication.  He also led retreats for personal growth, character development, team building, and ethical leadership.  His areas of responsibilities included The Pentagon and The Defense Intelligence Agency.  Before moving to Washington, DC, Dr. Walden served as University Chaplain and Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. 

Dr. Walden’s pastoral appointments include the following: First United Methodist Church of Lakewood (CA), Wilshire United Methodist Church (CA), Hope United Methodist Church (MI), and Orange United Methodist Church (NC).  He authored the following books:

1. “Practical Theology for Church Diversity: A Guide for Clergy and Congregations” (2015)
2. “Challenges Faced by Iraq War Reservists and Their Families: A Soul Care Approach for Chaplains and Pastors” (2012)
3. “A Pastor’s Poetry: Volume One” (2005). 

Dr. Walden and his wife Michelle were married in 2001 after meeting in graduate school at Duke University.  Michelle is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and earned a Master’s in Business in Administration (MBA) from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.  Dr. Walden’s extensive experiences within the military, academic community, and congregations have prepared him to become the Senior Pastor of Holman United Methodist Church.