In his current role as Associate General Secretary for the American Baptist Churches, USA, Dr. Woods is responsible for encouraging the health and vitality of the 33 regional judicatories coast to coast throughout the United States. Other denominational positions include serving as the Executive Minister of the Ohio Region and four pastorates within the ABC Region of Indiana.
Dr. Woods earned his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1987 majoring in both higher education administration and educational inquiry methodology. He also holds a M.Div. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a B.S. from Purdue University in Management and Statistics. Scholarships and fellowships allowed his entire education to be tuition free. Over the years, he has furthered his education with additional courses and holds certifications for a number of psychological and organizational assessment tools including the MBTI, PMAI, OTCI, EQ-360, and components of the Leadership Architect.
Also an author, his formal publications include six books and over thirty articles in various religious, academic, and business journals. His latest, On the Move: Adding Strength, Speed, and Balance to your Congregation was published in 2009 by Chalice Press and Better Than Success, Eight Principles of Faithful Leadership was published by Judson Press. Within the Academy, he has lectured and taught a wide range of courses on leadership and organizational development at Universities and Seminaries and is currently teaching leadership and research design in the Doctor of Ministry program at the Methodist Theological School of Ohio as an Affiliated Associate Professor of Congregational Studies.
As a speaker, consultant, and resource person to congregations, regions, judicatories, and nonprofits, he has worked with groups in nearly every state and province in North America. He has received research grants and worked on a variety of study groups and think tanks, including his recent service on the Pulpit and Pew Project, a Lilly Foundation sponsored research project, exploring the status of clergy in North America.
He and his wife, Kandy, have two children, Brandon and Kelsey, and reside in Newark, Ohio.
"I am excited to work with you and facilitate the discernment of God’s next mission and vision for First Baptist Redlands. I very much appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to respond to the Kenexa Cultural Insight Survey. The goal of using this tool is to clarify who you are as a congregation. Once this understanding is gained, that clarification can be used to shape the future vision and ministries of the congregation. I look forward to meeting many of you face to face in October as I share the results of this survey and we begin our work together." --Jeff Woods |
