Ethics Considered presents the research and writing of Darryl W. Stephens—professor, author, consultant, and leader within church, academy, and community. Moral leadership, social change, and the common good are some of the strands woven through his tapestry of topical and timely writings.
Darryl is a visionary, collaborative, and creative educator and consultant with sixteen years of experience in nonprofits and higher education administration, committed to anti-racism, gender equity, and environmental and social justice.
He has expertise in grant writing, project development, and consulting, as well as scholarly and journalistic writing, qualitative social science research methods, ethnographic research, manuscript development editing, Chicago Manual of Style, and bibliographies.
Download his 3-page professional consulting resume.
Darryl is ordained in The United Methodist Church and holds dual standing as clergy in the Lancaster Association of the United Church of Christ.
He is chair of the Order of Deacons and a member of the executive committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the UMC.
He teaches at Lancaster Theological Seminary, where he serves as Director of United Methodist Studies and Director of the Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry. He has taught at Candler School of Theology, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Wesley Theological Seminary, and Princeton Theological Seminary, offering courses in ethics, evangelism, mission, and Methodism.
Education
PhD in Christian Ethics, Graduate Division of Religion, Emory University
Master of Divinity, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University
Bachelor of Arts in Chemical Physics, Rice University
Professional Positions
- Director of United Methodist Studies, Lancaster Theological Seminary, 2014–present
- Assistant General Secretary for Advocacy and Sexual Ethics, General Commission on the Status and Role of Women in The United Methodist Church, 2009–2013
- Visiting Assistant Professor of Christian Social Ethics and Methodist Studies, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, 2007–2009
- Postdoctoral Fellow in Evangelism, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, 2006–2007
- Owner, HoustonThink Private Tutoring Services, Houston, TX 1996–1999
- Faculty, Awty International School, Houston, TX 1994–1996
- Faculty, St. John’s School, Houston, TX 1991–1994
Awards, Grants, and Honors
Walters/Unitarian Universalist Church Trust, grant writer and project director, “Retooling for Multivocational and Financial Leadership,” Lancaster Theological Seminary (2022)
Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning, grant writer and project director, “Trauma-informed Classroom Teaching at Lancaster Theological Seminary,” Lancaster Theological Seminary (2021–2022)
In Trust Center for Theological Schools, grant-writer and project manager, “Educating for Thriving Bivocational Ministry,” Lancaster Theological Seminary (2020–2021)
JustPax Fund, grant-writer and consultant. “Liberating the Politics of Jesus,” administered by the Institute of Mennonite Studies, Elkhart, IN (2019)
Schowalter Foundation, grant-writer and consultant. “Liberating the Politics of Jesus,” administered by the Institute of Mennonite Studies, Elkhart, IN (2019)
Department of Special Collections and University Archives of the Drew University Library, Florence Ellen Bell Scholar Award for “A Critical Introduction to the Primary Documents of the Teaching Office of The United Methodist Church” (2018–2019)
Wabash Center major project, grant-writer and consultant. “Teaching Sexuality and Religion to a Changing Student Body: Challenges and Strategies for Classroom Instructors,” administered by Drew University (2015)
Commission on Pastoral Counseling Services of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the UMC, principal investigator. “Healing Congregations Project” (2015)
Religious Institute’s “Decade of Dedication” award for work in sexual ethics (2011)
Wabash Center small project, principal investigator. “Teaching sexuality from a professional ethics perspective” (2010–2011)
The Foundation for Evangelism, an Affiliate of the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship, Postdoctoral Fellowship (2006–2007)
Emory University, Fund for International Graduate Research grant (2006)
Emory University, Dean’s Teaching Fellow (2005–2006)
Graduate Division of Religion, Emory University, summer research grant (2004)
UM General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, Dempster Fellowship (2001, 2005)
Scholarly Affiliations
American Academy of Religion (https://aarweb.org/)
Society of Christian Ethics (http://scethics.org/)
Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education (https://aete.online/)
Association of Leaders in Lifelong Learning for Ministry (http://alllm.org/)
Religious Education Association (https://religiouseducation.net/)
Scholarly Publications
A list of peer-reviewed publications is available at https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9298-9343. For a comprehensive list, see “Publications” on this site.
Professional Profile
See https://www.linkedin.com/in/darryl-w-stephens-38b4684a/.