Darrell Gwaltney

Biographpy

Executive Director, Moench Center for Church Leadership, Belmont University Director, Engaging Healthy Congregations H. Franklin Paschall Chair of Biblical Studies and Preaching

Committed to local congregations and the preparation of the next generation of church leadership, Dr. Darrell Gwaltney served for nearly nineteen years as the Dean of the College of Theology and Christian Ministry at Belmont University. He teaches classes in Honors, preaching, biblical studies, and ministry related classes. He has served as lead pastor, intentional interim, and leadership development roles in multiple churches across Missouri, Indiana, Florida, and Tennessee over the last forty-five years. For the last ten years he has enjoyed the opportunity to lead a pastor training program in Honduras for nearly 100 pastors as well as give leadership to Belmont’s Thriving Congregations initiative.

Dr. Gwaltney believes the local congregation provides the best way to live out the gospel and remains focused on supporting it. He has a Ph.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with additional doctoral studies at Oxford University, M.Div. from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a M.A. in English from the U. of Missouri-Kansas City, and a B.A. in English from Missouri Baptist University.

Committed to community initiatives, after a lengthy service on the board of Autism Tennessee, he now serves as Chairman of the Board for Engage Church Network and he has a new board role for Cosecha Community Development. 

He and his wife, Donna, have been sharing life together for 44 years and they are blessed with three adult children and one amazing grandson. He likes to read a lot, he’s trying to learn how to turn bowls on a lathe, and he’s a big baseball fan committed to the St. Louis Cardinals.