DISTINGUISHED SENIOR FELLOW for AFRICAN and GLOBAL CONCERNS
The Rev. Dr. William Chris Hobgood is well-known to many because of his good work throughout the church. Born in the Republic of Congo, he is the child of lifelong Disciples missionaries. Hobgood attended the University of Kentucky on a football grant and Transylvania University on a vocal grant. He earned his Master of Divinity from Lexington Theological Seminary, a master’s equivalency from The George Washington University and his Doctor of Ministry from Lancaster Theological Seminary.
Dr. Hobgood (Chris) pastored congregations in Lexington, Ky., Charlestown, Ind. and Alexandria, Va. where he served the First Christian Church for 20 years. He went on to serve as regional minister of Arkansas (1985-1994) and the Capital Area (1994-2002). From 2003 to 2005, Chris served as the sixth General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
A number of leadership positions both ecumenically and within the general church have been held by Hobgood including chairing the boards of three general units, and serving the National Council of Churches as a member of the Board. He was a Disciples representative to the Ecumenical Partnership Steering Committee with the United Church of Christ, and was on the UCC Executive Council and General Synod.
Hobgood has a deep and demonstrated commitment to social justice. He is a core trainer for the Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation initiative, served as the chair of the Economic and Social Justice Commission of the Interfaith Conference of Washington D.C., and, before becoming GMP, served as the founding director of the Disciples Center for Public Witness at National City Christian Church. Since 1986, he has been a field consultant for The Alban Institute, an ecumenical, interfaith organization that provides educational resources and consulting services for clergy and congregations.
An accomplished author, Chris has written three books: Organizing for Ministry and Mission (Bethany Press, 1991), The Once and Future Pastor (The Alban Institute, 1998), and Welcoming Resistance (The Alban Institute, 2001) He also co-authored two others—all related to congregational life and pastoral ministry.
Chris has been married to wife, Cary Meade, an early childhood educator, since 1959. They have three children: Cary Lou Hobgood, a real estate appraisal supervisor in Burke, VA.; Laura Hobgood Oster, assistant professor of religion, Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX; and Benjamin Hobgood, landscape planner and installer in Salisbury, MD.
Besides enjoying physical fitness activities, golf, and reading, Hobgood spends as much time as possible with his family, which includes his favorite four-legged member, Samson, a golden chow.
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