Our Pastor - Dr. Bernice Williams Kirkland

Dr. Bernice Williams Kirkland

    Dr. Bernice Williams Kirkland is an ordained elder in the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. She is a second career pastor and lifelong learner with a commitment to making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Prior to ordained ministry, she practiced critical care nursing and Diabetes education for fourteen years. She continues to incorporate scientific skills in the spiritual practice of ministry. God, in God’s mysterious way, prepared her for ministry through nursing. She received the Bachelor of Science degree from Dillard University (1982), a Masters of Divinity degree from the Interdenominational Theological center (Valedictorian, 1999) and the Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary (2009). She also served as a Chaplain resident for two years: Emory University Hospital (2000) and the University of Tennessee Medical Center (2001).

Pastoral appointments include First Farragut United Methodist Church (2001-2005), where she added skills in spiritual formation and church development in a large cross-racial setting. Then in 2006, she was appointed to serve in the historically prominent Cascade United Methodist Church in one of its many historical transitions. Bernice has a knack for enhancing current circumstances through positive change.

A native of Greenville, Mississippi, she is proud of her heritage as a Mississippi daughter. Life has equipped her. She has been happily wedded to Darryl Edgar Kirkland; a native of Detroit Michigan for twenty-eight years. They are proud parents and empty-nesters of two young adults: Jasmine Darniece (23) and Derek Eugene (19). She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, National Association of Church Business Administration, and National Association of Professional Women. She also serves as the stewardship chairperson of the North Georgia Conference. Her hobbies include gardening and reading. Her theme song for God’s many blessing is “To God be the Glory.”