Pastor Strickland was born and raised in Lexington, S.C. and is an honors graduate of Newberry College (Newberry, S.C.) with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy with a minor in History. He also obtained a Masters of Divinity from Lutheran
Theological Southern Seminary (Columbia, S.C.).

Pastor Strickland served as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran, Maryville, Tenn. and has served at Incarnation Lutheran (Columbia, S.C.), St. Philip’s Lutheran (Newberry, S.C.), Lutheran Church of Redeemer (Newberry, S.C.) and Mt. Tabor Lutheran (West Columbia, S.C.) in the area of youth and family ministry. Most recently, serving as pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran, Nashville, Tenn.

Pastor Strickland has served as chair of the Southeastern Synod, ELCA Worship Team, president of the Board for Lutheran Services in Tenn., member of the Southeastern Synod, ELCA Immigration and Refugee Task Force and the Southeastern Synod, ELCA Synod Council.

Pastor Strickland has served on various local non-profit boards and has a heart for justice and advocacy ministry. Presently, Pastor Strickland serves on the Consultation for Common Text, Resource Management Team with Augsburg Fortress, the North
American Academy of the Catechumenate Planning Team and other Churchwide Committees.

Pastor Strickland is humbled and honored to have been called into the position of assistant to the presiding bishop, executive for worship of the ELCA. He states, “It is a true joy for me to accept the call to this position and to work with brothers and sisters around the ELCA; in what is central to our mission: worship. Worship is at the heart of our mission as Christ church and provides an opportunity for us to be made whole and encounter the holy. Worship equips us to be disciples in this world, striving for justice and in doing so, we return often to the heart of our mission to be re-charged and fed.”

Note: Biographical information was updated as of the latest contribution. Author profiles may not reflect author's current employment or location.