Reverend Ray Jordan

Rev. Ray Jordan – Pastor Ray Jordan is a trailblazing preacher, teacher, academic, keynote speaker, workshop leader, and consultant to churches, non-profits, corporations and institutions of higher education. As an ordained United Church of Christ clergyperson, Ray is formerly the Senior Pastor of Central Congregational UCC in Dallas, TX (serving as Central’s first African American senior minister in its 117-year history), formerly the President of the North Texas Association of the UCC (it’s first African American president) and is currently the Lead Pastor of First Community UCC of Dallas (serving as First Community’s first African American senior minister in its 70-year history).

Ray has worked as a public school teacher, university professor, non-profit administrator, corporate trainer, clergyperson and consultant in areas of conflict mediation, organizational development as well as diversity and inclusion. Ray is a sought-after preacher, speaker, workshop leader and facilitator in the areas of difference (race, class, gender, sexuality, etc.) and cultural humility. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Education, a Master of Arts in Teaching, a Master of Theological Studies from Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology and is completing his PhD (ABD) from Union Institute and University, as an MLK Scholar with an emphasis in public policy and social change. Ray has taught Philosophy and World Religion for Cedar Valley and North Lake Colleges and Interdisciplinary Studies and African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. Currently, Ray teaches courses in Human Rights and Social Justice for the Graduate Liberal Studies Program at Southern Methodist University as well as courses in activism and social conflict for SMU’s Human Rights Program and Dispute Resolution Conflict Management Graduate Program. When not working, Ray can be found spending time with his three children, Trey , Alley and Joshua Caleb and two fur babies, Winston and Bubbles.

Derrick Horne

Director of Music Ministry

Derrick Horne, Director of Music Ministry, is currently a Professor of Practice in Music at SMU, where he is also Director of the Meadows Jazz Orchestra. In addition to his work in the academy, he is a recording artist, copyright consultant to publishing houses, composer, songwriter, author, choir director, and instrumentalist (playing the piano/keys, organ, as well as acoustic, electronic, and bass guitars), among many other things.

Derrick has long and extensive experience in sacred music, including being on the music staff for churches that include United Methodist, Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, and non-denominational congregations. His many accomplishments have led him to be a voting member of The Recording Academy (formerly the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences). And for a bonus, he has had a composition in the pool for a Pulitzer Prize nomination.

Personally, Derrick originally hails from Longview, TX but currently lives in Addison with his wife and their son Isaac.