Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson

General Minister and President and the Chief Executive Officer of the United Church of Christ

The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson is the General Minister and President and the Chief Executive Officer of the United Church of Christ. Rev. Thompson is the first woman and first woman of African descent to serve as leader of the denomination. She was elected at General Synod 34 in 2023. She is a writer, poet and theologian who has contributed to numerous publications.   

Her passion for justice and equity has informed her focus on justice in the global context. This passion for justice is a catalyst for her global advocacy to reduce the marginalization experienced by African descendant peoples and other communities globally. She continues to participate in global forums, bringing her leadership to address a variety of issues including global racial justice, gender justice, and human rights.  

Rev. Thompson is a graduate of Brooklyn College in New York, North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC, Union Theological Seminary in New York, and Seattle University. Her book of poetry, Drums in Our Veins, was published in 2022. Painting Rainbows with Raindrops, her second book of poetry, is pending publication.