Meet the Pastor - Pastor Gina Kirkland

Gina (Regina Ann) Kirkland was born October 6, 1956 in St. Albans, NY. Being the oldest of four Air Force brats, they moved around the country quite frequently. She graduated from Anderson High School in 1975 and then graduated from Ball State University in 1980 with an Associate of Arts degree. She worked in critical care as a nurse at Ball Memorial Hospital until 1990. Later after rearing 2 birth children and 39 foster children, 2 adopted children, accepting 2 step children, Pastor Gina attended Sojourner-Douglass and graduated with honors (summa cum laude) with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services with a concentration in Addictions Counseling in 2005. A week later she began her long road of study for a Masters of Divinity at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. after which she and Reginald adopted an older child and welcomed into their home from birth their 7 year-old granddaughter Khamiya.

Pastor Gina accepted the call to pastoral ministry in 1995 and was ordained in 1999 at Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta, GA. She was first appointed to Bethel AME Church in Acworth, GA. She later married Dr. Reginald Kirkland and converted to the United Methodist Church North GA Conference where she served at St. Luke UMC in Mableton GA. Due to family health issues they relocated to Baltimore, Maryland and served as Associate Pastor at Sharp Street UMC and then Piney Grove UMC in Middle River, MD. In 2005 she was appointed to Ayres Chapel UMC in White Hall, MD where she served 4 years. A major family health emergency called the Kirklands to Anderson Indiana where she became an Associate at Cross Roads UMC and then appointed to former Colonial UMC. After former Colonial discontinued she was appointed as Campus Pastor at New Horizons UMC and 2 years later appointed as Lead Pastor of New Horizons. As life would have it health issues (Alzheimer’s disease) has affected the Kirkland family and Pastor Gina had to step back from full-time ministry to care for her soul mate and major ministry supporter.

Pastor Gina is very passionate about Jesus and making disciples for the transformation of the world. She is enthusiastic, energetic and some even say she is a ball of fire for the Lord. She personally says she is very excited to share this portion of her ministry journey with Salem UMC and very much looks forward to the time shared together to be empowering, fruitful and uplifting for God’s Kingdom here on earth.