Rev. Dr. Reno D. Wright is a native of Detroit, MI and moved to Milwaukee, WI in 2012 where he eventually began assisting Grace UCC as part of pulpit supply. He was called to serve as the Acting Pastor of Grace UCC in 2013. In November of 2014, Dr. Wright was unanimously elected as the second Senior Pastor of the first predominately African American UCC congregation in the state of Wisconsin.

 

Prior to being called to Grace UCC, Dr. Wright served as a Minister-in-Training from 2007 until 2009 at First Congregational Church in Detroit, MI. He was then licensed as an Associate and Managing Minister where he served until 2012. He graduated with a Master of Divinity from Ecumenical Theological Seminary (ETS) in Detroit, MI in 2011 and was ordained later the same year. In 2011, Dr. Wright graduated from the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies Program where he was a fellow for three years. His research explored the theological shift in America that gave rise to the Social Gospel Movement embraced most famously by Rev. Washington Gladden.

 

Dr. Wright earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication with specializations in organizational and interpersonal communication from Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI. He also earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2015 from Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, MI. His dissertation project examined the impact of Christian education toward a more inclusive theology and ministry praxis.

 

Dr. Wright has a passion to share the liberating gospel message of Jesus Christ through sound biblical preaching and teaching to empower God’s people. His professional career includes several years in the workforce development and human services industries. He is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. On May 14, 2022 Dr. Wright received his Doctor of Education degree from Edgewood College in Madison, WI.