Clark Cowden’s Biography
The Rev. Dr. Clark Cowden began serving as the Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of San
Diego on October 8, 2007. For the previous nine years, Clark served as the Evangelist Presbyter
and Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of San Joaquin. Prior to that, Clark was the pastor of the
Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Walled Lake, Michigan, the associate pastor of the First
Presbyterian Church in Anderson, Indiana, and the Director of Christian Education and Youth of the
Southminster Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, IN.
Clark received his Bachelor of Science degree from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, his
Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California, and his Doctor of Ministry
degree from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Clark has been an adjunct faculty member
at the Fresno Pacific University, the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, and Fuller Theological Seminary,
teaching various Bible and polity classes. Clark is an avid sports fan, runner, reader, and movie-goer. He has
been involved in many ministry, community, and school activities.
Work Experience
2007 – present Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of San Diego
2006 – 2007 Stated Clerk, Presbytery of San Joaquin, Visalia, CA
1998 – 2007 Evangelist Presbyter, Presbytery of San Joaquin, Visalia, CA
1998 – 2007 Associate Synod Executive, Synod of the Pacific
1991 – 1998 Pastor, Crossroads Presbyterian Church, Walled Lake, MI
1988 – 1991 Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Anderson, IN
1984 – 1986 Director of Christian Education/Youth, Southminster Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, IN
Education
2001 Doctor of Ministry, Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO
1988 Master of Divinity, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA
1984 Bachelor of Science, Taylor University, Upland, IN
Articles Published
Presbyterian Outlook
Dynamic Preaching magazine
Net Results journal
Perspectives on-line magazine (Office of the General Assembly)
PC(USA) worship leaflets
Adjunct Professor
2007 Fuller Theological Seminary/Northern CA
2002 – 2007 Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, Fresno, CA
2003 – 2007 Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, CA
Hobbies
Running, tennis, watching sports, reading, going to movies
Denominational Experience
2009 - Speaker - Presbytery of Cincinnati
- Speaker - Big Tent Event
- Speaker - Presbytery of Kendall Fall retreat
2008 - present General Assembly Council
2007 - Speaker Synod of the Pacific PUP Conference
2006 – 2008 General Assembly Council Review Committee
Spring 2005 Speaker - Presbytery of Boise pastors retreat
Winter 2005 Speaker - Synod of Lakes and Prairies training event
1998 General Assembly Commissioner
1995 – 1998 Presbytery Council Member, Presbytery of Detroit
1995 – 1998 Chair of Evangelism Committee, Presbytery of Detroit
1997 – 1998 NCD Administrative Commission, Presbytery of Detroit
1992 – 1998 Member, Evangelism Committee, Presbytery of Detroit
1989 – 1991 Member, Congregational Care Committee, Presbytery of Whitewater Valley
Clark’s Writings
(While Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of San Diego)
2009
Shifting Gears — Beginning with the Endings [Clark Cowden: PSD LCE 24 Jan 09]
Shifting Gears — The Neutral Zone [Clark Cowden: PSD LCE 24 Jan 09]
2008
The Deepening Leadership Crisis [Clark Cowden: THE OUTBOX 20 Oct 08]
Cultivating a New Imagination in the Church [Clark Cowden: THE OUTBOX 14 Sep 08]
High Anxiety [MISSIONAL JOURNEY 6 June 08]
The General Assembly is like Groundhog Day [The Presbyterian OUTLOOK 5 May 08]
The Difficulty of Systems Change [MISSIONAL JOURNEY 25 Apr 08]
Certain Uncertainty [MISSIONAL JOURNEY 16 Mar 08]
Moving into the Global Neighborhood [MISSIONAL JOURNEY 21 Feb 08]
We're Not In Kansas Anymore — Leadership Development Day
A New Era In Mission [PSD LDD 2 Feb 08]
Surfing the Edge of Chaos [PSD LDD 2 Feb 08]
I Don’t Want to be a Hydrox Cookie [THE OUTBOX 28 Jan 08]
2007
What is God Doing Underground and When Will We See It? [THE OUTBOX 11 Nov 07]
Other
2009 - Speaker - Pastor's Conference - Katmandu, Nepal.