The Rev. William Green

Denomination: United Church of Christ (UCC)

Raised in Venezuela, William Green was educated at George School (Society of Friends), Oberlin College and Yale Divinity School. He is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ and a pastor who has also held regional and national church positions in the U.S. His work has included inter-faith and interdenominational work, community organization, political candidacy, along with fundraising. He speaks Spanish, and brings cross-cultural sensitivity to his work.

In 2005, he was one of the founders of the  United Church of Christ's "God is Still Speaking" Writers Group. Among many other publications, the "Stillspeaking" writers produce online daily devotions available to subscribers at no cost and now reaching over 20,000 readers.

In 2010, after writing "52 Ways to Ignite Your Congregation: Generous Giving" and while continuing with other devotional writing, he decided to focus his experience on church revitalization. His concern is missional clarity, spiritual growth, and financial development. This inspired the founding of the Long Looking consultancy. Along with congregational stewardship development in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, he has worked on strategic financial planning in California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and New York.

Incorporated in all Long Looking work is a two-fold emphasis on (1) the guidance of the Spirit through prayer and meditation; and (2) how faith thrives in the pluralistic and secular environment found as much within as outside the church. This is the "soil" in which a congregation flourishes or withers.

In the fall of 2011 Green began additional work as the Director of Strategy and Development for the Moral Courage Project, a new Muslim reform-based multifaith initiative. The project emphasizes "speaking truth to power" that violates personal dignity and integrity. It inspires and equips participants to move beyond tolerance to direct engagement with the "otherness" often dividing church, nation, and world. It was founded by Irshad Manji, much in demand as a public speaker and teacher.