About John Zehring

 

John Zehring has served United Church of Christ congregations as Senior Pastor in Massachusetts (Andover), Rhode Island (Kingston), and Maine (Augusta) and as an Interim Pastor in Massachusetts (Arlington, Harvard).  Prior to parish ministry, he served in higher education, primarily in development and institutional advancement, as a dean of students, director of career planning and placement, professor of public speaking and as a vice president at a seminary and at a college. 

 

He is the author of fifty books.  Recent books published by Judson Press include Get Your Church Ready to Grow:  A Guide to Building Attendance and Participation  and  Beyond Stewardship:  A Church Guide to Generous Giving Campaigns.  Previous print books include You Can Run a Capital Campaign (Abingdon Press), Working Smart: a Guide for New Managers (Garrett Park Press), Careers in State and Local Government (Garrett Park Press), Making Your Life Count (Judson Press), Preparing for Work (Victor Books) and others.  His articles have also been published in more than 200 magazines and journals. 

 

John served as a consultant, a keynote speaker, a workshop leader, a professor at the college and seminary level, and a director on boards of directors for UCC Conferences in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maine.  He has taught Public Speaking, Creative Writing, Educational Psychology, and Church Administration.  He was the founding editor of the publication Seminary Development News, a publication for seminary presidents, vice presidents and trustees (published by the Association of Theological Schools, funded by a grant from Lilly Endowment).  He graduated from Eastern University and holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary, Rider University, and the Earlham School of Religion.  John is listed in Marquis’ WHO'S WHO IN AMERICA and is a recipient of their Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

John is married to his high school sweetheart Donna and lives in two places, in central Massachusetts and by the sea in Maine where he and Donna enjoy kayaking, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, gardening, using favorite tools, taking rides, travel and most of all being with family, friends and neighbors.