Kenneth W. Cummings, Sr. is a native of Augusta, Georgia, where he was reared and attended public schools. He served a tour in the United States Navy as a hospital corpsman (medic). After military service he entered Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, and graduated with a B.A. in English and Literature. He later studied at Morehouse School of Religion of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, where he earned a Master of Religious Education. He furthered his education in the city of Memphis, Tennessee, where he received the M. Div equivalent in Methodist Studies at Memphis Theological Seminary and Methodist Health Systems (Hospital) where he did chaplaincy study in Clinical Pastoral Education. He did additional graduate work at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. He enrolled in the doctoral program at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, in a group led by Dr. Samuel Proctor and earned the Doctor of Ministry degree and graduated in May of 1993.
His work experience includes serving as a counselor and English instructor at Knoxville College in Knoxville, Tennessee and chaplain at Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. He taught the course “The Black Church in America” at the University of Cincinnati and homiletics at Lexington Theological Seminary. He has taught on the seminary level at Payne Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, Methodist Theological Seminary in Delaware, Ohio, and Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.
Dr. Cummings holds ordination in two denominations: the Baptist Church and the United Methodist Church. Over the last forty years he has served churches in Mississippi, Ohio, and Kentucky. He most recently served as district superintendent of the Frankfort District of the Kentucky Conference United Methodist Church for seven years in Frankfort, Kentucky.
His travel has taken him to over twenty-five countries on the continents of Africa, Europe, Asia, the Pacific Rim, Central America and the Caribbean. He served on the boards of International Child Care which sponsors health ministries in Haiti and the Dominican Republic and Church World Service.
Presently, Dr. Cummings is the co-mentor of the focus group Prophetic Preaching and Praxis at United Theological Seminary. He is also the executive director of Kenneth Cummings Ministries where he serves as church consultant in the areas of Christian education, evangelism and preaching. He has authored seven books and four study guides. His most recent book is entitled Amen to That. He is married to Anita Owens and they are the parents of three adult children and two grandchildren. He and his wife presently make their home in the Augusta, Georgia, area.