About Dr. Neal
The Reverend Dr. Gregory S. Neal is a graduate of Southern Methodist University with the B.A. in History, Religious Studies, and Russian Language; Duke Divinity with the M.Div. in Theology and Biblical Studies; and Trinity Graduate College with the Ph.D in Systematic Theology and New Testament Textual Criticism. His doctoral dissertation was in the field of Sacramental Theology and dealt with Anglican and Methodist understandings of the doctrine of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. Essential elements of Neal's work on this subject have been re-drafted into readable English and published in his book: Grace Upon Grace: Sacramental Theology and the Christian Life, which is now in its second edition.
Ministry Credentials and Pastorates:
Rev. Neal is the Senior Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa. He was ordained as a transitional Deacon in 1991 and an Elder ("Presbyter") in 1994 by the Reverend Dr. Bruce P. Blake, then-resident Bishop of the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church. Over 32 years of ministry in North Texas, Dr. Neal served as the pastor of multiple United Methodist congregations across a broad theological and social spectrum. His appointments have ranged from thriving congregations to churches facing financial struggles or deep internal divisions. As a skilled problem-solver and bridge-builder, Dr. Neal has a strong track record of guiding conflicted and fractured congregations toward meaningful reconciliation while expanding their ministries to those outside the church walls.
In 2023, Dr. Neal began his ministry as Senior Pastor Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines. A year later, in 2024, he was received on transfer of his clergy credentials from North Texas as a full member of the Iowa Confernece.
Activities:
In addition to his pastoral ministry, Rev. Neal has served on numerous Conference and District committees throughout his career. In the North Texas Conference, he was a member of the Board of Ordained Ministry and multiple District Committees on Ordained Ministry. He also chaired the Ecumenical Ministries Commission, served on the Conference Planning Committee, and worked as both a District and Confernece statistician.
Now a member of the Iowa Confernece, Dr. Neal continues his committment to clergy formation and church leadership. He serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry, is an instructor with the Upper Midwest Extension Course of Study, and is the founding chair of the Iowa Conference's LGBTQIA+ Full Inclusion Committee.
Beyond his District and Conference responsibilities, Dr. Neal been actively involved in mission, ministry, and educational initiatives at the denominational level. From 1994 to 2006, he taught in the Schools of Christian Mission across multiple states, including Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, North Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Virginia, while also serving as Dean of the North Texas Mission School from 1996 to 1998.
For nearly 20 years, Dr. Neal was deeply engaged with the Walk to Emmaus, a ministry of the Upper Room, serving as Spiritual Director for numerous weekend retreats and as the Community Spiritual Director for both the Red River and Dallas Emmaus Communities.
Following the United Methodist Church's adoption of This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion as its official statement on the Eucharist in 2004, Dr. Neal taught extensively on the document, leading sessions for both clergy and laity across the denomination. In 2013 he served on the UMC's Consultation on Online Communion, contributing several theological articles on the practice of the sacrament in digital spaces.
As a sought-after speaker on biblical and theological topics — particularly sacramental theology, but now also in the area of full inclusion for LGBTQIA+ persons — Dr. Neal has lead spiritual retreats, revivals, classes, and study seminars across The United Methodist Church and in other denominations. He is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Society of Biblical Literature, the Wesleyan/Anglican Society, and The Order of Saint Luke in The United Methodist Church.
His deep love for liturgy, the sacraments, and contemplative spirituality, along with his passion for the ecumenical movement, led to his historic invitation to become the first United Methodist Associate of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, an Anglican Monastic community that has spiritually nourished him for more than 35 years.
Background:
The Reverend Dr. Gregory S. Neal is a graduate of Southern Methodist University with the B.A. in History, Religious Studies, and Russian Language; Duke Divinity with the M.Div. in Theology and Biblical Studies; and Trinity Graduate College with the Ph.D in Systematic Theology and New Testament Textual Criticism. His doctoral dissertation was in the field of Sacramental Theology and dealt with Anglican and Methodist understandings of the doctrine of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. Essential elements of Neal's work on this subject have been re-drafted into readable English and published in his book: Grace Upon Grace: Sacramental Theology and the Christian Life, which is now in its second edition.
Ministry Credentials and Pastorates:
Rev. Neal is the Senior Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa. He was ordained as a transitional Deacon in 1991 and an Elder ("Presbyter") in 1994 by the Reverend Dr. Bruce P. Blake, then-resident Bishop of the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church. Over 32 years of ministry in North Texas, Dr. Neal served as the pastor of multiple United Methodist congregations across a broad theological and social spectrum. His appointments have ranged from thriving congregations to churches facing financial struggles or deep internal divisions. As a skilled problem-solver and bridge-builder, Dr. Neal has a strong track record of guiding conflicted and fractured congregations toward meaningful reconciliation while expanding their ministries to those outside the church walls.
In 2023, Dr. Neal began his ministry as Senior Pastor Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines. A year later, in 2024, he was received on transfer of his clergy credentials from North Texas as a full member of the Iowa Confernece.
Activities:
In addition to his pastoral ministry, Rev. Neal has served on numerous Conference and District committees throughout his career. In the North Texas Conference, he was a member of the Board of Ordained Ministry and multiple District Committees on Ordained Ministry. He also chaired the Ecumenical Ministries Commission, served on the Conference Planning Committee, and worked as both a District and Confernece statistician.
Now a member of the Iowa Confernece, Dr. Neal continues his committment to clergy formation and church leadership. He serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry, is an instructor with the Upper Midwest Extension Course of Study, and is the founding chair of the Iowa Conference's LGBTQIA+ Full Inclusion Committee.
Beyond his District and Conference responsibilities, Dr. Neal been actively involved in mission, ministry, and educational initiatives at the denominational level. From 1994 to 2006, he taught in the Schools of Christian Mission across multiple states, including Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, North Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Virginia, while also serving as Dean of the North Texas Mission School from 1996 to 1998.
For nearly 20 years, Dr. Neal was deeply engaged with the Walk to Emmaus, a ministry of the Upper Room, serving as Spiritual Director for numerous weekend retreats and as the Community Spiritual Director for both the Red River and Dallas Emmaus Communities.
Following the United Methodist Church's adoption of This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion as its official statement on the Eucharist in 2004, Dr. Neal taught extensively on the document, leading sessions for both clergy and laity across the denomination. In 2013 he served on the UMC's Consultation on Online Communion, contributing several theological articles on the practice of the sacrament in digital spaces.
As a sought-after speaker on biblical and theological topics — particularly sacramental theology, but now also in the area of full inclusion for LGBTQIA+ persons — Dr. Neal has lead spiritual retreats, revivals, classes, and study seminars across The United Methodist Church and in other denominations. He is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Society of Biblical Literature, the Wesleyan/Anglican Society, and The Order of Saint Luke in The United Methodist Church.
His deep love for liturgy, the sacraments, and contemplative spirituality, along with his passion for the ecumenical movement, led to his historic invitation to become the first United Methodist Associate of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, an Anglican Monastic community that has spiritually nourished him for more than 35 years.
The Reverend Dr. Gregory S. Neal is a graduate of Southern Methodist University with the B.A. in History, Religious Studies, and Russian Language; Duke Divinity with the M.Div. in Theology and Biblical Studies; and Trinity Graduate College with the Ph.D in Systematic Theology and New Testament Textual Criticism. His doctoral dissertation was in the field of Sacramental Theology and dealt with Anglican and Methodist understandings of the doctrine of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. Essential elements of Neal's work on this subject have been re-drafted into readable English and published in his book: Grace Upon Grace: Sacramental Theology and the Christian Life, which is now in its second edition.
Ministry Credentials and Pastorates:
Rev. Neal is the Senior Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa. He was ordained as a transitional Deacon in 1991 and an Elder ("Presbyter") in 1994 by the Reverend Dr. Bruce P. Blake, then-resident Bishop of the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church. Over 32 years of ministry in North Texas, Dr. Neal served as the pastor of multiple United Methodist congregations across a broad theological and social spectrum. His appointments have ranged from thriving congregations to churches facing financial struggles or deep internal divisions. As a skilled problem-solver and bridge-builder, Dr. Neal has a strong track record of guiding conflicted and fractured congregations toward meaningful reconciliation while expanding their ministries to those outside the church walls.
In 2023, Dr. Neal began his ministry as Senior Pastor Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines. A year later, in 2024, he was received on transfer of his clergy credentials from North Texas as a full member of the Iowa Confernece.
Activities:
In addition to his pastoral ministry, Rev. Neal has served on numerous Conference and District committees throughout his career. In the North Texas Conference, he was a member of the Board of Ordained Ministry and multiple District Committees on Ordained Ministry. He also chaired the Ecumenical Ministries Commission, served on the Conference Planning Committee, and worked as both a District and Confernece statistician.
Now a member of the Iowa Confernece, Dr. Neal continues his committment to clergy formation and church leadership. He serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry, is an instructor with the Upper Midwest Extension Course of Study, and is the founding chair of the Iowa Conference's LGBTQIA+ Full Inclusion Committee.
Beyond his District and Conference responsibilities, Dr. Neal been actively involved in mission, ministry, and educational initiatives at the denominational level. From 1994 to 2006, he taught in the Schools of Christian Mission across multiple states, including Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, North Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Virginia, while also serving as Dean of the North Texas Mission School from 1996 to 1998.
For nearly 20 years, Dr. Neal was deeply engaged with the Walk to Emmaus, a ministry of the Upper Room, serving as Spiritual Director for numerous weekend retreats and as the Community Spiritual Director for both the Red River and Dallas Emmaus Communities.
Following the United Methodist Church's adoption of This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion as its official statement on the Eucharist in 2004, Dr. Neal taught extensively on the document, leading sessions for both clergy and laity across the denomination. In 2013 he served on the UMC's Consultation on Online Communion, contributing several theological articles on the practice of the sacrament in digital spaces.
As a sought-after speaker on biblical and theological topics — particularly sacramental theology, but now also in the area of full inclusion for LGBTQIA+ persons — Dr. Neal has lead spiritual retreats, revivals, classes, and study seminars across The United Methodist Church and in other denominations. He is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Society of Biblical Literature, the Wesleyan/Anglican Society, and The Order of Saint Luke in The United Methodist Church.
His deep love for liturgy, the sacraments, and contemplative spirituality, along with his passion for the ecumenical movement, led to his historic invitation to become the first United Methodist Associate of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, an Anglican Monastic community that has spiritually nourished him for more than 35 years.
Dr. Neal is married to Kade Rogers, a motivational speaker and an expert in communications and administration. Kade is also an accomplished singer/songwriter, a Country and Gospel musician, a podcast developer, a voice talent, and a passionate advocate for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons in the church and in the broader society. He serves as the Communications Director for Grace United Methodist Church and is actively involved in church leadership at the Conference level. Kade sits on the Board of the Iowa Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action, is a member of the Iowa Confernece Parish Development team, and serves on the Iowa Conference Communications Advisory Committee. How he managed to find time to marry Greg is still a mystery.
Together, Greg and Kade enjoy going to movies, plays, and concerts, as well as watching a wide variety of TV shows. They love both domestic and international travel, dining out, and cooking at home. As passionate animal lovers, they each brought fur-children into their marriage: four dogs (a Basset Hound, two Chihuahuas, and a Miniature Pinscher) and one embattled cat.
Over the past few years, they have worked together in ministry, serving both the local church and the LGBTQIA+ community, each complimenting the other's gifts and graces.
Following their wedding in 2022, a complaint was filed against Dr. Neal due to his marriage, resulting in his suspension from pastoral ministry. The complaint was eventually placed in abeyance, but part of that abeyance was conditional upon his agreeing to leave North Texas. After several months of prayer and discernment, Greg accepted an invitation from the Iowa Conference to become the Senior Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines.
Personal Life:
Dr. Neal is married to Kade Rogers, a motivational speaker and an expert in communications and administration. Kade is also an accomplished singer/songwriter, a Country and Gospel musician, a podcast developer, a voice talent, and a passionate advocate for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons in the church and in the broader society. He serves as the Communications Director for Grace United Methodist Church and is actively involved in church leadership at the Conference level. Kade sits on the Board of the Iowa Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action, is a member of the Iowa Confernece Parish Development team, and serves on the Iowa Conference Communications Advisory Committee. How he managed to find time to marry Greg is still a mystery.
Together, Greg and Kade enjoy going to movies, plays, and concerts, as well as watching a wide variety of TV shows. They love both domestic and international travel, dining out, and cooking at home. As passionate animal lovers, they each brought fur-children into their marriage: four dogs (a Basset Hound, two Chihuahuas, and a Miniature Pinscher) and one embattled cat.
Over the past few years, they have worked together in ministry, serving both the local church and the LGBTQIA+ community, each complimenting the other's gifts and graces.
Following their wedding in 2022, a complaint was filed against Dr. Neal due to his marriage, resulting in his suspension from pastoral ministry. The complaint was eventually placed in abeyance, but part of that abeyance was conditional upon his agreeing to leave North Texas. After several months of prayer and discernment, Greg accepted an invitation from the Iowa Conference to become the Senior Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines.
Dr. Neal is married to Kade Rogers, a motivational speaker and an expert in communications and administration. Kade is also an accomplished singer/songwriter, a Country and Gospel musician, a podcast developer, a voice talent, and a passionate advocate for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons in the church and in the broader society. He serves as the Communications Director for Grace United Methodist Church and is actively involved in church leadership at the Conference level. Kade sits on the Board of the Iowa Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action, is a member of the Iowa Confernece Parish Development team, and serves on the Iowa Conference Communications Advisory Committee. How he managed to find time to marry Greg is still a mystery.
Together, Greg and Kade enjoy going to movies, plays, and concerts, as well as watching a wide variety of TV shows. They love both domestic and international travel, dining out, and cooking at home. As passionate animal lovers, they each brought fur-children into their marriage: four dogs (a Basset Hound, two Chihuahuas, and a Miniature Pinscher) and one embattled cat.
Over the past few years, they have worked together in ministry, serving both the local church and the LGBTQIA+ community, each complimenting the other's gifts and graces.
Following their wedding in 2022, a complaint was filed against Dr. Neal due to his marriage, resulting in his suspension from pastoral ministry. The complaint was eventually placed in abeyance, but part of that abeyance was conditional upon his agreeing to leave North Texas. After several months of prayer and discernment, Greg accepted an invitation from the Iowa Conference to become the Senior Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines.