Pastored rural, town, inner city, and urban congregations, as well as an African-American congregation.
Last appointment was as Senior Pastor of Lexington First Church (mother of Kentucky Methodism). Since his arrival in 2000, First Church has purchased a second campus of eleven acres and one building in the fastest growing part of the city. In 2002, First Church experienced the highest worship attendance in its history and in 2003, the Church experienced an 11.5% increase over that former record. In addition, First Church led the conference in mission giving in 2002.
During his ten-year tenure at Lexington Centenary, he led the congregation through relocation and the building of an $11 million facility. Worship attendance more than doubled and became the largest in the conference (1400+). In addition, the church parented a new multicultural congregation, developed an ongoing ministry partnership with a congregation in Londrina, Brazil, and brought an African-American pastor on staff, the first in the conference to serve a predominately-white congregation.
Served as Associate Director of the Conference Council on Ministries.
Served as Lexington District Superintendent (during which time he started four new churches, including a Korean congregation, encouraged two existing congregations in their development of Spanish-speaking services and served one year as Dean of the Cabinet)
Chaired the Board of Ordained Ministry (1996 – 2004)
Chaired the Committee on New Church Starts
Trustee of Methodist Wesley Village and Kentucky United Methodist Foundation
Trustee of Kentucky Wesleyan College for 14 years.
Chaired the Area Episcopal Committee (1992-2000)
Prominent leader in the Uniting Committee of the Kentucky and Louisville Conferences.
Led the former Kentucky Conference in a successful Financial Campaign for new church starts and strategic re-developments.
Led several Volunteers In Mission (VIM) teams.
Led his student pastorate to become a full-time charge, relocate and build all new facilities.
General Conference Delegate in 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000 (secretary of the Legislative Committee on Higher Education) and head of the delegation in 2004
Member of the General Council on Ministries and the Southeastern Jurisdictional Administrative Council
In 2000-2001, spoke in all five jurisdictions on 21st century leadership.
Degrees -
B. A. from University of Kentucky
M. Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary
Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Union College, Kentucky Wesleyan College, and Asbury Theological Seminary
Pastoral Appointments -
1967 Red House
1969 Mt Zion
1974 Associate Director, Conference Council on Ministries
1976 Covington First
1980 Corbin First
1982 Winchester First
1987 Lexington Centenary
1997 Lexington District Superintendent
2000 Lexington First
2004 Bishop, North Carolina Conference
2008 Bishop, North Carolina Conference
Family -
Married to Joyce Hannah Gwinn, a retired coronary care nurse.
The Gwinns have two adult daughters and sons-in law: Debbie (Paul) Mann and Christy (Philip) Morgan.
They have four grandchildren, Wesley, Luke, Tyler, and Ally.
