Thomas G. Kirkpatrick is an educator, pastor, trainer, writer, and consultant with specialties in interpersonal communication, small group ministries, and conflict management. He is the author of the Roman & Littlefield Alban publications Communication in the Church: A Handbook for Healthier Relationships and Small Groups in the Church: A Handbook for Creating Community, and the Wipf & Stock publications Signs of Hope and Health in Mainline Churches: Guidelines for Creating Hopeful and Health Congregations, and  Better Ways to Better Relationships in the Church: Guidelines for Practicing Humility, Experiencing Empathy, Feeling Compassion, Showing Kindness, Expressing Appreciation, and Doing Justice. He has been an adjunct professor at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, pastor of Westminster United Presbyterian Church, Galena, Illinois, and associate pastor of Little Church on the Prairie Presbyterian Church, Lakewood, Washington. Previously, he was associate professor of speech communication at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. He has also served as a campus minister and a program director of camps and conferences. He received his MA and PhD from the University of Washington, DMin from San Francisco Theological Seminary, MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary, and BMusEd from the University of Oregon. He lives with his wife, also a PCUSA minister, in Maple Valley, Washington, and his four children live in Portland, Oregon; Harrisburg, Oregon; La Crosse, Wisconsin; and Snohomish, Washington.