Thomas G. Kirkpatrick is an educator, trainer, writer, and consultant with specialties in interpersonal communication, small group ministries, and conflict management. He is the author of the Alban publication, Small Groups in the Church: A Handbook for Creating Community. 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 M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington, D.Min. from San Francisco Theological Seminary, M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and B.Mus.Ed. from the University of Oregon. His lives with his wife, also a PCUSA minister, in Maple Valley, Washington, and his four children live in Portland, Oregon, Albany, Oregon, Viroqua, Wisconsin, and Snohomish, Washington.