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About Daniel
The View from 6-foot-7
The Reverend Dr. Daniel Rodriguez Schlorff is a pastor, musician, scholar, and coach. Born in Indiana, he has lived in Connecticut since 2009. Daniel is the Senior Minister of Third Congregational Church of Middletown, CT.
After earning ministerial and theological master's degrees at Meadville/Lombard (when affiliated with the University of Chicago) and Hartford Seminary, he completed the Doctor of Ministry and Certificate of Sexuality and Religion at Pacific School of Religion (Berkeley, CA). Additionally, he has completed the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising through the Lake Institute through Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Daniel now pursues the global Master of Business Administration in Management at the University of the People.
Daniel is committed to the LGBTQIA+ community, as he is the Convener of the Queering Liturgy Seminar for the North American Academy of Liturgy, of which he is also a DEI Committee member. Additionally, he is President of the Gay Coaches Alliance.
As an entrepreneur, Daniel coaches clients, raises funds for nonprofit and educational institutions, and officiates bespoke wedding ceremonies.
When not engaged in ministry, Daniel enjoys playing the double bass for the American Chamber Orchestra, singing professionally with two choirs (Concora and Voce), hosting Wednesday Evening Classics on WWUH (an alternative Public Radio station in Connecticut), reading poetry and nonfiction, trying out new recipes, saying hi to any dog who will look his way, keeping tabs on his houseplants, and listening to audiobooks at the gym.
Independent Scholar
Daniel has enjoyed teaching at Carthage College and the University of Wisconsin—Parkside, where he developed and taught traditional semester-length courses as well as intensive and evening formats. Course titles included Understandings of Religion (on the world's religions and philosophies), LGBT Studies, Asians in American Society, and Death and Dying. He occasionally speaks to social work students at Quinnipiac University regarding the interdisciplinary team model, and has presented papers at the North American Academy of Liturgy, the Society of Certified Senior Advisors' Annual Conference, Liberal Religious Educators' Association, New England Association of United Church Educators, and the National Educators Association's Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly.
In 2023, Daniel's chapter, "The Parable of Y2K," was released in a volume of essays arguing for the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ members of the Church of the Nazarene, his former denomination.
An additional chapter, "Presidential Ministry in Liturgy Has a Musical Dimension," appeared in the 2023 book, Living the Church's Song: Proposition for an Ecumenical Theology of Liturgical Music (Chicago: GIA).
Fun Facts
Some of Daniel's accomplishments include the following:
- At 26, the youngest person to run for Illinois State Treasurer in a general election.
- First person of Asian descent to run for a statewide constitutional office in Illinois.
- First openly LGBTQ+ person to run for any statewide office in Illinois.
- Being ranked among 30 Under 30 in Chicago by Windy City Times.
- Performing with a chorus in Carnegie Hall on two separate occasions.
- Founder of a church in New Haven, CT that still thrives.
- Pastor of a church in Middletown, CT that is growing and vital.
- Writing and later teaching the LGBT Studies curriculum for the University of Wisconsin system.
- Widely published in periodicals, journals, books, and an encyclopedia.
