During COVID-19, Daniel conducts all wedding inquiries via videoconference.
About Daniel
The View from 6-foot-7
The Reverend Dr. Daniel Rodriguez Schlorff, is a pastor, chaplain, coach, and spiritual director. Born in Indiana, Daniel has lived in Connecticut since 2009.
When not engaged in ministry, Daniel enjoys playing the double bass for the American Chamber Orchestra, singing with Yale Camerata and Yale Repertory Chorus, reading poetry and nonfiction, trying out new recipes, saying "hi hi hi" to any dog who will look his way, and staying fit.
Daniel is Convener of the Queering the Liturgy Seminar in the North American Academy of Liturgy, serves on as Board Secretary of both CTGLC Foundation and the Gay Coaches Alliance, and is Vice-Chair of the Ethics and Disciplinary Council for his certification council, the Society of Certified Senior Advisors.
Accomplishments
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 that still thrives.
- Writing and later teaching the LGBT Studies curriculum for the University of Wisconsin system.
- Widely published in periodicals, journals, books, and an encyclopedia.
Pastor and Church Planter
In March 2023, Daniel will become the Senior Minister of Third Congregational Church of Middletown (CT), a 249-year-old congregation. Prior to joining Third Church, Daniel planted a church in New Haven, later to become its pastor. Now he is Pastor Emeritus of what has become a multicultural gathering of LGBTQ+ seekers, which is an independent congregation, very closely affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists, Bautistas por la Paz/BFPNA, and the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists.
Wedding Officiant
With over 20 years of professional ministerial experience, one of Daniel's weddings appeared in the Style section of The New York Times on March 21, 2021. As an ordained pastor, he is authorized to perform wedding ceremonies in all 50 states and the U.S. territories. Unlike a local justice of the peace or an internet-ordained officiant, Daniel has earned two theological master's degrees as well as the Doctor of Ministry, preparing him to handle any eventuality with grace, humor, and style. See www.officiant.pro to access Daniel's wedding website.
Spiritual Companion/Director
In spiritual direction, Daniel welcomes all seekers, regardless of faith orientation—including traumatized, LGBTQ+, and low-income directees. After completing a year of practicum at Mercy by the Sea (the "Mercy Center"), Daniel continued his formation with the innovative Urban Spiritual Center. He is now the Board President of the Society of Certified Spiritual Directors, a nonprofit organization committed to excellence of training and certification of spiritual directors. See www.embodiedspirit.org for Daniel's Spiritual Direction website.
Life, Health, and Fitness Coach
Daniel's yearlong training through Health Coach Institute (HCI) qualifies him as both Life Coach and Health Coach. He has also studied with the International Sports Science Association (ISSA) College of Exercise Science Personal Trainer program and annual CPR/AED training. See www.embodiedspirit.org for Daniel's Coaching website.
Chaplain
After completing the Master of Divinity, Daniel completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Stamford (CT) and Norwalk (CT) Hospitals, specializing in psychiatric chaplaincy, making him eligible to become a board-certified chaplain. For the past ten years, he has worked professionally as a hospice, hospital, and nursing home chaplain. Now, he works as a psychiatric chaplain at Connecticut Valley Hospital (part of the State of Connecticut's Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services). Additionally, he earned the designations Certified Senior Advisor® and Certified Dementia Practitioner®.
Musician
A choral artist, Daniel has performed with known ensembles, such as Concora, Pro Arte Singers, Yale Camerata, Yale Pro Musica, Yale Repertory Chorus, Charis Chamber Voices, and the Orpheus Choir. He made his Carnegie Hall debut at age 12 and performed there once again 15 years later. As a double bassist, Daniel plays for the American Chamber Orchestra, Trouper's Light Opera, and the Danbury Symphony Orchestra. He has also played bass for the Hamden Symphony Orchestra and Valparaiso University's Chamber and Symphony Orchestras.
Professor
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 addition to the articles he has already published, Daniel has two forthcoming book chapters—one on LGBTQ+ inclusion in churches (SacraSage Press, 2023) and the other on liturgical language (Seabury, 2023).
