About Daniel
The Reverend Dr. Daniel Rodriguez Schlorff is a pastor, coach, spiritual director, musician, and budding scholar. He is Senior Minister of Third Congregational Church of Middletown, CT and a Philosophy professor at Connecticut State - Three Rivers.
Education
After earning master's degrees at Meadville/Lombard (when affiliated with the University of Chicago Divinity School) 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 and the global Master of Business Administration in Management at the University of the People. He continues towards a second doctorate at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace (formerly Hartford Seminary), the Ph.D. in Interreligious Studies, specializing in New Testament and Christian Origins.
Professional Engagement
Daniel is past Chair of the Ethics and Disciplinary Council of the Society of Certified Senior Advisors. Additionally, he has served as Chair of the Music Committee for the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches Annual MeetingHe Nominating Committee and a member of the Executive Committee for the Northeast Fellowship of Congregational Christian Churches.
Liturgical Scholar and Field Specialist
Daniel has taken vows as a brother of the Order of St. Luke, which seeks to bring about a recovery of worship and sacramental practice in the Christian church. For five years (2021-2026), he was also the Convener of the Queering Liturgy Seminar for the North American Academy of Liturgy.
BIPOC
As a biracial man, Daniel has made it his mission to bring more black and brown voices to the podium. To that end, he chairs the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee of the North American Academy of Liturgy. His civic and community service includes membership on the City of Middletown, CT's Affirmative Action Monitoring Commission. He had previously chaired the DEIB Council of the Gay Coaches Alliance.
LGBTQIA+
Daniel describes himself as an "openly pansexual pastor, not as a disclaimer or apology but as a living testimony." As such, he is committed to the LGBTQIA+ community. He previously served as President of the Gay Coaches Alliance and is a past executive board member of Tringle Community Center (Norwalk, CT: Secretary and Treasurer), OutCT (New London, CT: Secretary), and the Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (Vice President). Within the community, he has been a member of the Windy City Gay Men's Chorus and Connecticut Gay Men's Chorus and was recognized by the Windy City Times as being among Chicago's "30-under-30" for his glass ceiling-shattering campaign for Illinois State Treasurer.
Civic Engagement
Daniel is active with the Poor People's Campaign, the Repairers of the Breach Prophetic Council, Middletown Area Clergy, and Middlesex Indivisible. He has also been the Board Treasurer of the American Chamber Orchestra.
Side-Hustles
As an entrepreneur, Daniel coaches clients (primarily clergy, lay ministers, and seminarians), raises funds for nonprofits and educational institutions, and officiates bespoke wedding ceremonies.
Spiritual and Personal Fulfillment
In addition to being a pastor, Daniel offers Spiritual Direction and teaches Philosophy at Connecticut State - Three Rivers. When not engaged in ministry, Daniel enjoys playing the double bass for the American Chamber Orchestra, singing with two fully professional 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, and trying to count his many houseplants and books.