Richard Stryker
District Superintendent
P O Box 537 216 Madison Street
Alexander City AL 35010
(256) 409-9210
The Rev. Richard Stryker brings a sense of creativity to the many facets of his life. As a published author, he has shared the stories of his homeland in Forged from Chaos: Stories and Reflection from Liberia at War. In his spare time, Richard enjoys painting landscapes in oils. As a district superintendent, he searches for creative ways to connect the local churches under his charge to each other, to the conference, and to the world.
Richard strives in his work to match pastors to the missional needs of a local congregation. Missions within the connectional system are important to him. Richard served as the Conference Disaster Response Coordinator and was instrumental in leading the North Alabama Conference in its relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. One of his passionate goals is to help churches in the Southeast District understand the importance of apportionment giving and to bring each church to 100%. It’s all about the connection!
Richard earned a Bachelor of Theology degree from Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary, Master of Arts in Religion and Master of Divinity degrees from Memphis Theological Seminary, and Doctor of Ministry from The School of Theology at University of the South. In 1992, he served as one of two founding pastors for Good Samaritan UMC in Memphis, Tennessee, a multiethnic congregation. His service in North Alabama began in 1997 at Rising Star UMC. He also served St. Paul in Birmingham and St. Thomas in Sylacauga before being appointed DS in 2007.