An ordained United Methodist pastor, Darren Cowdrey oversees ministry at United Methodist Camping (UMC) Westlake Village in California. His position builds on a past role as director of the Camping Young People's Ministry with the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church. Darren Cowdrey oversaw conference level activities and events. Engaging with a youth delegation to the annual conference, he coordinated retreats and service projects.
Pastor Cowdrey also facilitated networking between children's and youth directors representing 340 United Methodist churches across Nevada and Northern California. He delivered training to local church ministers and served as staffing liaison for a management and administrative board with oversight of traditional camps in Santa Cruz and the Western Sierras. Additionally, he directed the adult retreat program at the conference.
For five years, Pastor Cowdrey preached and taught a congregation of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and ages at the Good Shepherd UMC in Westminster. He delivered a combination of creative leadership and pastoral care, and presided over memorials and weddings. He also engaged with volunteers working in finance and human resources, and communicated closely with the board of trustees in ensuring proper administration of the congregation.