Dr. Derwood Perkins
Dr. Perkins has a rich heritage in the Church of God with both grandfathers being ministers (T.A. Perkins and R.E. Worley). Born and raised in Lexington, KY, he attended the University of Kentucky for two years majoring in Civil Engineering. He is a graduate of Lee University (Cleveland, TN) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion, a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry/Counseling from the Church of God Pentecostal Theological Seminary (Cleveland, TN), and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Carolina University (Winston-Salem, NC).
In August 2022, Dr. Perkins was appointed as Administrative Bishop of Mississippi after previously serving as Administrative Bishop of Louisiana from 2018-2022 and the Midlands Region (Iowa/Nebraska) from 2014-2018. Dr. Perkins comes with over 41 years of ministry in the local church as a Youth Pastor, Executive Pastor, and Lead Pastor in Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Alabama.
Dr. Perkins has served on numerous Church of God state and international boards and committees. He currently serves on the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home Board, the Board of Directors for Men and Women of Action, the Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries Board, and as a member of the Church of God Global Board of Education. Dr. Perkins also serves as an Adjunct professor at Lee University.