AURORA | The Rev. Gregory McDonald was elected chairman of Aurora Community of Faith last month, according to a March 27 press release.
The Aurora Community of Faith comprises more than 160 Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Native American and non-denominational communities of faith.
McDonald is founder and president of the Center for Restorative Justice, and associate pastor at Heritage Christian Center in Aurora. He directs one of largest jail and prison ministries in the state of Colorado and develops community outreaches throughout the greater Aurora and Denver-metro areas.
McDonald has been active in correctional ministry for more than 25 years and often serves as clerical advisor to numerous Colorado Department of Corrections faith and citizen programs. His community involvement includes Aurora policing advisory team, Right of Passage advisory board, Aurora Martin Luther King Jr. holiday commemoration, Food Bank of the Rockies program advisory council, Aurora Race Forum and Restorative Justice practices in the faith community.
His prison ministry experience has led to the development of the Prison Basic 101 training program, which has trained more than 130 churches and ministries throughout Colorado and the U.S.
McDonald has studied at Southern University in Shreveport, Louisiana, and at the Denver Seminary in Littleton, and received his master’s and doctorate degrees from Aspen Theological Seminary in Aurora. In 1996, he received his pastoral ordination under the leadership of Bishop Dennis Leonard at Heritage Christian Center in Denver.
McDonald recently married Yuliya A. McDonald (Surina) and together they have a blended family of five children and four grandchildren. When not serving in the ministry, McDonald enjoys spending time with Yuliya, as well as golfing and travel.
The vision of the Aurora Community of Faith is to build a community of faith for all people through community formation, social justice and cultural renewal, according to McDonald.
“I believe we can embrace this vision by engaging the extensive diversity of the faith community of Aurora through understanding, compassion and welcoming participation of all people of faith to the table of brotherhood,” he said in a statement. “One my goals this year is to build bridges of collaboration throughout the faith community in response to those that are hurting, lost and underserved in our community”
The Aurora Community of Faith is open to all communities of faith and meets every third Thursday of the month at the Aurora Municipal Center 15151 E. Alameda Parkway in Aurora. For more information, call 303 739-7580.