Ministry

Ministry Experience 

Fourth Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, MD

• Ministry Intern (1973-75)

Memorial Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO

• Ministry Associate (1975-78)

Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Cape Coral, FL

• Organizing Pastor (1978-80)

Church of the Saviour, Wayne, PA

• Pastor of Single Adults (1980-85)

Perimeter Church (East Congregation), Atlanta, GA

• Pastor (1985-1989)

Perimeter Church, Atlanta, GA

• Staff Pastor
• Pastor of Single Adults and Recovery Ministries (1989-1991)
• Pastor of Family Ministries (1991-1994)
• Pastor and Director of Adult Ministries (1994-1998)
• Interim Director of Worship and Arts (1998–2000)
• Pastor of Education and Spiritual Formation (1998–2004)

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Fresh Start Seminars, Inc.

• Founder, Board Member (1985-95)
• Chairman (1985-92)
• Speaker and Facilitator (nationally and internationally)

Family Emphasis Conference, Covenant Seminary

• Speaker, March, 2000

Numerous local, regional and national radio and television programs, including 700 Club, Moody Broadcasting and the Australian Broadcasting Company

• Guest

“Right Start” premarital program at Church of the Saviour and Perimeter Churches

• Developer

Gwinnett Center for Christian Counseling

• Board Member (1987-1993)

Amnion Crisis Pregnancy Center

• Board Member (1984-1985)

Businesses & Ministries

• Consultant (1992 – present)

AACC World Conference, “The Counselor & The Church: Working in Conflict or Concord?”

•  Presenter (September 2003)

Dr. Burns speaks at retreats, camps, and special programs. He is trained and certified in the use of Prepare/Enrich, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, 16PF, Right Path 4/6 and 360 Instruments.

Academic Qualifications 

University of Maryland, College Park, MD

• BA, high honors

Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO

• Master of Divinity (MDiv) magna cum laude

Westminster Theological Seminary, Glenside, PA

• Doctor of Ministry (DMin), pastoral ministry focus
• Thesis: Fresh Start: A Help Seminar on Divorce Recovery

University of Georgia, Athens, GA

• Department of Adult Education
• Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) 
• Thesis: Learning the Politics of Ministry Practice

Presbytery and Denominational Service

Ordained, Presbyterian Church in America (October 1979)

Awards

• Phi Kappa Phi honorary scholastic society
• Who’s Who in American Religion
• 1990 Book of the Year, National Association of Singles Leaders