Doug Bland

Bland2 Doug has been Pastor at the Tempe Community Christian Church in Tempe, Arizona and has served as adjunct faculty at South Mountain Community College for thirteen years. He’s taught “The Art of Storytelling”, “Telling Sacred Stories,” and “Using Storytelling in Businesses and Organizations.”

Growing up, one of Doug’s heroes was Albert Schweitzer—renowned musician, physician, theologian and environmentalist. After refusing to practice piano (scratch musician), Doug graduated from the College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in zoology. He received his call to go into ministry during midterms of organic chemistry (scratch physician).

Doug has been Pastor at the Tempe Community Christian Church (“the storytelling church”) for eighteen years. Several times a year they offer storytelling concerts, using the ancient art of storytelling “as a way to explore the human soul.”

Twice Doug and his congregation have received the Martin Luther King Diversity Award from the Tempe Human Relations Commission. Having failed as a musician and a physician he continues to cling to his identity as a “theologian” and “environmentalist.” He is Executive Director for the Arizona Interfaith Power and Light—a religious response to climate change.