Rev. Dr. S. Willard Crossan III

Reverend Dr. S. Willard Crossan III is pastor of nondenominational Groome Church (formerly Groome United Methodist Church) founded in 1904 in historic Lewes, Delaware – the first town in the first state. Dr. Crossan assumed the pastoral leadership of Groome in July, 2014. In addition to his extensive ministerial experience, Crossan has a broad based background in law, business, institutional development, and non-profit administration.

A native Delawarean, Dr. Crossan was born in Wilmington and attended Friends School, completing his preparatory education at Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Upon graduating he travelled to Europe to undertake intensive foreign language training at the Language Abroad Institute, and participate in the Common Market Studies Program at the American School in Montagnola, Switzerland; he is fluent in French.

Dr. Crossan graduated with a degree in business administration from Goldey Beacom College, completing his undergraduate education with a double major in psychology and religion from Scarritt College in Nashville, Tennessee.

Dr. Crossan is a graduate of the Divinity and Law Schools of Vanderbilt University receiving both a Master of Divinity and Juris Doctorate degree. He undertook post-graduate studies at St. Andrew’s University, Scotland receiving a Th.D. in Ethics and Religion.

Prior to his appointment to Groome, he served as a pastor in Cecil County, Maryland as well as churches in Delmar, Cambridge, and Chestertown. Pastor Crossan entered the ministry from Grace United Methodist in Wilmington where he and his family were life-long members.

His diverse background includes, among many professional roles and positions, having served as Executive Director of the Seaman's Friend Society, an international philanthropic outreach to seafarers; and holding senior positions with the National Maritime Historical Society. Dr. Crossan is also a classical pianist having studied at the Fontainebleau Conservatory of Music, France. In addition, he has served as a development and fundraising consultant to numerous academic and philanthropic organizations. He is also certified as a counselor by the Society of Clinical Pastoral Education and has penned several articles on human aggression.

Lastly, Dr. Crossan is a charter inductee into the Hall of Distinguished Alumni of Goldey Beacom College, and served on the Board of Directors of Heron Point, a 66-acre tidewater refuge along the unspoiled shoreline of the Chester River, a tributary to the Chesapeake Bay on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Dr. Crossan and his wife Debra have one daughter, Bryn, who is married and lives in Chestertown, Maryland. Crossan and Debra – with their Havanese doggie, Tristan, – actively enjoy the outdoors, being near the sea, and embracing nature. They are also ardent lovers and supporters of the arts, and discerning collectors of antiques.