Victor K. Long, DMin

Victor Long is a United Methodist pastor, currently appointed to the First United Methodist Church in Mount Vernon, Illinois.

While having been exposed to Bowen family systems theory at earlier points in his ministry, the theory more recently came alive for him following a major church conflict. He began training in the Clergy Clinic at the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center in 2017; completed the Postgraduate Program at the Bowen Center from 2020-2021; and has since been enrolled in the Bowen Center’s Continuing Studies Program. He has been especially interested in bridging cut-off in his family, as well as the ways in which family secrets bind anxiety.

He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from McKendree University; a Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Graduate Theological Foundation.

Victor has served as chairperson of the Board of Directors of Spero Family Services; chairperson of the Board of Ordained Ministry of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference (UMC); and is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of McKendree University.

He and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents of four adult children. An older brother to a younger sister, Victor grew up in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, and his lifelong love for genealogy informs much of his study of the family.

Contact Information: victor@mountvernonfirst.org