Rev. Iván Gonzalez

Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural Leadership and Partnerships Senior Specialist

Rev. Iván González is a provisional Deacon in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church.  As the Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural Leadership and Partnerships Sr. Specialist, Iván is responsible for walking alongside annual conferences, local congregations, and denominational entities to provide education, develop resources, and facilitate action plans that provide ongoing support to the denomination’s cross-cultural and cross-racial needs.

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Biography

The son of Iván and Marisol Gonzalez, Rev. Iván González Jr. grew up in central Florida with salsa music blaring in one ear, and the message of the gospel in the other. Although first formed spiritually the in Latino Pentecostal church, Iván was invited to a methodist youth group as a teen, and there discovered the richness of the connectional system, developing leadership skills through his local youth ministry and later experiencing a call to ministry with the help of other local methodist leaders.

Ivan’s first career began in the field of mental health. For over ten years as a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Florida, Iván has walked alongside individuals and communities as they journeyed through depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. Specializing in couples therapy and substance use disorders, it was in the therapy room where Iván felt the call to ministry strongest. Later, Iván went on to seminary to develop the skills to lead and pastor the local church. After five years in local church ministry, Iván felt the call to change over to the order of Deacon, to live out his calling as a bridge between the church and the world.

Rev. González holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of Central Florida, as well as a Master of Divinity degree for Duke Divinity School.  

Iván currently lives in Orlando, Florida with his wife Christina, son Mateo, and daughter Myra.

Just for Fun

What languages do you speak? 

English, Spanish, and Spanglish natively. I am currently learning Portuguese!

What’s the best flavor combination you can think of?

Anything that has peanut butter mixed with chocolate!

Tell me about the happiest you’ve ever been.

Cuddling my babies when they were first born.