Barry Carpenter grew up in Hampton, Virginia the third of four children, two older brothers and a younger sister. Their parents, William and June, became followers of Christ when Barry was very young. As a result of their discipleship all four children entered the Christian ministry and have or are serving as a United States Army Chaplain, pastors, and ministry leader.

Barry "learned church" early and was formed by healthy and powerful role models of Christian faithfulness. His father was a primary mentor in the Christian disciplines. Barry is married to Janet Townsend Carpenter from Winchester, KY who is currently employed as a Human Resource Director for a manufacturing company in Winchester. Janet is the recipient of a degree in business from Union College. Their family includes two adult children, Michelle Gray and Barry Jr. and three grandchildren, Noah (9), Lauren (7), and Olyvia (5).

Barry is an Elder in the United Methodist Church having served in some of the most wonderful churches in the Kentucky Conference including Lexington Centenary for nine years, Barbourville First, and Middlesboro Covenant. Barry has been the first Director of New Church and Congregational Development in Kentucky since 2000.

As Director Barry developed a team approach to leadership called the Action Team, fondly known as the A-Team, now fifteen persons strong who meet twice a month to share responsibility for church development in the Kentucky Conference. During Barry's tenure the Annual Conference Church Development budget grew from around 350,000 to over 900,000 in four years. A staff has been built that includes a Coordinator for Hispanic Church Development, a Coordinator for African American Church Development and a new volunteer Coordinator for Asian-American Church Development in addition to an Administrative Assistant. Under this great team fifteen new faith communities have come into existence. Two ReStart congregations (The Rock and Mosaic) have made major strides at modeling revitalization. The Team also launched Natural Church Development in Kentucky three years ago. They also began a partnership with Percept Inc that makes demographic research available to every United Methodist Church in Kentucky.

Barry has been the initiator of a movement known as the Leadership Incubator. He is the author of the Vital Church Leadership Guidebook and is now in the process of writing a new book and media materials with the Board of Discipleship in Nashville that will focus the Leadership Incubator nationally. With the help of Spiritual Leadership Incorporated, he began a partnership with the largest (and only 14 years old) United Methodist Church in the United States. Barry co leads the National Leadership Incubator every month, which includes prominent United Methodist leaders from across the nation under the auspices of the Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City, Missouri. Leadership Incubators are being developed in many other places as well.

Barry is a presenter this year at the Church of the Resurrection Leadership Institute in October and the United Methodist School of Congregational Development at Ginghamsburg UMC in Tipp City Ohio in August. Barry has been a consultant in several Annual Conferences such as Indiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Illinois Great Rivers.

Barry has served as President of Habitat for Humanity and a Union College Trustee and Planning Committee Chair. He is currently a member of the Bishop's Extended Cabinet, the Primary Task Team and the Board of Ministry.

Barry most recently taught a class at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana with Dr. Ron Crandall, Associate Dean of the Beeson School of World Mission and has taught individual classes for several years at Asbury Theological Seminary.

Barry's pursuit of excellence have included formal and informal studies and recognition including a Bachelors degree in Theology from Southern Wesleyan University, a Master of Divinity degree from Lexington Theological Seminary, the Ministerial Course of Study at Duke Divinity School, and a Doctor of Education degree conferred by Union College. In addition his training has continued to develop through learning at the Robert Schuller Institute for Church Leadership, Garden Grove, CA., the Purpose Driven Church Conference, Lake Forest, CA; as a Natural Church Development Coach, and Life Planning.

Barry's personal vision is to lead fulcrum leaders who bring renewal of God shaped possibilities to the United Methodist Church.