Bishop Robert Griffin, D.Min. is the Executive Minister of Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale, FL. With local and online constituents numbering multiple thousands per week, Sunshine Cathedral bills itself as the world’s leading progressive Queer church.

As a Religious Programming Specialist in the U.S. Robert managed chapels on military bases for a decade. As he was transitioning to civilian life, Robert planted a church in Hagerstown, Maryland which he pastored for over 8 years (it remains in operation today).

While at New Light MCC in Hagerstown, he also spent two years as the HIV Field Coordinator for MCC. He went on to be a Special Assistant to two regional Elders (“Bishops”), consecutively, and then to the Presiding Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches.

In 2006 he joined the staff of the Sunshine Cathedral, first overseeing their religious education program, and then their social justice ministries, and finally becoming the Executive Minister.

Robert for many years was a faculty member of MCC’s Orientation to Pastoral Ministry program and then for postulant intensive courses helping clergy aspirants map their educational and spiritual paths to ordained ministry.

Dr. Griffin is a contributor to The Essence of Ministry (VTS).

Robert is a graduate of both the Episcopal Divinity School and Florida Center for Theological Studies and is a former Trustee of EDS and a former governing board member for MCC.

Robert has been honored with the Otis Charles Preaching Prize (EDS) and the MCC People of African Descent Pioneer Award.

Bishop Robert has served with Bishop Pat Bumgardner on the Public Policy Team and since almost its inception, with the Global Justice Institute, for which he is now an Auxiliary Bishop and a liaison to the Caribbean and Africa.

Dr. Griffin received some notoriety for his interviews in Jamaican media and for being featured in a Public Broadcasting special as an activist for religious affirmation of Queer people.

Bishop Robert and his husband, Bishop Durrell Watkins, serve in ministry as a team both at Sunshine Cathedral and as Auxiliary Bishops for the Global Justice Institute.

Robert is a native of Troy, Alabama, the youngest of 14 siblings.