Get to Know Rev. Adriene Thorne

On Sunday, July 17, 2022 the congregation of The Riverside Church in the City of New York voted Rev. Adriene Thorne as the eighth senior minister in the church’s history, and first African American woman to serve in the role. Rev. Thorne officially began her post on October 1, 2022. We are pleased to share a series of videos to help you get to know Rev. Thorne, in her own words:


In November, 2022, Rev. Thorne was a featured guest in conversation on several national podcasts:

Dangerous Dogma Podcast Episode 87: Rev. Adriene Thorne of Riverside Church
Word&Way | by Brian Kaylor
November 23, 2022

In episode 78 of Dangerous Dogma, Rev. Adriene Thorne, the new senior pastor at the Riverside Church in New York City, talks with Word&Way President Brian Kaylor about pastoring at this historic congregation. She also discusses becoming the first African American woman to lead Riverside, her past ministry roles, and the challenges that churches face today.

Listen Now


Change Happens Now Podcast: Season 5, Episode 4, Leadership and Faith as Art
Pacific School of Religion
November 2, 2022

Rev. Adriene Thorne, PSR alumnx (MDiv ’08) and Koinonia Award recipient, incorporates art and creativity into all aspects of her life, including her faith and her leadership as the Senior Pastor of The Riverside Church in NYC. She talks with us about the importance and value of incorporating play and a childlike spirit into our daily lives, to stay grounded amidst the chaos of the world. As she discovered and gave herself permission to incorporate art and play into her ministry, we also hear about how she discovered the Pacific School of Religion to be a place for her to explore what that could really look like. Rev. Thorne utilizes those same concepts and values in her sermons at Riverside Church, as the first Black woman to serve as Senior Minister there.

Listen Now