Rev. William Critzman
Senior Minister
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The Rev. William Critzman serves as President of The Collegiate Protestant Dutch Reformed Church in the City of New York and Pastor of West End Church. Rev. Critzman is the 58th Senior Minister of Collegiate since its founding in 1628 and is the first openly queer person to lead the oldest church and corporation in North America. Committed to leading with love by dismantling patriarchal and gender norms, racial hatred, and misogynist agendas, Will’s life/work is grounded in a radical sense of welcome, inclusion, and belonging.
Since 2018, Will’s pastorate at West End Church has been marked by a worship and programming strategy that couples a tradition that your grandmother might recognize with a theology of liberation that you and our children need. Our ministry holds scripture, sacred tradition(s), modern day prophets, artists, justice warriors, and the state of our modern world as interrelated matters of faith. We do not have one answer to any one question. In truth, we’re seeking better questions and need your voice to help us. West End is a a church where you may find not just a place to be welcomed or to join, but a place to belong.
West End Church is a place where you may bring your whole self in order to be (w)holy transformed.
Publicly, Will is a leading voice at the intersection of faith, LGBTQ+ wellness, and the arts. In 2024, he was recognized as an ABC News Pride Champion of Change. His work and ministry is also prominently featured in the 2025 feature-length documentary Sanctuary bringing attention to the role of faith, art, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus and works with other artists and arts organizations across the city.
Will is also a certified psychoanalyst who applies both theology (the study of God) and psychology (the study of self) to the work of creating healthier individuals, organizations, and communities so that together we may all thrive.
Schools & Associations
Will attended Cornell University and Wagner College. Rev. Critzman’s Master of Divinity degree is from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, where he was awarded the Jonathan Kneeland Preaching Prize. Will completed 8-years of post-graduate training in Psychoanalysis, graduating from the Blanton-Peale Institute in 2023.
Will works extensively with the Reformed Association and New York Conference of the United Church of Christ. He lives on the West Side of Manhattan with his two pups, Toby! and Rumpus.
Will holds regular office hours and is always happy to welcome a new face. Click here to book an appointment.
