Kirkland, during more than fifty years in the ministry, served as the pastor of eight local congregations and as a missionary in the Philippines, as well as being district superintendent, conference program director, and treasurer of World Missions of the United Methodist Church. A graduate of the College of the City of New York and Union Theological Seminary in New York City, he also holds honorary doctorates from Philippine Wesleyan University and DePauw University (Greencastle, Indiana). He is now retired.