Kelly Woodlawn Church began in 2007 with the “merger of equals” of the former Kelly United Methodist Church and the former Woodlawn United Methodist Church. The history of each of those
institutions is described separately in the document produced for the 15th anniversary celebration of our church. This document may be downloaded by way of this link.
The Woodlawn congregation no longer had use of their building which had been determined to be unsafe for continuing use years earlier. In the years leading up to the merger, the Woodlawn congregation had been meeting in various locations and at the time of the merger, the Woodlawn congregation worshiped in the current Kelly Woodlawn Church building (separately from the Kelly congregation). When the decision to merge was finalized, the two congregations underwent an arduous process which took over a year to complete. Finally in 2007, Kelly Woodlawn United Methodist Church came into being.
The Rev. Colleen M. Norman was the obvious choice to lead the merged congregation because prior to the merger she had been assigned as pastor for each of the congregations. She graciously accepted her calling and did an excellent job handling the complexities and emotions resulting from such a merger. Rev. Norman completed her pastoral duties at Kelly Woodlawn after July 2015. Today Rev. Norman serves as pastor of Southlawn United Methodist Church, also in Chicago.
The Rev. Dr. Michelle Taylor Sanders followed Rev. Norman and became Kelly Woodlawn’s pastor in August 2015. Rev. Sanders enthusiastically applied her considerable pastoral gifts to grow and expand upon the work Rev. Norman had done with the new Kelly Woodlawn congregation. Rev. Sanders served as pastor of Kelly
Woodlawn until her retirement after June 2022. It is said that Christians don’t really retire, they simply receive a different mission. In retirement, Rev. Sanders joined a church she served earlier in her career, St. Mark United Methodist Church, where she works with their worship team and occasionally preaches.
The Rev. Andrea Davidson came to us in July 2022 with a skill set that seemed particularly appropriate for the challenges in ministry that African-American communities like ours face. She used her considerable pastoral gifts and talents in ways that blessed our congregation and its community. Highlights of her tenure at Kelly Woodlawn included a spirit-filled gospel concert headlined by seven performers combined with “trunk or treating” for neighborhood children. She also oversaw the great celebration for the combined 15th anniversary of Kelly Woodlawn Church and the 70th year of continuous ministry at 70th and King Drive. After June of 2023, Rev. Davidson requested and received a transfer to the New York Annual Conference to be closer to ailing family members. She currently serves as Pastor of North United Methodist Church of Hartford, CT.
In July 2023, Kelly Woodlawn United Methodist Church was blessed to have the Rev. Innis L. Miller, III appointed to be Pastor. Rev. Miller, a native of the West African nation of Liberia, brings years of pastoral experience and cross-cultural knowledge to Kelly Woodlawn. The church shares Rev. Miller with Grace UM Church of Blue Island, IL where he also serves as Pastor. Rev. Miller served through June of 2023 with the now closed Grace Calvary United Methodist Church where he was so beloved that many members have formally transferred membership to Kelly Woodlawn to continue their ministry with Rev. Miller. God continues to move in our community and has blessed us with the leadership of Pastor Miller and with the gifts and talents of the people of Grace Calvary. We praise God for all that has transpired for “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)