Rev. Dr. Irene Taylor
"I am still excited about my ministry because there is never a dull day. Today's church is in constant transition; because we are planted amid communities that are constantly changing. I see this as an opportunity for God to do great things in our midst if we remain open to the leading of God's Spirit. My heart's desire has been to pastor, and God has blessed me richly. Because of the love, compassion, and mercy God constantly shows to me, I cannot think of anything I'd rather do than serve God by serving God's people."
The Rev. Dr. Irene Taylor comes to Joyful Spirit United Methodist Church of Ingleside, Illinois, after serving as the Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church of DesPlaines, Illinois, where she served until she retired from the United Methodist Church. Before her appointment to First-DesPlaines, she served as Senior Pastor at Living Faith UMC-Waukegan for five years and 15 years as the Senior Pastor of Ivanhoe Community UMC in Riverdale, Illinois.
In December of 2005, Pastor Taylor received the Doctorate of Ministry Degree in the area of Spiritual Formation from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Her doctoral project's focus was on "Christian Spirituality: A Resource for Equipping, Enabling, and Empowering African-American Youth." She received the Master of Divinity Degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.
In March of 2018, Rev. Taylor celebrated 30 years of ministry since graduating from seminary. To honor this landmark in her ministry, the Irene Taylor Scholarship Fund was established at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Pastor Taylor acknowledged her call to ordained ministry in 1983 and was licensed to preach while serving at Second Baptist Church of Evanston under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Hycel B. Taylor. She was ordained in 1989 at Christian Church Baptist in Chicago, Illinois, under the pastorate of Rev. Brenda J. Little. In 1997, she sought to have her credentials recognized by the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church and was granted full membership as an elder in the United Methodist Church in June of 2001.
Pastor Taylor, for more than thirty-some years, has faithfully served the Lord by spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through her preaching, teaching, and conducting various seminars and workshops for numerous churches and organizations. Her ministry is a holistic ministry that seeks to bring wholeness to God's people's lives through spiritual formation and development, using the spiritual disciplines of the Christian faith as a means to transform and empower God's people.
She has held several ministry positions, including being a member of the Field Education Department at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Associate Minister at Bethany Baptist Church and Assistant Pastor at Second Baptist Church, both located in Evanston, Illinois. She has served on the executive board and as assistant pastor of Women Spiritually Empowered an outreach ministry to women and teen girls. She is also a retired Chaplain of the United States Army Reserve, and former Director of Admissions & Recruitment at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois. She also served as a member of the Black Women's Leadership Roundtable that dealt with violence against women and girls. She was also a board member and group facilitator with Women Ministry in the City, an outreach educational program to women seminarians throughout the country and worldwide.
In December of 2005, Pastor Taylor received the Doctorate of Ministry Degree in the area of Spiritual Formation from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Her doctoral project's focus was on "Christian Spirituality: A Resource for Equipping, Enabling, and Empowering African-American Youth." She received the Master of Divinity Degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.
In March of 2018, Rev. Taylor celebrated 30 years of ministry since graduating from seminary. To honor this landmark in her ministry, the Irene Taylor Scholarship Fund was established at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Pastor Taylor acknowledged her call to ordained ministry in 1983 and was licensed to preach while serving at Second Baptist Church of Evanston under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Hycel B. Taylor. She was ordained in 1989 at Christian Church Baptist in Chicago, Illinois, under the pastorate of Rev. Brenda J. Little. In 1997, she sought to have her credentials recognized by the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church and was granted full membership as an elder in the United Methodist Church in June of 2001.
Pastor Taylor, for more than thirty-some years, has faithfully served the Lord by spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through her preaching, teaching, and conducting various seminars and workshops for numerous churches and organizations. Her ministry is a holistic ministry that seeks to bring wholeness to God's people's lives through spiritual formation and development, using the spiritual disciplines of the Christian faith as a means to transform and empower God's people.
She has held several ministry positions, including being a member of the Field Education Department at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Associate Minister at Bethany Baptist Church and Assistant Pastor at Second Baptist Church, both located in Evanston, Illinois. She has served on the executive board and as assistant pastor of Women Spiritually Empowered an outreach ministry to women and teen girls. She is also a retired Chaplain of the United States Army Reserve, and former Director of Admissions & Recruitment at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois. She also served as a member of the Black Women's Leadership Roundtable that dealt with violence against women and girls. She was also a board member and group facilitator with Women Ministry in the City, an outreach educational program to women seminarians throughout the country and worldwide.
