Rev. Dr. Aaron McLeod became pastor to Evanston’s Sherman United Methodist Church in July 2023. He finds profound joy in the pastoral vocation and the responsibilities to lead worship, preach the Gospel, teach the Bible and provide pastoral care to God’s people.
Dr. McLeod served as the Executive Director of Special Projects and Associate Pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Otis Moss, III. Additionally, Dr. McLeod has served as general counsel for a church, chief executive officer of a faith-based community development corporation, executive director of a Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School, co-founder of a nonprofit corporation that focuses on church revitalization of Black churches in mainline denominations, and adjunct faculty at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Dr. McLeod earned the Doctor of Ministry degree in Practical Theology from McCormick Theological Seminary, where he studied African Centered Religious Thought as Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. Scholar. Dr. McLeod earned the Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Iowa College of Law (2006). As a law student, Dr. McLeod distinguished himself as a Law Opportunity Fellow, a Thurgood Marshall Fellow, and as Chair of The Alexander G. Clark Chapter of the National Black Law Student Association. Additionally, Dr. McLeod earned the Master of Divinity degree from Harvard University’s School of Divinity (2003). His degree concentration was in Leadership, Public Policy, and Community Based Ministry. While at Harvard, Dr. McLeod completed half of his requirements for his degree at Harvard Business School, the Kennedy School of Government, and the Sloan School of Management at MIT. Dr. McLeod earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA (2000). He spent his junior year abroad at Lancaster University in Lancaster, England, where he studied business in the university’s School of Management. He completed further studies at the University of Illinois School of Public Health (2010), Northwestern University (2013), Chicago Theo-logical Seminary (2014), Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary (2021), and Hampton University (2022).
Dr. McLeod is ordained clergy who has standing in the United Church of Christ. He is a Provisional Elder in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church. Also, Dr. McLeod is an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., a Prince Hall Mason, and Shriner. Dr. McLeod is married to Deidre Booker McLeod and has a son, Thompson Brewer McLeod.
PREVIOUS PASTORS
Rev. Dennis M. Oglesby, Jr., 2020-2023
Rev. Dr. Barbara Morgan, 2016 – 2019
Rev. Dr. Gessel Berry, Jr. 2004-2016
Rev. Leon Willis, 1999-2004
Rev. Alma Gilbert, 1997-1999
Rev. Dennis M. Oglesby, 1991-1997
Rev. Allen M. Mayes
Rev. Addison Shields
Rev. Rogers
Rev. Julius Del Pino
Rev. John F. Norwood
Rev. Warren M. Jenkins
Barbara Simmons
Stephen Foster
Alonzo Vincent
Rev. B. Herbert Martin, 1968
S. A. Gatherings
C. L. Fleming, 1957-1958
C. W. Whalen and W. L. Giles, 1955-1956
Simon L. Montgomery, 1953-1954
P. H. E. Winfield, 1935-1952
E. L. Briggs, 1934
L. H. Armstron, 1933-1933
Dewitt D. Turpean, Jr. 1930-1931
J. C. Hayes, 1929
Herman Zimmerman, 1928
J.P. Pierce, 1922-1927