Claude King

Pastor Claude is an ordained Elder and lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. He received his bachelor's degree in sociology with an emphasis in anthropology from Chicago State University and received his Master of Divinity degree from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. He has served as pastor and associate pastor at a variety of churches in Chicago, including the Chicago Temple, in Glen Ellyn, and is was recently the pastor of the Olympia Fields UMC. Rev. King also serves on the UMC-NIC Board of Ordained Ministry. This Board is responsible for guiding clergy candidates through the ordination process, including interviewing and recommending all candidates who are seeking to be fully ordained as ministers in the NIC-UMC. Pastor Claude is married to Denise King, a former Chicago Public School Head Start teacher. They have a son Claude, Jr., who has a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, is working at the Children's Research Triangle in Chicago and a daughter, Ashley, who holds a master's degree in communications and social media, who works in marketing, most recently in the overseas marketing department at the Walt Disney Studios in Los Angeles.