Rev. Myra M. Taylor is the former Senior Pastor of Galewood Community United Church
of Christ in Chicago, IL. As a Chicago native and a product of the Cabrini Green
Housing Projects in Chicago, one of Myra’s favorite Bible verses is, John 1:46,
“Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him,
“Come and see.”

Myra received her primary and secondary education through the Chicago Public School
System, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from North Park University, Chicago,
IL; and a Master of Divinity degree (Cum Laude) from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor
School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Va. And she is currently
pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree in “Womanist Preaching” from Memphis
Theological Seminary in Memphis, TN.

Myra grew up with a passion for singing God’s praises. She sang in the young adult
choir and gospel chorus at First Baptist Congregational Church (Chicago) under the
leadership of the late Rev. Dr. Arthur D. Griffin, Sr. In 1991, Myra joined Trinity United
Church of Christ and joined the Sanctuary choir as well as sang with a women’s
ensemble known as “S.P.I.R.I.T.” (Sistahs Praising God in Song). She did not pursue a
ministry/career in music because she believed God was preparing her for a different
ministry platform. After accepting her call to move to another level of ministry, Myra was
ordained as a deacon in 1998 under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright,
Jr., Pastor Emeritus of Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago.

As her spiritual journey continued, Myra completed her internship at Covenant United
Church of Christ, South Holland, IL. After seminary she served as Justice & Witness
Minister under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Ozzie E. Smith Jr, until her call and Dr.
Smith’s blessing to become Senior Pastor of Galewood Community United Church of
Christ in 2015. Rev. Myra was ordained in February 2019.

Myra is a former Dean of Students with Chicago Public Schools. Although she accepted
the call to Pastor, Myra believed that her ministry was also within the Chicago Public
School System advocating for the protection, rights, and proper funding for students.
Myra is the first Black Woman Senior Pastor (founder and organizer) to plant a United
Church of Christ church in the state of Arizona – Southwest Conference. New Hope
UCC Church of Phoenix will launch on Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023.