AFRICAN AMERICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH INDIANA SOUTH DISTRICT

Elaine P. Gordon is a nationally known preacher, author, speaker and teacher. She is much sought after in social, civic, and, religious circles for her keen ability to integrate theological concepts with social responsibility. Rev. Gordon preaches and teaches a gospel that has legs and feet, a gospel of liberation and redemption, a gospel of love and grace.

Rev. Elaine, as she is affectionately called, is the Presiding Elder of the South District of the Indiana Annual Conference after serving as pastor of Ward Chapel AME, Peoria, IL, where she was the first female pastor in the church’s 170-year history. As Presiding Elder, Rev. Elaine provides administrative oversight for the twenty-three churches that make-up her district which extends from Indianapolis to the Kentucky line. Her ministry model is informed by her history as a social service administrator. She has more than 25 years experience working with disadvantaged families and troubled children. After retiring from the social service arena Rev. Gordon joined the project management community as a technical writer for low-income housing development groups in the city of Indianapolis. Using that experience, Rev. Gordon led Ward Chapel’s successful bid for a $149,000 TIF grant from the City of Peoria in 2013.

Rev. Gordon is a native of California. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Services Administration, a Master of Arts Degree in Urban Ministry from Martin University and is a trained Project Management Professional. She is married to Cleveland Gordon and is the biological mother of three, the extended mother of six, the grandmother of fifteen and the great grandmother of ten.

Known to many as a sojourner for women’s liberation, Rev. Elaine is the founder of women’s ministry groups in Anderson and Indianapolis, Indiana.

Her distinguished career includes the keys of the cities of Indianapolis, Kokomo, and Elkhart, Indiana. She was the first female to deliver the city-wide Martin Luther King, Jr. Day address in Anderson. She has served as keynote speaker and presenter for the federal and state governments and other human service agencies in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Columbus, OH; Richmond, VA; Tulsa and Oklahoma City, OK and Honolulu, Hawaii. She has ministered internationally serving on the mission field in Naples, Italy and Montego Bay, Jamaica. Rev. Elaine has served as the keynote speaker and conference convener for Victorious Christian Women, Flint, MI Perfecting Praise Conference, Los Angeles, CA and women’s groups across these United States too numerous to name. Rev. Gordon is a member of the NAACP, Tri County Urban League, Center for Prevention of Abuse, Peoria Substance Abuse Coalition, Trainer for National African American Tobacco Education Network (NAATEN), Consultant for the Health Education Council, and a member of Nu Pi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In 2012 Pastor Gordon was recognized as one of 25 Women in Leadership in Peoria, Illinois.

Rev. Elaine is a contributing author to Sister to Sister Devotions, Volume II (Judson Press) and the Women of Color Study Bible (Nia Publishing). Lesotho Lenten Devotionals, 2010. North District AME Church Lenten Devotionals, 2010. 40 Days to Freedom, a faith-based Tobacco Cessation Guide, 2010.

Rev. Elaine describes herself as a product of the unmerited favor of God. Her personal statement: “If there be any praise, let it go to Calvary. To God be the glory.”