| |
 Dr.
Mary Ellen Kilsby, a resident of Long Beach, CA, received her B.A. from Pomona
College (Phi Beta Kappa and Cum Laude) and an M.A. and Doctorate in Ministry
(with Honors) from the School of Theology at Claremont. She was the first woman
to received the Wilshire Preaching Award, given to a graduating senior from the
School of Theology, and a has been ordained by the United Methodist Church
(1975) and the United Church of Christ (1978). Dr. Kilsby served as Senior
Minister of First Congregational Church of Long Beach, a United Church of
Christ, from 1988 until 1999, when she retired and became Minister Emeritus.
Dr. Kilsby organized the church school at the United Methodist Church of Mercer
Island, WA, served the Claremont Methodist Church in various youth and Christian
Education responsibilities, and was Associate Minister of the Claremont United
Church of Christ from 1983 to 1987. She served the Pomona Valley Council of
Churches as a member of their Board of Directors as a Chairperson of the
Christian Education Department from 1979 to 1981. She served as President of the
Ecumenical Council of the Pasadena Area Churches in 1985 and as Moderator of the
Southern California Conference of the United Church of Christ. She was elected
President of the South Coast Ecumenical Council (SCEC) in 1992. Dr. Kilsby was
honored as the SCEC 1992 "Clergy of the Year." She also served as moderator of
the Central Association of the United Church of Christ.
An active community leader, Dr. Kilsby served in various capacities with the
Girl Scouts, Soroptimists, League of Women Voters, the AAUW, AIDS Walk Long
Beach, Public Corporation for the Arts and the National Conference of Christians
and Jews. She is a former public school teacher and was elected to two terms on
the Board of Education of the Claremont Unified School District (1971-1979) and
served as its President for the last two years of her term.
Dr. Kilsby has appeared on a number of national radio and television programs,
including "Dimensions" with Herb Kaplow, "Odyssey" with Janine Tartaglia, "Hour
Magazine" with Gary Collins and "Inspirational Moments." She hosted her own talk
show on Pasadena cable entitled "Facets of Faith," and appeared with Dr. John B.
Cobb, Jr. on a series of videotapes entitled "Theology for the 80s." Dr. Kilsby
and First Congregational Church, Long Beach, were the subject of a feature story
in the April 28, 1992 edition of the Wall Street Journal. She lectures
and preaches throughout the Southern California area.
Dr. Kilsby is married to Bud Kilsby '55, who served as Vice President of Earle
M. Jorgensen until he retired. She has four grown children and eleven
grandchildren.
E-mail Mary Ellen
|
