Rev. Dr. Aaron J. McLeod, Esq.
SERVANT LEADER
The Reverend Dr. Aaron J. McLeod, Esq. is the Servant Leader of Gorham United Methodist Church, an urban faith community serving the Southside of Chicago, IL. Dr. McLeod 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 is a gifted lawyer, administrator, and social justice commentator. As a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois, Dr. McLeod’s practice revolves around real estate, estate planning, and corporate law. In past professional endeavors, 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, he served as chief executive officer of a community development corporation, he served as executive director of a Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School, and he co-founded a nonprofit corporation that focuses church revitalization of Black churches in mainline denominations.
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). The concentration of his degree was 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 of college abroad at Lancaster University in Lancaster, England where he studied business in the university’s school of management. He completed further study at the University of Illinois School of Public Health (2010) and Northwestern University (2013).
Dr. McLeod is ordained clergy who has standing in the United Church of Christ. He is a card-carrying member of the NAACP, Rainbow Push Coalition, and The Chicago Urban League. Also, Dr. McLeod is an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., he is a Prince Hall Mason, and he is Shriner. Dr. McLeod is married to Deidre Booker McLeod and is the proud father of Thompson Brewer McLeod.