The Rev. Dr. Lisa M. Goods

Denomination: United Church of Christ (UCC)
Organization: Shiloh Baptist Church, Cleveland, OH

The Rev. Dr. Lisa Maxine Goods is a pastor, preacher, teacher, scholar, chaplain, womanist, and justice-seeker.  She is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has spent the past 19 years of life and ministry in Chicago, Illinois.  A sought-after preacher and teacher, Dr. Goods is the newly elected Senior Pastor of The Shiloh Baptist Church of Cleveland, Ohio.  In this role she has the distinction of being the first female pastor in the church’s 170-year history.

Dr. Goods is a graduate of the Pittsburgh Public Schools.  She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Penn State University.  After college Dr. Goods enjoyed a successful 26-year career in sales and management.  Accepting the call to ministry in 2003, she attended McCormick Theological Seminary receiving a Master of Divinity Degree in 2009.  She was the winner of McCormick’s Jesse Hasley Imagination in Preaching Award in 2007 and the highest preaching honor, the James Taylor Preaching Award in both 2008 and 2009.  She was also selected by The African American Pulpit for publication in their 2006 Top Seminarians Edition.  In 2020 Rev. Goods earned her Doctor of Ministry Degree from Chicago Theological Seminary.  Presently Rev. Lisa is pursuing a Ph.D. in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana under the mentorship of Rev. Dr. Frank Anthony Thomas.

Rev. Goods was ordained by the United Church of Christ in February 2011.  She served Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, Illinois as Associate Pastor of Outreach and Communications for over 11 years.  During this time, Dr. Goods established a Single Parents’ Ministry, a Prayer Ministry, served as editor of the church’s newsletter, implemented the church’s social media presence and mobile app, worked extensively in youth ministry, and served as Pastoral Liaison for the Health and Wellness and Singles Ministries.  From 2014 to 2018 Dr. Goods served as Director of Community Life for Chicago Theological Seminary overseeing worship and facilitating campus spiritual, professional and community formation. She also served as Senior Pastor of Kenwood United Church of Christ in Chicago from 2017 to 2019.  From 2019-2020 Rev. Goods completed a one-year chaplain residency at ChristianCare Health System in Newark, Delaware, providing pastoral care and counseling to acute care, trauma, and addiction patients including caring for COVID 19 patients and staff.

Rev. Goods is a lover of music and has a passion for women, youth, and social justice.  She is the daughter of Cassandra Jones and the late Richard Goods, Sr. and the mother of one son, Julian James Goods.  Most of all she loves God and has a heart for the people of God.