Today we’d like to introduce you to S Jewell S McGhee.
Hi S Jewell S, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is S Jewell McGhee and I am the pastor at Red Bridge United Methodist Church. I was appointed by the Missouri Bishop to this church in July 2024. I moved from a church in Columbia, MO with my spouse and 4 children.
Before becoming a pastor I was a professional artist for a decade and have a website with my work here: www.sjewellsmcghee.com
Something you may enjoy featuring is that I crafted and installed a 10 foot tall Lego creation in our sanctuary that is modeled off of a stained glass piece that was removed from the sanctuary in a remodel some years ago. This was installed at our 50th year celebration earlier this year. We are planning to do a time capsule to celebrate this anniversary at the end of the year as well.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Personally, the journey to being a pastor, as a woman and a creative has been a challenge. There are cultural pressures against female ordination and were personal crisis to overcome. And my calling has always involved art, so finding the way to integrate these passions while leading a unique community is an ongoing challenge.
When my children were young we also had significant financial concerns, even on food stamps for a time. These limitations made me both incredibly creative in my problem solving and also compassionate for others who are struggling.
The United Methodist denomination has gone through a painful period as they voted to remove language in their social principles against homosexuality and gave churches and pastors more autonomy to decide contextually about marriages and ordination as it relates to sexuality. (This led to a large disaffiliation and the start of the GMC. These decisions were made in 2019 and in 2024 and greatly delayed and affected by the pandemic. )
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Most recently I installed a 10 foot Lego replica of a stained glass window in the church’s sanctuary. I have loved the freedom that has come with using bulk Lego from KC Brick- a Lego reseller. I have some other projects like this in mind.
Right now I am really excited about the collaboration I have been doing with all sorts of community artists each Sunday. We feature new original art each week that explores the topics that are also being addressed in the sermon, the music, the liturgy, and in our service projects. Having been a community artist I have some unique skills in finding ways to bring out the best in different community members across different skills and generations.
I love creating large scale community art projects that address important questions, concerns, or values of a community. Having been trained as a theatre artist and a clergy, there is an experiential quality to my favorite creations. I want you to step in, and deeply engage. As a student of ancient languages I am always looking to bridge the gap between cultures and communities and generations. We are asking the same questions, so often, and it helps us to ask them together.
What are your plans for the future?
I am excited to continue to become a part of South KC, to know this community and our neighbors, and to find new ways for the church to be active here. The church and ECC(Early Childhood Center) have been here for 50 years- but that doesn’t mean we are hanging our hat. We are ready for what the next 50 years will bring!
We received a grant from the Missouri Conference for $10,000 to do something new in Red Bridge as a “Congregation in Action” (a grant from the Lilly Foundation). It is exciting to have the resources to experiment and explore something new.
Plus, I have some ideas for new Lego creations…
Contact Info:
- Website: www.redbridgeumc.org and www.sjewellsmcghee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbridgeumc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redbridgeumc/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@redbridgeumc500
