Rev. Wendy Woodruff has led the MMCC community since 2007. Her goal is to help the community to maintain a God-centered space where all are welcome, just as they are. In the past few years, that means working to make space more accessible, ensuring that all services are ASL interpreted and reaching out to the transgender community and straight allies. She works with multiple community leaders to coordinate activities in the LGBT and religious communities of Milwaukee.

Pastor Wendy came to MMCC after nearly thirty years in the telecommunications industry.  After retiring in 2003, she attended and received a Master of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary.  She has been an active leader in MCC for many years, as a board member and lay representative.  She participated in two church plants in Geneva, Illinois and Cleveland, Ohio.  While in seminary, she was an intern at Open Door United Church of Christ, which is located on Chicago’s South Side and has a primary ministry to the African American Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer community.  Just prior to coming to Milwaukee, Rev. Woodruff served as Associate Pastor for Leadership Empowerment at MCC Illiana in Lake Station, Indiana.

Pastor Wendy and her spouse Mary were joined in Holy Union in 1999. Mary retired from the Naperville (Illinois) Public Library after 21 years as cataloger and manager of the computer library systems.  She now works with FORGE and volunteers with SAGE, among other endeavors. The Woodruffs make their home in Greenfield, Wisconsin.  They have one son, John Shields, who lives with his wife, Jennifer, and daughter Olivia, in Warrenville, Illinois.

“I enjoy serving the MMCC congregation and the larger Milwaukee community,” Rev. Woodruff said.  “My passion is outreach to those who are on the edges of society: the elderly, young Queer folk, people who are differently-abled -- anyone who struggles to be an active, accepted part of society.  Christ calls us to reach out to those on the edges and to care for the stranger.”