Our pastor

Reverend Barbara L. Whitlow is an ordained Elder in the New York Annual Conference. She currently serves at First UMC of Jamaica and St. Paul UMC. Previously, she served at Grace-Hanson UMC in Brooklyn, NY; Huntington & Cold Spring Harbor UMC; Hauppauge & Central Islip UMC in Suffolk County, NY; and Port Washington UMC in

Nassau County, NY. She also worked as a Deputy Inspector-Chaplain for the Suffolk County Police Department.

Pastor Barbara earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from John Jay College in New York City and a Master of Divinity from Drew University. She also holds a certification in English-American Sign Language Interpreting from CUNY. After 20 years working in NYC law enforcement, she retired to pursue full-time ministry. 

Reverend Barbara Whitlow’s journey is characterized by unwavering dedication, service, and a passion for bringing together diverse communities. A native New Yorker, she was raised in a supportive environment within the United Methodist Church—initially as a child at Janes UMC in Brooklyn, NY. She was confirmed at First UMC of Hollis, NY. As an adult, she joined Springfield Gardens UMC, where she held

various leadership roles, including Executive Leader in Ministry, Trustee, Dean of the Bible Training Institute, Director of Deaf Ministries, and Evangelism leader.

As a committed advocate for social justice, she has supported causes for the Deaf and Deaf-Blind, people with disabilities, asylum seekers, those living with HIV/AIDS, and at-risk youth. Her ministry has taken her around the world—from Jamaica, W.I., and Romania to Hungary, Germany, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and across the United States— expanding her perspective and strengthening her dedication to inclusion. Her pastoral work is inspired by the vision of the “Beloved Community.” She aims to create inclusive spaces where everyone feels valued and heard. She resides in Queens with her husband William.