Dr. Kelcy G.L. Steele is a graduate of Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina from which he holds the Bachelor of Arts in Religion & Psychology.
He is an alumni of United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio from which he holds a Master of Divinity (MDiv) with inferences on Wesleyan and Methodist Studies.
He completed his doctoral studies at Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA earning the doctorate of Philosophy degree (PhD) in strategic leadership.
Pastoral assignments for Pastor Steele have included Morning Star Church, Charlotte, NC; New Loves Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, Lake Wylie, SC and Bethel AME Zion Church, Kannapolis, NC.
In September 2013, Pastor Steele was appointed by Bishop W. Darin Moore to the First A.M.E. Zion Church, Los Angeles, CA, the flagship church of the Western Episcopal District. Rev. Kelcy Steele served in several capacities during his pastorate in the Western Episcopal Area.
September 2016, Pastor Steele was appointed by Bishop Dennis V. Proctor to the second oldest church in our denomination the Historic Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, New Haven, CT as the 43rd Pastor. He serves as the Administrator to Presiding Elder Harvill of the Hartford District, and he’s on the Chair of the Booker T. Washington Academy Charter School, Varick’s own. He is the CEO for VCE-Varick Center for Empowerment & Varick’s Warming Center; the Director of Evangelism for the New England Conference; a Board Member of Yale Clinical Research; a Commissioner for the City of New Haven Fire Department, and the Dean of Students for COOP High School.
He is an inductee of the 2015 World Methodist Council Order of The FLAME, 100 Men of Color, and was the recipient of the Presidential Life Time Achievement Award. Rev. Steele is the author of the book “The Sound of Revival” Exploring Prophetic Preaching in the Wesleyan Tradition.
His achievements and recognitions are noteworthy. He has been honored to serve as one of Connecticut Delegates to the National Democratic Convention, appointed by Governor Ned Lamont to the Board of Parole & Pardons, and he is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Born in Rock Hill, SC, he is married to Natasha Ford Steele, a public school teacher and the Hartford District YAMS Coordinator.
