Highland Park United Methodist Church

Pastor Valerie's Bio
Valerie Steele is pastor of Highland Park UMC, Stillwater, Oklahoma. In ministry, she finds her heart extremely happy when equipping children/youth for a productive future in Christ and strengthening underserved families through intentional, meaningful relationships and education. She has a strong passion for criminal justice ministry, weekly offering Bible study and a worship opportunity at a women's correctional facility. She loves to  preach, teach the Word and especially loves basking in the presence of God in worship. Valerie received her M.Div. from Phillips Theological Seminary. She holds a MLA in Leadership/Management and a BA in Music from Oklahoma City University. In her "former life" she worked in nonprofit fundraising.

She is the mother of four young adults. And, most of all, Valerie is the proud "MiMi" of Dominick, 8; Micah, 6; and, Peyton, 5.
Her hobbies are: reading, singing, listening to all types of music, watching episodes of Frasier, Golden Girls, Family Feud and Sci-Fi movies, roller skating, and playing online Scrabble (a.k.a., "Words with Friends".) 

Experience
Senior pastor, Highland Park UMC, Stillwater, OK --2017-Present
Senior pastor, St. Paul's UMC, Okemah, OK --2012-2017
Associate Pastor, Chapel Hill UMC, OKC -- 2004-2012
Senior Pastor, Mount Vernon UMC, Crescent, OK -- 2003-2005

Committees/Boards
Stillwater United Committee, 2018-Present
I AM Women's Ministry and Vocation Advisory Board, 2017-Present
Wesley Foundation, Oklahoma State University, 2017-Present
Wesley Foundation, Langston University, 2017-Present
Board of Ordained Ministry, 2011-Present
Strengthening the Black Church-21st Century, 2015-Present

Education
Phillips Theological Seminary, M. Div., 2005
Oklahoma City University, MLA, 2001
Oklahoma City University, BA Music, 1997

     Rev. Tish Malloy has served as our district superintendent since June 2013.

     She was born in Boston, MA and grew up there until her family moved to Lakeland, FL when she was in her teens. She graduated from Stetson University in Deland, FL and went from there to Penn State University, not to go to school but to work in campus ministry which she did for three years. 

     Through that experience she became convinced that God was calling her to serve the church as an ordained minister so she moved 
to Kansas City, MO to attend seminary at Saint Paul School of Theology where she met her husband, David Nichols. Dave and Tish have five young adult children. Dave teaches elementary school in Edmond.

     Rev. Malloy was ordained in 1984. Before being appointed to First Church Moore in 2006, she served as a hospital chaplain, an associate pastor in one church, senior pastor of two churches, and as the Director of OK Volunteers in Mission Office for the Oklahoma Annual Conference.  

     While senior pastor at Moore First Church, Rev. Malloy has led the church to reach out in many ways through local and global missions, launched a new worship service, planted a church and led a successful capital funds campaign for a new family life center.