Rev. Shelly White Wood was born and raised in Bloomington-Normal,
Illinois. Following five years of pastoral leadership at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Illinois, Rev. White Wood became
Senior Pastor at Cedar Heights Community Presbyterian Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in June 2006.

After graduating from Eastern Illinois University with double majors in English and Political Science, Rev. White Wood earned Masters and
Specialist degrees in Counseling. Following graduate school, she
married Blake Wood, moved to Springfield, Illinois, and worked for the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts in domestic violence prevention.

After two years working for the courts, Shelly responded to the call of ministry, earned her Masters in Divinity at McCormick Theological
Seminary in Hyde Park, Illinois, and began her ministry as Associate
Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian in Springfield in 2001.

Rev. White Wood’s ministry passions are preaching, pastoral care and teaching. She believes, as John Calvin did, that all ministry should
occur with a balance of mind and heart. “God gives each person unique gifts," Pastor Shelly says, “which he or she is called to use in the name of Jesus Christ. As a pastor, I am called to lead by example and encourage others to respond to their call.”

Rev. White Wood’s family includes her husband Blake, two daughters, Maclean (4) and Madelyn (2), and one son, Jackson Samuel, born in
September, 2006.