Pastor Kelli X

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Kelli X is the Pastor of The Village Church, an African-centered Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Madison, TN.  Rev. X grew up on the South Side of Chicago and attended Tennessee State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2002.  Rev. X became an active member of The Village Church in 1999, as it was the first community of faith she encountered that celebrates its African heritage while loving Jesus and actively answering God’s call to fight for justice for all of God’s creation.  

After nearly a decade of working with children and families living with mental illness and maneuvering the foster care system, Rev. X stepped deeper in her call to ministry by attending Vanderbilt University Divinity School, where she earned a Master of Divinity 2012.  Moved by Psalm 150 and Romans 12:1, Rev. X has dedicated her life and inspires her congregation to live lives of worship of God and service to the world.  Committed to speaking truth to power, Rev. X has partnered throughout her ministry with organizations such as Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH), Planned Parenthood, Moral Movement Tennessee, Southern Christian Coalition, Protect Our Care, and New Leaders Council (recruitment co-chair) to seek justice for all God’s children.  

Rev. X has been happily married to Rico X for over 17 years.  Together they share two amazing children, Kijani and Asatira.  

The general administration of the church is conducted by the body known as the Kijiji Viongozi (kee-JEE-jee vee-on-GO-zee: Swahili for “Village Leaders”).    The Viongozi consist of the officers of the church (chair, vice-chair, secretary, financial secretary, and treasurer) and other elected leaders.