Welcoming Pastor John Bell
Newly Appointed Pastor of Hinsdale UMC
Hinsdale UMC’s Staff Parish Relations Committee and congregation are pleased to welcome the Reverend John Bell as the new pastor to Hinsdale UMC, beginning July 1, 2025.
Pastor Bell holds a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree from Duke Divinity School and has completed a three-year postgraduate program at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family in Washington, DC. He has served as a pastor for over 31 years leading congregations at the following churches in Northern Illinois: Cherry Valley UMC, Good Shepherd UMC in Bartlett, Trinity UMC in Yorkville and Wesley UMC in Aurora. Since July 2023, he has served as the pastor at First Lutheran Church ECLA in Louisville KY. He is excited to be returning to the Northern Illinois Conference and serving at Hinsdale UMC. In fact, Reverend Bell was born at Hinsdale hospital and grew up in Downers Grove. He is looking forward to getting to know the people of Hinsdale United Methodist Church and partnering together in ministry.
He serves on the Executive Board and as a faculty member for The Center for Family Consultation in Evanston, IL, and as Director of the Postgraduate program at the Center for Family Consultation. He is a former chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry for the Northern Illinois Conference.
He and his wife Alison have three grown children, two of whom live in the Chicagoland area. His personal interests include hiking, writing, enjoying good food, and attending live music performances.