Executive Director
Rev. Dr. William S. Shillady has served as Executive Director of the United Methodist City Society since September 2008. Before taking this position, he served as a pastor for 29 years.
A native of Reading, Pennsylvania, Rev. Shillady received his undergraduate degree from Lebanon Valley College. In 1981 he earned a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School. During his time at Duke he served a four point United Methodist charge in Eastern North Carolina and a Presbyterian Church in downtown Raleigh.
After seminary, Rev. Shillady served one year in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference at the Hawes Avenue United Methodist Church. In 1982 he transferred to the New York Conference and served for six years as the associate pastor to Rev. Dr. Clayton Miller at Asbury Crestwood United Methodist Church in Yonkers.
In 1988 he was appointed to the Mamaroneck United Methodist Church on the Sound shore in Westchester, where he was senior pastor for 11 years. During his tenure, the church raised the funds for and accomplished a major restoration project, prompted by the 2,000 pound church bell falling through the steeple one memorable Sunday morning. Also during this period, Shillady earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew Theological School.
In 1999, he was appointed to the Park Avenue United Methodist Church on the upper east side of Manhattan, where he served as senior pastor for 9 years.
On September 1, 2008 Shillady became the fifth Executive Director of the merged mission associations that created the United Methodist City Society.
Over the years, Rev. Shillady has served on a variety of boards and committees of the New York Annual Conference, as well as community based programs and boards. He now is the chairperson of the Board of Pension and Health Benefits of the Conference, a mentor to candidates for ministry, and serves as chair of the District Committee on Ministry. And currently, he is a member of the Board of Visitors of Duke Divinity School and on the Leadership Council for Habitat for Humanity, NYC.