Rev. Robert G. Kirkley has served the United Methodist Church since
1948. Before coming to the Church Creek Charge, he served for many years as pastor in Baltimore and then at the Lexington
Park United Methodist Church in St. Mary's County, Maryland. In St. Mary's he also served on the County School Board for ten
years, appointed to succeeding terms by Governor Schaefer.
Since 2001, his ministry has continued in Dorchester County, where he leads the
four churches of Church Creek Charge: White Haven, Milton, Madison, and Taylors Island. An avid outdoorsmen, he enjoys the
unspoiled nature of Dorchester and its abundant wildlife as well as the people of the close-knit traditional communities.
A native son of Baltimore, his parents were Rev. Edward T. Kirkley and Flora Kirkley. His brother Rev. Charles F. Kirkley
also served the Methodist Church. He and his wife Joyce have 2 children and 2 grandchildren.
His pastoral assignments have taken him from the western shore to Dorchester County
- 1948-1950: Student Pastor, South Carolina; 1950-1952: Student Pastor, Baltimore, MD; 1952: Ordained Deacon Methodist Church;
1952-1954: Light Street Methodist Church, Balitmore, MD; 1954: Ordained Elder, Methodist Church. 1954-1977: Pastor, Mt. Washington
United Methodist Church, Baltimore, MD; 1978-2000: Pastor, Lexington Park, United Methodist Church, St. Mary's County; 2000:
UMC-Mandatory retirement, moved to Dorchester County, occasional preaching in the Church Creek Charge; 2001-: Appointed Pastor,
Church Creek Charge.
He is the author of "By God, You Can Do It - A Practical Guide to Successful Living"
(Ballantine Books, 1985). The book explains his thoughtful and direct approach to becoming a successful and active participant
in God's creation.
Rev. Kirkley encourages all members of the congregation, new and long-time, to
be active and join together to share the good news of our faith and the message of our Savior.
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Meet the Pastor’s Wife – Joyce Kirkley
Mrs. Kirkley is a graduate of Western High School (Baltimore) and Goucher College
(Towson) with a B.A. in English. The Kirkley’s were married in 1955. After marriage, Mrs. Kirkley taught English in
for ten years in Baltimore area schools with time at home and children with the birth of Beth Ann and then Robert Glenn.
When Rev. Kirkley was appointed in Lexington Park and the family moved there,
she returned to teaching. In 1984, she received an M. Ed. from the University of Maryland, then serving as a Reading
Specialist. Her 20 years service in education in Southern Maryland also included teaching language arts, English,
and reading at all levels from elementary through high school. Her professional activities included development of a writing
program for elementary students and serving as a supervisor of practice teachers and instructor at St. Mary’s College
(St. Mary’s City, Maryland).
Today, Joyce enjoys family, grandchildren, and serving the Lord with her husband,
in which she says is “the best appointment yet – the Church Creek Charge and its wonderful, loving people.”
She continues to be active as a Sunday school teacher and member of UMW. She is a member of the Taylors Island Church board.
