Rev. Dr. Curlee L. Adams is a product of the Chicago public school system and the Chicago housing projects.  He is a graduate of Dunbar Vocational High School and holds a BA Degree from Northeastern Illinois University and a Paralegal Certification from Roosevelt University. In October of 2004, he accepted his call to the ministry at Carter Temple CME Church.  Feeling the need to prepare himself further, he enrolled into Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary on the campus of Northwestern University, where in May of 2009 he graduated with his Masters of Divinity Degree and received his Doctor of Ministry degree in May of 2019.

In August of 2005, he was ordained Deacon, 2007 he was ordained Local Elder, 2009 Traveling Elder and in 2010 he was ordained Elder in full connection by Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart, Sr.  From August of 2010 – April of 2012, he served as Presiding Elder of the Cleveland/Pittsburgh District and Senior Pastor of Patton Memorial CME Church in the 2nd Episcopal District.  In April of 2012, he was brought back to the 3rd Episcopal District and assigned to Saint Paul CME Church of Chicago where he serves as Senior Pastor.  In July of 2019, he was appointed Presiding Elder of the Great Gary District.

He was selected by the region to serve as a delegate to the World Methodist Council and most recently he received the Outstanding Ministries Award at the 2018 Pastor’s Conference. Rev. Adams has received additional training in Clinical Pastoral Education, through Rush University Medical Center, where he completed a year long residency.  In November 2022, he obtained his Board Certification as a Chaplain.

In addition to his duties as Pastor and Presiding Elder, Rev. Adams also serves as a Resource Chaplain for NorthShore University Health Systems.  

Personally,  Rev. Adams is a member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. He is married to the former Lisa Johnson and to this marriage they have five children Brittney (Rev. Kalif Crutcher), Isaiah, Katia, Kayla and Malachi and four grandchildren Cameron, Grayson, Layla and Sophia.