Our Leadership
Rev. Keré Y. Patterson
Senior Pastor
Meet Our Pastor
Keré Yvonne Patterson was born in Buffalo, NY to the Late Gerald Patterson & Yvonne Carter-Patterson. She is the proud mother of 3: Essence, Cedrick Jr. and Kaiya.
Rev. Patterson has earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Social Work from The State University of New York, Buffalo State College, and a Master’s of Science in Counseling from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. She then completed a Certificate of Advance Studies in Education Administration and Supervision at Loyola University Maryland (Baltimore, Maryland) May, 2008 and upon returning to Buffalo completed a Masters of Educational Leadership and Supervision from Canisius College (May 2020). She has been employed by Buffalo Public Schools, Oracle Charter School (Buffalo, NY) as Coordinator of Student Interventions, Anne Arundel County Public Schools as an Assistant Principal (Millersville, MD), School Counselor in Thomasville City Schools, Thomasville, GA and Baltimore County Schools (Baltimore, MD). Rev. Patterson spent 5 years in her most fulfilling and challenging position as a Stay at Home Mom. In 2017 she returned to the workforce and was employed by Buffalo Public Schools as a Supervisor of Student Support Services. She is currently employed by Anne Arundel County Public Schools as an Assistant Principal at Bates Middle School in Annapolis, Maryland.
Rev. Patterson accepted the call into the ministry in 2006. On Sunday, September 17, 2006 in front of a full church and a great cloud of witnesses, at St. John CME Church, Washington, DC under the administration of her Father in Ministry, Rev. Dr. Wardell Bonner she gave her initial sermon. The initial sermon was entitled “Is you is or is you ain’t?” (Revelations 3:14-22). She was licensed in 2006 and admitted on trial in 2007 at The New York-Washington Region Annual Conference (7th Episcopal District) of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. In 2009, Rev. Patterson was ordained a Traveling Deacon held in Wilmington, Delaware. In 2011 at the New York – Washington Region Annual Conference held in Rochester, New York, she was ordained a Traveling Elder by then Senior Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr (deceased).
Keré is a 3rd generation CME whose home church is Calvary CME in Buffalo, NY. Her ministry started to take form when she joined St. John CME in SE Washington, DC in April 2003 where she taught youth bible study, was a member of the outreach committee, Board of Evangelism, Praise Team, Choir and youth ministry lead. In March, 2008 she became part of the ministerial staff at St. Paul CME Church in Chester, Pa where she served as the Assistant to the Pastor, Director of the Board of Christian Education, taught Bible Study and all other duties as assigned by Rev. Aaron B. Donnelly. Rev. Patterson drove 1 ½ hours at least 2 days a week to meet the needs of the congregation. Rev. Patterson was hand selected to assist as Assistant to the Pastor of New Beginnings CME Church in Baltimore, Maryland with Rev. Chester A. Kirkendoll, IV, Pastor in 2010. She was instrumental in cultivating a culture of praise and worship, prayer, giving and community outreach. In 2012, Rev. Patterson moved to South Georgia and assisted Rev. Cedrick L. Boyd, Sr. who pastored various churches within the South Georgia Region (2011-2014) under the leadership of Bishop Kenneth W. Carter. In 2015, she moved back to Buffalo, NY and rejoined her home congregation, Calvary CME Church and served under Rev. Larry Moore and Rev. Brandon K. Baum, Pastor at Calvary CME, Buffalo, NY. In September 2020, Bishop James B. Walker appointed Rev. Patterson, Pastor at Lane Memorial CME Church, Washington DC. In August 2022 she was reassigned to Pastor Lane Memorial for the 3rd year and appointed as the First Woman to Chair the New York – Washington Region Joint Board of Finance.
Meet Our Dedicated Staff
Rev. Chivas Moore (Traveling Elder)
Brother Daniel J. McGhee, Sr. (Licentiate)
Sister Sortura McGhee (Licentiate)
Rev. Chivas Moore
Brother Daniel J. McGhee, Sr.
Sister Sortura McGhee
A Historical Sketch of the
Lane Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Originally called the East Washington Mission, the congregation grew extensively. The church developed a need for guidance and direction as well as a desire to become a part of an organized body. Thus, our church became a part of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church (C.M.E.). In honor of the Right Rev. Isaac Lane, fifth Bishop of the C.M.E. Church, our church was named Lane Chapel. In 1954, in response to the growing attention to desegregation, the denomination’s name was changed to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
The original brick building was replaced with a frame structure. In 1899, under the pastorate of Rev. J.R. White, the frame structure was torn down and the present sanctuary was built. In 1924, under the pastorate of the late Rev. P.L. Moore, the back addition of the church, which housed the offices, choir room, the basement office and classroom, was constructed. In 1945, under the pastorate of the late Rev. C.E. Kelley, the long-standing mortgage was liquidated, and the church was renovated. In 1951, under the leadership of the late Rev. W.C. Doty the parsonage at 1615 East Capital Street, SE was purchased. During the pastorate of the late Rev. Giles R. Wright (1954-1959), two lots adjacent to the church were purchased. In 1977, under the pastorate of the late Rev. Allen W. Singh, our present fellowship hall was erected on those two lots. Under the pastorate of Rev. Marshall J. Jenifer, further renovations were made which included a unique stained set of stained windows which adorn the church. The windows tell the story of our denomination and proclaim the message of Christ. In 1993, we installed central air conditioning in the sanctuary and the office building, as well as renovated the offices and the parsonage. Under the leadership of Rev. H. Shirley Clanton, the outstanding mortgage was again retired and extensive refurbishing of church property, primarily in the sanctuary, has taken place.
Forty pastors have served this congregation including:
Rev. J.E. Purdy Rev. E.L. Johnson
Rev. J.I. Lear Rev. C.E. Kelley
Rev. Young Rev. W.C. Doty
Rev. F.M. Hamilton Rev. Giles R. Wright
Rev. Joseph S. Smothers Rev. W.H. Iverson
Rev. Luckett Rev. T.F. Byers
Rev. E.P. Moon Rev. Ernest Pettigrew
Rev. J.R. White Rev. D.A. Bell
Rev. B. Johnson Rev. J.G. Brathwaite
Rev. J.B. Washington Rev. Allen W. Singh
Rev. C.L. Knox Rev. Ernest Richards
Rev. Roebuck Rev. William S. Fails
Rev. O.B. Hargreaves Rev. Marshall J. Jenifer
Rev. C. Leftwich Rev. Calvin E. Edgerton
Rev. H. Harris Rev. H. Shirley Clanton
Rev. H. Threlkel Rev. Paul Everette
Rev. P.L. Moore Rev. Keré Y. Patterson-Boyd
Rev. A.W. Womack (who was elected Bishop in1950)
Rev. M.L. Breeding (who was elected Gen. Secretary of the Dept. of Kingdom Expansion in 1954)
Rev. G.T. Long
Over the years, several children of Lane have answered the call to the preaching ministry. Our church family has witnessed the acceptance of this call by five of its sons and three of its daughters: Joseph T. Carter (deceased), Walter Gaskin (deceased). Joseph Collins (deceased), Oliver M. Chase (deceased), Charles H. Roman, Azarine Mayes McClean (deceased), Dr. Paulette M.E. Stevens (deceased), and Marva D. Jones. In addition to these, the Rev. H. Shirley Clanton, Drexel N. Mitchell, and Kenneth K. DuBose have served as Associate Ministers and received appointments to their first charge from our congregation.
At the 2018 Annual Conference, Bishop James B. Walker merged the congregation of the New Hope C.M.E. Church of Washington, DC NW with the Lane congregation and assigned their pastor, Rev. Francis Coates, as Assistant Pastor of Lane Memorial.
Lane has a long history of community service and has touched the lives of many as carry forth the mandate of Christ. As a community -oriented church, Lane has ministered to the needs of its Lane has a long history of community service and has touched the lives as we carry forth the mandates of Christ. As a community-oriented church, Lane has ministered to the needs of its neighbors throughout the years by feeding the homeless, providing a clothes ministry, assisting the bereaved of the community, aiding in job referrals, tutoring, and providing emergency assistance. Our church served as a meeting place for the Community Golden Challengers, a senior citizens group, and the North Lincoln Park Association. We served as a recruiting and training site during Census 2000, as well as a voter registration site for the 2000 and 2008 Presidential Elections. We are currently engaging in outreach ministry with Miner Elementary School, as community veteran’s support resource and other projects.
Lane strives to broaden its scope of ministries in order to meet the needs of a changing world. Some of our ministries are traditional. Others are contemporary. Ultimately, all of our ministries are birthed out of the same desire – to point souls to Christ.
As we look back over our history, we cannot help but thank God for all of the good examples of His servants who have paved the way before us, whose shoulders we now stand on. Those are the saints who finished their course in faith and now rest from their labor. And we thank God for the saints of today who continue to carry the torch of freedom in Christ, those who now work tirelessly for the cause of Christ.
For over 150 years, God has blessed our corner in mighty ways. As we look back, we see the lives that have been touched, the light that has been shared, and the Gospel message that has been conveyed. Our Anniversary is a time of reflection, rejoicing, pondering and praise, for all that God has done for us. As we continue to think on Jesus, we pray that we will grow into the church that God desires us to be, so that we might continue to be a blessing to all around us.