About Michael
Leading with Ethics, Listening Across Faiths, Serving with Distinction
The Rev. Dr. Michael Woolf (he/him) holds a Doctor of Theology (ThD) degree from Harvard Divinity School. As an ordained American Baptist Churches USA and Alliance of Baptists pastor, he serves as the Senior Minister at Lake Street Church of Evanston in Evanston, IL, a progressive congregation with a commitment to social justice and interfaith dialogue. He also serves as Co-Associate Regional Minister for White and Multicultural Churches with the American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago region. Before that, he served rural and suburban churches in Massachusetts.
Michael rose to national prominence for his leadership in the campaign to shut down the ICE detention facility in Broadview, Illinois, including a widely circulated photograph and documentary about his arrest during a protest there. He continues to be a leading voice in faith-based resistance to authoritarianism and is a sought-after speaker, trainer, and preacher on immigration justice, reparations, and Islamophobia.
Michael's ministry has won numerous awards, including the Edwin T. Dahlberg Peace and Justice Award, the highest honor bestowed by the American Baptist Churches USA and American Baptist Home Mission Societies. First awarded to Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1964, the award honors outstanding work for peace and justice. In 2025, he was named the Distinguished Fellow in Ethical Leadership by the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics. In 2026, he received The Peter J. Gomes, STB ’68, Alumni Honors from Harvard Divinity School for "embodying a theology that speaks boldly, listens deeply, and calls us toward justice rooted in sacred traditions."
Michael's first book, Sanctuary and Subjectivity: Thinking Theologically About Whiteness in Sanctuary Movements, is part of T&T Clark's Studies in Social Ethics, Ethnography and Theologies series. His second book, Confronting Islamophobia in the Church: Liturgical Tools for Justice, is available from Judson Press in January 2026.
His writing has appeared in The Christian Century, Sojourners and The Christian Citizen, and he contributes to Journeys, a lectionary commentary and adult Bible study published by Judson Press, and his activism for immigration justice and sanctuary has been featured on CNN, MSNOW, and The Wall Street Journal.
What I Do
Faith Meets Justice
Sanctuary
Michael is a recognized scholar and activist on the sanctuary movement and has appeared on CNN as a faith-based comentator in support of immigration justice.
Reparations
Michael's work on reparations has been featured in The Christian Century, and he is a sought-after workshop leader for white churches with complicated racial histories.
Islamophobia
Michael co-founded Challenging Islamophobia Together Chicagoland with his spouse, Rev. Dr. Anna Piela, and works to help Christians fight anti-Muslim hate.
Michael in the media
Interviews with me and news articles about what I do
Michael the subject of documentary by freedom watch media
Michael grew up in a fundamentalist Christian church in Alabama. Today, he feels compelled by his faith to speak out against brutal detention policies he believes violate Christian teachings and the Bible. Reverend Woolf was violently beaten and arrested while peacefully protesting outside the Broadview ICE detention facility in Chicago.“What’s going on at Broadview is torture.” He warns that ICE is behaving like a paramilitary force able to act with impunity, reminiscent of 1930s Germany.
Michael Appears on MSnow to discuss his arrest
Rev. Dr. Michael Woolf opens up about his experience being among 21 arrested for protesting outside of the ICE facility in Broadview, IL, near Chicago. He's joined by MS NOW Political Analyst Eddie Glaude Jr. who draws comparisons between President Trump's current immigration enforcement to the past.
Michael appears on MSnow to discuss links between immigration cruelty and islamophobia
Michael Woolf of the Lake Street Church of Evanston, IL, who was arrested for protesting outside of the Broadview ICE detention facility discusses this administration's aggressive tactics against immigrants, even as their official social media channels share holiday messages. He also explains his church's decision to display an anti-ICE nativity scene.
The Rev. Michael Woolf in front of a Nativity scene outside Lake Street Church of Evanston on Dec. 4, 2025. The Nativity scene depicts masked centurions wearing federal immigration agent vests, surrounding baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph. Woolf said someone likely stole the zip ties binding Jesus' hands and the respirator worn by Mary. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
“In our increasingly separated and polarized society, we celebrate the prophetic and courageous witness and leadership of pastors Nabors and Woolf in leading their congregations toward racial justice and reconciliation,” said Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, executive director of ABHMS and CEO of Judson Press.
“In their pursuit of reparations and the restoration of the relationship of their two congregations, pastors Nabors and Woolf exemplify the pursuit of peace and justice that was the hallmark of the life and ministry of Edwin T. Dahlberg,” said the Rev. Dr. Jamie Washam, president of ABHMS’ board of directors.
“I know it’s tough to acknowledge some of this history,” explains Dr. Woolf, in Evanston, “but we can get past the initial sort of anger at being challenged by it; then we have an immense opportunity for white members to have a redemption arc, to be able to talk frankly about race in a way that can be useful.”
Further reporting can be found here and here.
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