I’m Rev. Dr. Michael Bowie (he/him) and I’m the pastor of St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church located in east Dallas, TX. As Senior Pastor, my job is to be prophetic and to cast a vision and then have the boldness and courage to implement the vision. Our vision at St. Luke is to be “prophetic voices that will transform lives by becoming a Christ-centered, Justice-driven, Kingdom-minded community pursuing excellence in all we do.” 

After the Special General Conference which targeted the LGBTQ community for harm and discrimination, I knew it was time for me to take a stand against this injustice. As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King said in his Letters From The Birmingham Jail, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” The Traditional Plan is legislated discrimination so that’s why I am part of the team of people involved in #ResistHarm. I hope you will go on the Resist Harm website and look at the resources here. You will find many wonderful tools for resisting injustice in all forms.  Personally, I want to especially ask you to pray. Pray breakthrough prayers! I believe that the same God that in Acts 12 released Peter from his chains, is going to release the United Methodist Church from these chains of oppression and discrimination.

Before St Luke, I’ve in several positions including Senior Pastor of Love United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, and as Teaching Pastor of Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church. I hold a Doctorate of Ministry from United Theological Seminary specializing in church administration and congregational development, a Master of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology, graduating Cum Laude and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas Southern University. I also serve as SCJ Chair of Black Methodists for Church Renewal and I am on the Convening Team for UMCNext.