Dr. Michael L. Bowie, Jr. is the National Executive Director of the United Methodist Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. Since July 1, 2020, Dr. Bowie has utilized more than 20 years of experience as a United Methodist Elder to offer strategic, transformative leadership to clergy and lay that will strengthen black congregations. Dr. Bowie has developed and launched a cutting-edge initiative called “The Black Church Matters” that endeavors to strengthen congregations and ultimately transform communities. He echoes the sentiments of Dr. King, “the local church is still the Hope of the world.”
July 1, 2014, Dr. Michael L. Bowie, Jr. was appointed to St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church in Dallas Texas. He served sixth years as Senior Pastor. Upon Dr. Bowie’s arrival, the church experienced momentum in every facet of ministry. Due to their renewed excitement, members reengaged, reconnected, and recommitted to St. Luke’s vision. Dr. Bowie’s preaching, teaching and leadership increased St. Luke’s attendance by 38%. With the use of technology and the addition of social media, members were more engaged in the ministries of the church.
While in Ohio for 10 years, Dr. Bowie served as teaching pastor of Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City from November 2004 to June 2008, and shared preaching responsibilities with the Lead Pastor to a congregation of more than 5,000 members. He also provided strategic leadership and oversight to the men’s ministry, and to a Bible study that served more than 250 participants weekly. In 2010 Dr. Bowie became the first African American to serve as Lead Pastor of Stonybrook United Methodist Church, in Gahanna, OH a suburb of Columbus.
Dr. Bowie initially served as Senior Pastor of Love United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, where he was responsible for rebuilding and revitalizing a church in a declining community. Under his six-year leadership, Dr. Bowie empowered Love UMC’s membership to grow from 100 to 800 by providing prophetic preaching/teaching, pastoral care, and implementing new outreach ministries. As a result, both the church and surrounding communities experienced healing and transformation.
Dr. Bowie is an author and has co-written his first book Dare to Shift; Challenging Leaders to new way of thinking with Dr. Stephen Handy. Dr. Bowie holds a Doctor 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. He and his wife, Jeannette, have been married for more than 25 years and have two children, Lauren, and Trey and two grandsons, Karter, and Cade.
Rev. Dr. Richard L. Stryker is a United Methodist elder and pastor, life journey coach, author, chaplain, church executive and prophetic voice for social justice. He serves as director of Collaborative Coaching Network of SBC21.
A lifelong learner, Dr. Stryker earned a Bachelor of Theology degree from Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary in 1986, Master of Arts in Religion (1989) and Master of Divinity (1993) from Memphis Theological Seminary. In 2009, he earned the Doctor of Ministry from The School of Theology at the University of the South, Sewanee with focus on creating multi-ethnic churches.
Dr. Stryker currently is a Spiritual Caregiver in Alabama Hospice Care of Birmingham. Prior to his current roles, he served eight years on the North Alabama Conference Cabinet including six years as a District Superintendent, and two years as Executive Director of Ethnic Ministries. He has served various churches in Liberia, Tennessee, and Alabama.
Pastor Stryker is a national of Liberia, West Africa, a child of God, and a product of God’s amazing grace.
Rev Kevin Kosh Jr. or “Rev Kev”, as he is know in many congregations and college campuses, is a 2012 graduate of Rust College and 2014 grad of Gammon Theological Seminary.
In July of 2022 Rev Kosh was Ordained an Elder in Full Connection in the Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Kosh Currently serves as the Director and Strategist for the National Network of Young Adults with Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st century.
Rev Kev wants people to know the power of God’s grace and encourages all God’s children to “Look back and thank God. Look forward and trust God. Look around and serve God. Look within and find God
Rev Kev is a poet, social justice advocate and loves Hip Hop. He is a proud father and husband. His motto is “Do Justice, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly” (Micah 6:8).
Candi C. Cylar is a passionate and authentic servant leader who honed her skills in the private sector as a process engineer with Ford Motor Company and is now transforming systems, organizations, and programs to maximize positive outcomes in the nonprofit and faith-based sector. Candi’s career spans 20+ years of progressive experience since graduating from Tuskegee University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. She is currently the Lead Experience Director for the Candi Cylar Agency based in Atlanta, Georgia where she consults with organizations on the design, delivery, and implementation of strategic visioning and planning. Candi utilizes her Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary to draw upon knowledge and experience that facilitates supporting the unique needs of faith-based organizations. Candi’s positive and lively work style allows her to build effective and collaborative partnerships with clients to provide organizational planning and support for new initiatives, change management, and continuous quality improvement. She is thankful to be walking in her purpose to create experiences that transform organizations and lives.
Carolyn Wilson Dandridge is the Administrator for Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. She is dedicated to the administrative, budgeting, creative and innovative aspect of the United Methodist Church that gives physical life support to the work of making black and all ethnic churches whole and viable. She brings more 43 years of expertise and passion for the least of these, through her Undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB), in Business Management, and did further graduate work at the same university. She is an honorably discharged Veteran of the United States Air Force. While serving in Karamusel Turkey, she represented the 16th Air Force as Airman of the Year. She worked with UAB for 22 years and her greatest accomplishments were: Implementation of Community Policing, Bicycles and Horses instead of vehicles, Domestic Violence Programs, and Drug Awareness for the School Systems.
She moved to Nashville, TN where she worked for the United Methodist Church, at the General Agency, Discipleship Ministries in Communications for 17 years. Carolyn established superior and engaging liaisons with all internal agency ministry areas. She executes successful partnerships with annual and jurisdictional conference leaders/staff to ensure displays, resources, and network channels are available and prevalent to the needs of lay, clergy, and key leadership of the denomination. She received numerous awards from Religion Communicators Council, and United Methodist Association of Communicators during this tenure. She is also a published writer with The Africana Worship Book (Year A, B, and C of Discipleship Resources), The Upper Room, See All the People Meditation Booklets, Gordon UMC Lenten and Advent Booklets, and the AME Zion Laity Booklet.
Prior to relocating to Nashville, TN she was a lifelong member of the AME Zion Church, where she served in many capacities of leadership roles. Presently, she is a member of Gordon Memorial UMC and serves as the Vice President of the Mass Choir, Member of the Executive Worship Team, Communications Co-Team Leader, Past Co-Chair of Stewardship, Hands of Hope (feeding of the unhoused community), Church Council, Finance Committee, and Worship Committee. She is a Trustee with the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conference and a Certified Lay Servant. I am thankful to the Creator for the many paths and partnerships that has allowed me to be a servant to the people of the earthly Kingdom.
She is married to Mr. John Dandridge and collectively they have five children, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Toska Medlock Lee loves God and is the mother of two incredible young adult men and ‘Bella’ to an amazing granddaughter. These important attributes ignite the passion and zeal that fuels her commitment to serving others. Toska is the owner of The Myriad Group & Co. a boutique cause marketing agency with a significant passion and footprint for Faith-based and People Empowerment.
For more than 25 years, Toska’s professional experiences has taken her to newsrooms as a Broadcast Journalists to public relations, marketing and meeting planning services, music, television and entertainment productions, community, social engagement and innovation more.
Toska intentionally uses her expertise and personal life experiences to bring awareness to important issues, including social justice and innovation to empower and inspire people and communities. She has been called upon to drive innovative campaigns in the private sector, government, non-profit and entertainment industries with a focus on media, cause marketing and community outreach.
Her greatest joy is collaborating and inspiring people and teams to be the change that they would like to see.
To be the change you want to see for yourself, congregation or others, contact the SBC21 Office of Social Justice, Mass Incarceration, & Transformation and let’s make an impact together!