Dr. Michael L. Bowie

On July 1, 2014, Dr. Michael L. Bowie, Jr. was appointed to St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church in Dallas Texas. He is currently serving his sixth year as Senior Pastor. St. Luke’s vision is…St. Luke is called to be guided by the Holy Spirit. We are prophetic voices that will transform lives by becoming a Christ-centered, Justice-driven, Kingdomminded community pursuing excellence in all we do. Since Dr. Bowie’s arrival, the church has experienced momentum in every facet of ministry. Due to their renewed excitement, members are reengaging, reconnecting and recommitting to St. Luke’s vision.

In the first few months, Dr. Bowie’s preaching, teaching and casting visions increased St. Luke’s attendance by 38%. With the use of technology and the addition of social media, members are more engaged in the ministries of the church.

Dr. Bowie cast a vision that inspired the leadership to identify, equip and develop new leaders to serve in various roles within the church. The Zan Wesley Holmes Servant Leader Institute deployed more than 90 leaders who are now prepared, and 35% are serving. St. Luke remains committed to providing ministries that impact the lives of children, youth, adults, and families in our church and in the community.

Outreach/Mission is another primary focus. Every fifth Sunday, more than 200 St. Luke members deploy to the streets of Dallas, meeting the homeless community’s needs. They serve as the hands and feet of Jesus locally. And globally, Dr. Bowie has led two mission trips to Cuba and one to Puerto Rico with more than 75 members participating.

Dr. Bowie brings a prophetic anointing to see and cast a vision, the creativity to dream and believe God for the vision’s possibilities, and the boldness and courage to implement the vision.

Dr. Bowie previously 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 80 by providing pastoral care, prophetic teaching, and counseling, and creating and implementing new programs. As a result, both the church and surrounding communities experienced life transformation and healing.

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.

Dr. Bowie was instrumental in founding and leading the “Loving Dayton Initiative,” an urban outreach ministry in Dayton, OH, that ignited a community and revitalized a dying, inner-city church. Through his visionary leadership, this initiative built a partnership and alliance between the local schools, the community, the families, and the local church, resulting in an increase of attendance from 40 to more than 400 at a local church.

Dr. Bowie became the first African American to serve as lead pastor of Stonybrook United Methodist Church, in Gahanna, OH. He and his wife, Jeannette, have been married for more than 20 years and have two children, Lauren and Trey and one grandson, Karter. Dr. Bowie holds 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.