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John Michael (Mike) Lowry
Endorsed Episcopal Candidate - Southwest Texas Conference
6507 Jade Meadows
San Antonio, Texas 78249
(210) 408-4508 Office
(210) 877-5096 Home
mlowry@umcswtx.org Email
Family Overview:
I am married to Jolynn Darland Lowry, an Instructor of Psychiatric Nursing at The University of Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas. We have two children. Our son Nathan (29) is an engineer with Draper Laboratory and lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Our daughter Sarah Lowry Meek (25) is married to Steven Meek, and is a Housing Counselor with the Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, working with the HIV/AIDS “Home but Not Alone” program. The family is completed by a “pound puppy” named Molly.
Educational Overview:
- Doctor of Ministry Degree (1985) Austin Presbyterian Seminary, Austin, Texas – “Evangelism on Promise”
- Master of Divinity Degree (1976) Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
- Bachelor of Arts Degree (1972) Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, Interdepartmental Major: Political Science/Religion
Ordination:
- Elder (1978) Southwest Texas Conference
- Deacon (1974) Northern Illinois Conference
Pastoral Appointments:
- 2006 – Present – Executive Director (Southwest Texas Conference) – New Church Development and Transformation, member of the Extended Cabinet (4 new churches either chartered or launched, transformation leadership to churches of all sizes and in all situations)
- 2001 – 2006 – Senior Pastor – University United Methodist Church, San Antonio, Texas (5600+ member Church, growth of 1000+, Justice ministry established)
- 1997 – 2001 – Senior Pastor – Bethany United Methodist Church, Austin, Texas (tripled 2nd mile mission giving, grew by 400)
- 1984 – 1997 – Senior Pastor – Asbury United Methodist Church, Corpus Christi, Texas (doubled in size and relocated to a new site, engaged in outreach ministry to those AIDS and the homeless)
- 1980 – 1984 – Senior Pastor – Wesley United Methodist Church, Harlingen, Texas (Rio Grande Valley, engage in outreach to immigrants)
- 1977 – 1980 – Pastor – St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Kerrville, Texas (church close to closing double worship attendance, established youth ministry and Sunday School)
- 1976 – 1977 – Associate Pastor – Plymouth Park United Methodist Church, Irving, Texas (Appointment to attend school, but served full time with staff responsibilities in Evangelism and Christian education – post Seminary graduation)
General Church Leadership:
- 2008 General Conference Delegate – Will serve on the Committee on Faith and Order Legislative Committee
- 2008 Jurisdictional Conference Delegate
- 2006 – Present – The Center for Urban Congregation Renewal Board of Directors
- 2005 – Present – Southwestern University Board of Trustees
- 2004 – Present - United Methodist Publishing House Board Member
- 2004 – Present - Texas Methodist Foundation Board of Directors
- 2004 General Conference Delegate – Served on the Committee on Conferences Legislative Committee
- 2004 Jurisdictional Conference Delegate
- 2002 – Present – Perkins School of Theology Executive Board of Directors, Southern Methodist University
- 2000 – 2005 - Perkins School of Theology Alumni Council, Southern Methodist University
- 2000 Delegate to Jurisdictional Conference
- 1996 Delegate to General Conference – Served on the Church and Society Legislative Committee
- 1996 Delegate to Jurisdictional Conference
Conference Leadership:
- 2006 – Present - Member of the Extended Cabinet of the Southwest Texas Conference as Executive Director of New Church Development and Transformation
- 2006 – Present -Executive Director of New Church Development and Transformation
- 2000 – 2004 – Chair, Board of Ordained Ministry
- 1996 – 2000 – Vice Chair, Board of Ordained Ministry
- 1996 – 2004 - Executive Committee, Board of Ordained Ministry
- 1992 – 2000 – Chair, Committee on Continuing Education
Other Conference Leadership:
- Commission on Religion and Race
- Board of Global Ministry
- Chair, Committee on Church Extension
- Conference Task Force on the District Superintendency
- Chair, Council on Church Revitalization and Extension
- Teacher, Local Pastors’ Licensing School
- Committee member, Covenant Connection Supervised Years of Probation
- Candidacy mentor, Probationary Supervising Pastor, Local Pastor mentor
- Conference Committee on Evangelism
- Conference District Restructuring Task Force
District Leadership:
- Building and Locations – McAllen District, Corpus Christi District (Chair)
- District Council on Ministry – McAllen District, Corpus Christi District
- District Planning and Vision Committee – Corpus Christi District
- District Superintendency Committee – McAllen District, Corpus Christi District
- District Committee on Ministry – Corpus Christi
- Spiritual Director, Corpus Christi Emmaus Community
Additional Areas of Service:
- 2003 – Presenter, South Central Jurisdiction Senior Pastors of Large Church Network
- 1999 – 2001 – Board of Directors, Hill Country Ministries
- 1993 – 1997 – Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Metro Ministries of Corpus Christi
- 1992 – President, Family Counseling Services of Corpus Christi
- 1990 – President, Family Counseling Services of Corpus Christi
- 1983 – President, Harlingen Ministerial Alliance
- 1978 – 1980 – Teacher of Evangelism, Perkins Course of Study School
- 1977 – 1979 - Hilltop Village Retirement Community Board of Directors
- 1972 - Co-Pastor, Rich Square Friends Meeting, Indiana
- Spiritual Director for approximately 24 Emmaus Walks/Chrysalis Flights
- Teacher and leader of workshops on evangelism and church growth both within and beyond the Southwest Texas Conference
- Founding member of the New Hope Association (a clergy group dedicated to bringing innovative ideas of leadership to the Southwest Texas Conference)
Awards and Church Recognition:
- 2004 – Habitat for Humanity Award to University United Methodist Church, San Antonio, Texas
- 2004 – President’s Award from Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, Texas to University United Methodist Church, San Antonio, Texas
- 2003 – Churchmanship Award to University United Methodist Church from San Antonio Community of Churches
- B’nai B’rith Award in Social Ethics, Perkins School of Theology, 1976
- Asbury UMC was given the Moore Award in Evangelism three times during pastorate
- Second Mile mission giving tripled while at Bethany UMC
- Supervised and facilitated a new church start while at Bethany UMC
- University United Methodist Church in San Antonio became a 5-Star church in mission giving for the first time in its history, and for five consecutive years
Writings and Publications:
- 2003 – 2008 - Regular contributor to The Abingdon Preaching Annual
- 2007 - Connectional Table State of the Church contribution, Circuit Rider, September/October
- 2007 - “The McNitzky Solution and the Whitby Dilemma: Why It’s Dangerous to Ignore General Conference” Circuit Rider, September/October (electronic edition)
- 2005 -Generous Living sermon published in Best Stewardship Sermons
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