Meet Our Pastor
Reverend Kenneth J. Flowers
Educational Achievements
- Received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from Morehouse College, Atlanta Georgia, 1983
- Received a Caribbean Summer Scholarship to study human suffering and human rights in Haiti, 1982
- Received a $10,000 Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to study Christianity in West Africa for 7 ½ months, 1983-1984
- Received his Master of Divinity Degree in Pastoral Ministry from Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, New York, 1987
The Reverend Kenneth James Flowers was born on March 17, 1961 in Detroit, Michigan. He accepted Christ at the age of 8 and was baptized at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Detroit by the late Reverend Dr. William R. Haney in May 1969. Reverend Flowers accepted his Call to the Ministry at the age of 16 and preached his first sermon on April 12, 1978 (just after becoming 17 years of age). He was licensed to preach on May 3, 1978 and was ordained on August 17, 1983. God has truly blessed Pastor Flowers.
In August 1987
Relocated to Los Angeles, California where he became the Director of the Ecumenical Black Campus Ministry at UCLA and associate Minister for Evangelism and Pastoral Care at Wilshire United Methodist Church. On March 10, 1989, the Reverend Flowers was called to pastor Messiah Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Several new ministries were started, as well as a covenant relationship with Temple Israel of Hollywood.
Relocated to Los Angeles, California where he became the Director of the Ecumenical Black Campus Ministry at UCLA and associate Minister for Evangelism and Pastoral Care at Wilshire United Methodist Church. On March 10, 1989, the Reverend Flowers was called to pastor Messiah Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Several new ministries were started, as well as a covenant relationship with Temple Israel of Hollywood.
As a community/social activist for human rights issues, Nationally and Internationally
- First African American ever to speak at the World Trade Center in Johannesburg, South Africa, September 25, 1993, where he addressed 1,000 religious/community leaders.
- Keynote Speaker for the 1994 Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Breakfast, Los Angeles, California
- Traveled to Israel on (6) occasions to build better relations between Jews and Blacks
- Traveled to Seoul, Korea to build better relations between blacks and Koreans
- Preached in the Bahamas, Africa, Israel, and throughout the United States of America
- Maintained a closed relationship with Coretta Scott King until her death
- Continues to maintain a close relationship with Rev. Jesse Jackson and Congresswoman Maxine Waters
January 21, 1995
Called to Pastor Greater New Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in his hometown, Detroit, Michigan and was installed in July 1995.
Under his leadership:
- The Mt. Moriah Community Development Corporation (a non-profit 501c.3) was started under his leadership and is working to empower and renovate the community
- Made history for Greater New Mt. Moriah on October 27, 1995 when he preached at Temple Beth El in West Bloomfield, MI. Temple, the oldest synagogue in Michigan
- Formed a partnership with First Baptist Church of Dearborn
- First Pastor ever at Greater New Mt. Moriah to license and ordain females to the preaching ministry and to ordain females as Deacons
- May 2007 – Under the leadership of Reverend Flowers, Greater New Mt. Moriah celebrated the Grand Opening of its newly build Banquet/Conference Center
- April 2008 – Children’s Church re-instituted
Pastor Flower Says
“When we learn to love everybody, then we learn to live a blessed life.”
Other Accomplishments
- Chair of the Ecumenical Committee of the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit & Vicinity and has served on the Political/Social Action Committee.
In January 1998 Reverend Flowers was featured in the Detroit Free Press in a Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He reflected on Dr. King, his legacy and our future as a people. - Keynote Speaker for the World Sabbath Service of Religious Reconciliation, in which he addressed Christians, Jews, Muslim, Hindus, B’Hais, and others, and gave the Christian Response after the September 11th Terrorist Attack in an Interfaith setting.
- On April 12, 2003, the Reverend Flowers celebrated 25 years of Preaching the Gospel. The Gala, which was featured in Jet Magazine, was attended by Mrs. Coretta Scott King, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, the Reverend Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, and Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick. Noted TV/Radio Personality Tavis Smiley gave a video tribute to his friend.
- Presented a paper at The Oxford Round Table at Exeter College in the University of Oxford, Oxford, England, August 15-20, 2004. His paper was entitled, “How the Black Church Has Impacted American Society to Bring About Social Justice Vis-à-vis the Modern Civil Rights Movement.”
- Elected First Vice President of the Michigan Progressive Baptist Convention-July 2006
- Spoke at the Abraham Joshua Heschel School and at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in January 2007 in honor of the Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration.
- Traveled with a Jewish delegation to Morocco, Africa to look at how Judaism has survived in an Arab/Muslim Country, June 24, 2007 to July 2, 2007.
- Served on the National Committee as Coordinator for Religious Affairs for the 98th Annual Session of the NAACP, held in Detroit in 2007.
- From January 8, 2008 to January 16, 2008, Reverend Flowers participated in the African American Leaders Mission to Israel, (sponsored by American Israel Public Affairs Committee, funded by American Israel Education Foundation). While in Israel, Reverend Flowers was honored to be the first American Recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Israel Award, presented to him, on January 15, 2008, (the actual birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.), by Fellowship of Israel and Black America (FIBA), at the home and in the presence of the President of Israel, His Excellency, Shimon Peres.
- In January of 2009 Pastor Flowers received the Global World Peace Award at the Tenth Annual World Sabbath of Religious Reconciliation Service in Bloomfield, Hills, Michigan. In February of 2009, Pastor Flowers attended the Global Baptist Peace Conference in Rome, Italy where he taught a workshop on the Six Steps In Kingian Non-Violence.
- On May, 3, 2009, in Washington, DC., Pastor Flowers spoke before some 7-8000 Jews and other supporters of Israel, as one of the Keynote Speakers for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Annual Policy Conference.
- On October 4, 2009 Pastor Flowers received the Interfaith Partnership Award from the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan at their 23rd Annual Unity Banquet.
- On November 4, 2009, Pastor Flowers spoke at 3 different events in Los Angeles, CA for the Jewish Community. On that morning he spoke at the Milken High School, at an Afternoon Private Luncheon he spoke before VIP donors for AIPAC and that evening he spoke before members of AIPAC (America Israel Public Affairs Committee)
On September 13, 2010, Pastor Flowers was installed as President of the Michigan Progressive Baptist Convention
In November 2010 Pastor Flowers traveled with some 36 clergy and religious leaders to Israel on a Educational mission trip coordinated by AIPAC.