Congratulations to
Mark Bowman
Former UCRP Minister of Music, Mark Bowman, was awarded as Distinguished Alums at Boston University School of Theology. He and three other people were honored on September 15.
“The 2021 Distinguished Alumni magnificently embody the visionary, transformative leadership needed in this world today,” says G. Sujin Pak, dean of Boston University School of Theology.
Some at UCRP knew Mark before he came to UCRP as Minister of Music. Many at UCRP, who met him at UCRP, learned of Mark’s appreciation of the United Methodist Church [UMC] and world music. While most did not know of Mark’s many accomplishments, UCRP knew of his work as a long-time advocate for LGBTQI+ justice.
After receiving a B.A. degree in social service from Cleveland State University in 1974, he continued his education and earned a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology in 1982.
While in seminary, Mark "came out" and participated in the second Gay and Lesbian Seminarians' Conference at Harvard Divinity School in November, 1979.
He worked with Affirmation: United Methodists for Gay and Lesbian Concerns at the 1980 United Methodist General Conference in Indianapolis. That same year he was ordained as a deacon. His public involvement with Affirmation led to an official church inquiry that resulted in the Conference voting to "discontinue" his probationary membership the following year.
“Many at UCRP who met him at UCRP learned of Mark’s appreciation of the United Methodist Church and world music.”
In 1981, Mark moved to Washington, D.C. and continue working for Affirmation in its leadership. In 1983, he served on Affirmation’s task force in planning a congregational-based organizational project modeled after the Presbyterian’s More Light Program. This plan became known as the Reconciling Congregation Program [RCP] – today known as Reconciling Ministries Network – an organization made of local churches and other UMC ministry bodies that are seeking the inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
He served as volunteer co-coordinator of the RCP and was instrumental in the founding and publishing of the quarterly magazine Manna for the Journey in 1985 [renamed Open Hands in 1986 due to a trademark dispute]. He eventually became executive director of RCP.
In 1992, UCRP hosted the first national Convocation of the RCP.
“Many at UCRP will be familiar with this musical mass since UCRP choir has performed this piece various times. ”
Also in 1992, Mark convened the first gathering of the leaders of the "welcoming church" programs in mainline Protestant denominations. Where he facilitated annual meetings of this body in succeeding years and cooperative ventures that included ecumenical sponsorship of Open Hands magazine and a ground-breaking Bible study curriculum, Claiming the Promise.
During his years living in Washington, D.C. [1980s], Mark used his training in keyboard performance and choral directing and became music director of the newly Lesbian & Gay Chorus of Washington. Much like his choral work at UCRP, this group grew from 12 to 60 singers during his seven years there.
“He brought a wide range of world music to UCRP’s worship service.”
Mark has served as choir director, song leader, and accompanist in a number of congregations - including at UCRP. He trained with the United Methodist Global Praise program and the Iona Community [Scotland] as enlivener of congregational song and has led singing and worship in local, regional, and national gatherings. He brought a wide range of world music to UCRP’s worship services. He served as Minister of Music at UCRP through many pastors starting Rev. Wendy Harding.
For the 10th anniversary of the RCP [1994], Mark oversaw the commissioning of an original musical drama, HOME: The Parable of Beatrice and Neal, that toured 15 Midwestern cities. Many at UCRP will be familiar with this musical mass since UCRP choir has performed this piece various times. This mass is structured around the traditional elements of the communion ritual.
HOME hits close to home within the church. It is about Beatrice, Neal, and Barbara as seminary classmates. Neal, openly gay, left seminary and his active church membership after one semester. Beatrice married a conservative classmate and tries to believe her calling is to be a pastor's wife. Barbara, Beatrice's longtime friend, whose church is a Reconciling Congregation, comes to town and arranges a dinner with Neal and several of his friends, then invites Beatrice as well. Over dinner, the gay and lesbian friends share their experiences of rejection by the church. Beatrice invites them to come to her church early the next morning, and celebrates communion.
“ Many at UCRP may remember the WOW events after Sunday worship with well know composers like Mark Miller and Ruth Duck.”
In 1999, Mark retired from the RCP and became the coordinator of the first ecumenical Witness Our Welcome [WOW] Conference that brought together 1,000 LGBT Christians and allies in August, 2000. He continued as staff coordinator for the second WOW Conference in August 2003 in Philadelphia. Many at UCRP may remember the WOW events after Sunday worship with well know composers like Mark Miller and Ruth Duck. UCRP members got to attend the WOW events for free - as long as they helped with the hosting with refreshments.
Mark's interest in the history of LGBT religious movements led to the founding of the LGBT Religious Archives Network at Chicago Theological Seminary in the spring of 2002. This unique information clearinghouse on LGBTQ history around the world became a program of the Center for LGBTQ & Gender Studies in Religion at the Pacific School of Religion in 2008 and Mark continues as its project coordinator. He currently is part-time minister of music at Grace Lutheran Church in Evanston, Illinois.
We salute Mark for his many accomplishments within the church leading toward social justice for all God’s people especially for the LGBTQI+ community. He has left his mark on UCRP.
Watch Mark’s speak at the Distinguished Alumni by clicking the Boston University box. This link does go to an outside website.