Meet Our Senior Pastor

Reverend Dr. Lewis E. Logan II is the Senior Pastor at the historic Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles which is under the leadership of the Bishop John R. Bryant, the Presiding Prelate of the 5th Episcopal District. Dr. Logan’s credentials include: a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College; a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology; a Master of Theology from Emory University; and a Doctorate of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminar in Decatur, Georgia. While attending Candler, he served as president of the Black Caucus and was instrumental in establishing a Black Church Studies Program.

Dr. Logan, who accepted his call into ministry at the age of 15, preached his trial sermon on May 29, 1981. He was ordained an Itinerant Deacon in May 1983 and an Itinerant Elder in May of 1985. Dr. Logan has pastored the following congregations: The Norwood Circuit in Norwood, G.A., from 1985 to 1988; the Social Circuit in Social Circle G.A., from 1988 to 1989; Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church in Athens G.A., from 1989 to 1993; Turner Chapel A.M.E. in Atlanta G.A., from 1993 to 1997; St. Philip Monumental A.M.E. Church in Savannah G.A., from 1997 to 2001; and Emmanuel A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles, C.A., from 2001 to 2004. Since November 2004, he continues as the Senior Pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles, California.

As a Pastor and a Community Organizer for more than twenty five years, he has coordinated national events and facilitated Visioning Sessions, Annual Conferences, District Meetings, Leadership Retreats, Re-organizational Strategic Planning Sessions and Plenary Sessions. On September 2, 2005 he was sworn in as a Commissioner for the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners for the City of Los Angeles. He was elected as the Vice President for the Los Angeles Board of Neighborhood Commissioners and in December 2006 he was elected as President of the historic Los Angeles Council of Churches. Dr. Logan hosts an anti-gang intervention effort at Bethel A.M.E. Church called CeaseFire, an organization that brokers truces between neighborhood sets, or "gangs." He fights for the human rights for immigrants and construction jobs for African American workers.

Since 2003, he has been a clergy organizer with the "Stand For Security" Campaign through C.L.U.E. (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice) and SEIU/SOULA 2006 (Service Employees International Union/Security Officers Union of Los Angeles). This historic campaign, the largest movement of African American workers since A. Philip Randolph organized the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, reached an unprecedented victory on Saturday January 19, 2008. This resulting contract was the best in the country winning 40% increase in wages and benefits over the next five years. Currently, Dr. Logan is working with the hotel workers rising, airport workers, construction workers, and Fresh and Easy grocery workers campaigns in efforts to gain economic justice and benefits for African American workers in particular and all workers in general in these related industries.

Dr. Logan has received national recognition of achievement as an "Outstanding Young Man of America" and was featured in "Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities." In 2005, Dr. Logan received the Frontline Soldier Award presented by "A Gathering of Men - Pathways to Your Future." In 2006, Dr. Logan was inducted into Morehouse College of Preachers standing beside more than 50 great and influential alumni. He received the Spirit of Excellence Community Activism award, presented by Jessie Jackson’s Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, and was presented a Certificate of Recognition as a Neighborhood Commissioner by the Black Business Association. In 2007, Dr. Logan was the recipient of the Thomas Kilgore Jr. Prophetic Witness Award; he was inducted into the B.A.P.A.C. Political and Religious Hall of Fame; he received the M.L.K. Labor Tribute Award presented by the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor; was honored by Rainbow/PUSH and Citizen Education Fund with the 1000 Churches Award; and was awarded the L.A. Union’s Martin Luther King Jr. Watchman Award. In 2008, Dr. Logan was recognized by Church Women United, Inc. and given the Human Rights Award.

His ministerial travels have been both international and national: Quebec, Vancouver, B.C., Ontario, Brussels, East Germany, West Germany, Singapore, Taipei, Chennai, India, Bermuda, and throughout each of the fifty United States.

Dr. Logan is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and the eldest son of Mr. Lewis Logan and Rev. Florence Logan. Dr. Logan is married to the love of his life Sudonna Gail Moss-Logan and is the father of two boys, Lewis III and Asa Bomani Diop; and one girl Jillique Marché.