Director of Doctor of Ministry Studies

Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology

Ph.D. Graduate Theological Foundation (Theological Studies)

D. Min. United Theological Seminary (Preaching)

M.Div. Princeton Theological Seminary (Pastoral Care)

B.A. Morgan State University (Philosophy and Mathematics)

Background

Dr. Michael O. Thomas is a Samuel DeWitt Proctor Fellow and native of Baltimore. While at Princeton Theological Seminary completing his M.Div., he prepared his masters thesis under the direction of Dr. Donald Capps. He has more than 30 years of pastoral experience receiving his initial instructions under Bishop John R. Bryant.  Dr. Thomas has taught philosophy and religion at Morgan State University, Bowie State University, Coppin State University and Prince George’s Community College in Maryland.  In addition, he has served as Instructor/Mentor in the Doctor of Ministry program at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He has published articles in philosophy, and theology. 

Prior to his call to ministry, he served as a System Analyst for General Electric/NASA at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. He is a veteran pastor and teacher with more than 30 years experience in ordained ministry serving as pastor or associate pastor of seven local churches in Maryland and Massachusetts.  Dr. Thomas comes to Northern after serving as a member of the Johns Hopkins Hospital Medical Ethics Consultation Board and as the Dean of the Baltimore Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, preparing women and men for the ordained Christian ministry.

He believes that each local church should be the center of community life. To this end, he served congregations providing them with major outreach ministries such as community redevelopment, Christian education, Youth mentoring programs, adult day care, child day care, social assistance, job training, GED programs, and food cooperatives.

While serving churches in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, he accepted an appointment by former County Executive and later Governor of Maryland, Parris Glendening, as a Prince George’s County Commissioner for Families.

Dr. Michael Thomas is married to Debyii and they have four young adult children.

Forthcoming Publication:

The Stem Cell Debate: Ethical Ideologies of the Religious and Medical Communities (under contract with The Victoria Press, South Bend, IN) Fall 2008