Robert William Lowry (pastor)

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Robert William Lowry is an American pastor, speaker, and LGBTQIA+ activist ordained in the Presbyterian Church USA. Lowry serves as senior pastor of Westover Hills Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, Arkansas.[1][2]

Early life and family[edit]

Lowry was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. The oldest of two children born to Catherine (née Ostner), a college professor, and Robert Cunningham Lowry, an attorney. Through his father, Lowry is directly descended from Dr. Matthew Cunningham, the first mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas.[3] He was educated in the Little Rock Public schools and attended Little Rock Central High School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Millsaps College as well as the Master of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, the Master of Theological Studies from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, the Master of Arts in Political Theology from Union Presbyterian Seminary, and the Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary.[1] In 2020 Lowry married attorney Brian Smith in a private service in Jackson.[citation needed]

Advocacy and public activism[edit]

Lowry is a gay Presbyterian pastor in Arkansas. He and colleagues led a group of clergy in opposition to Arkansas's HB 1228 the so-called “religious freedom” bill [4] as well as joining colleagues in opposing an earlier “bathroom bill” aimed at transgender persons.[5] The resulting public outcry along with opposition from Wal-Mart and other corporate leaders in the state led to the bill's abandonment at the end of the legislative term.[6][failed verification] In 2015 in recognition of his work for LGBTQIA+ equality, the Arkansas Times named Lowry one of 25 Visionary Arkansans shaping the state.[7]

His leadership of an open and affirming congregation in Jackson, Mississippi and his work in the larger community to promote safe places for LGBTQIA+ people led to a feature episode in the PBS docuseries Prideland.[8] Despite threats to the network and Lowry personally, the series premiered as scheduled and became one of the most successful digital features on the network.[9][10]

Lowry is an occasional contributor to both local and National media on topics including the role of religion in public life, LGBTQIA+ rights, politics, and gun violence prevention.[11][12][13] Lowry is also an advocate for immigrant rights and a critic of PC(USA) policy toward states like Texas and Florida which he says “ring hollow” in the face of humanitarian violations like those allegedly committed by these states.[14]

Following the adoption of a resolution at the 225th General assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) referring to Israel as “in apartheid state,“ Lowry took a public stand against the church’s action. Congregation B’nai Israel, Reform Jewish congregation, invited Lowry to speak on the topic at a Friday evening Shabbat service.[15]

Pastorates[edit]

Lowry has served in a number of positions in the Presbyterian Church (USA) as both an installed (permanent) and interim/transitional (temporary) pastor including:

  • First Presbyterian Church Shreveport, LA Associate Pastor 2001-2002
  • First Presbyterian Church Ann Arbor, MI Associate Pastor 2002-2005
  • First Presbyterian Church Searcy, AR Transitional Pastor 2007-2010
  • First Presbyterian Church Batesville, AR Transitional Pastor 2010-2011
  • First Presbyterian Church Clarksville, AR Transitional Pastor 2011-2016
  • Harmony Presbyterian Church Clarksville, AR Transitional Pastor 2011-2016
  • Fondren Presbyterian Church Jackson, MS Senior Pastor 2017-2022
  • Westover Hills Presbyterian Church Little Rock, AR Senior Pastor 2022–Present [16]

Lowry has also taught as an adjunct professor at Hendrix College and the University of the Ozarks. From 2015-2017 he also served as the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Arkansas.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "The Reverend Dr. Robert Lowry – Westover Hills Presbyterian Church". Retrieved 2022-08-03.[unreliable source?]
  2. ^ Morris, Clay B. (2020-06-18). "Proud to be Gay and Leading a Loving Congregation". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  3. ^ "Obituary for Robert "Bob" Cunningham Lowry, Sarasota, FL". www.arkansasonline.com. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  4. ^ Millar, Lindsey (2015-03-30). "Presbyterian ministers speak out against anti-gay HB 1228". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  5. ^ "Clergy Letter and Press Release" (PDF). Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  6. ^ "Bill Information". www.arkleg.state.ar.us. Archived from the original on 2022-07-07. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  7. ^ Peacock, Leslie Newell (2015-08-27). "Visionary Arkansans 2015". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  8. ^ Prideland | An Openly Gay Pastor's Journey to Acceptance in the South | Episode 2 | PBS, retrieved 2022-08-04
  9. ^ "Hate Group Demands PBS Cancel LGBT Pride Month Series: 'An Unjust Attack On Christianity' - Towleroad Gay News". 2020-05-15. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  10. ^ "PBS Celebrates Pride Month with PRIDELAND, a Short-Form Digital Series and New One-Hour Special with Host and Actor Dyllón Burnside, Exploring LGBTQ+ Identity in the U.S. South". About PBS - Main. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  11. ^ Lowry, Rev Jill Barnes Buckley and Rev Dr Robert William. "Partisanship threatens Mississippi hospitality". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  12. ^ Ganucheau, Adam (2021-01-01). "'We will take it from here': Homily in memory of former Gov. William Winter". Mississippi Today. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  13. ^ "Celebrating Pride Month with Rob Lowry". Faith And Reason. 2021-06-21. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  14. ^ Lowry, Robert (2024-02-08). "PC(USA) Response to Texas Migrant Tactics Falls Short". Presbyterian Outlook. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  15. ^ "The Chronicle Congregation B'Nai Israel" (PDF). September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  16. ^ "OGA Directories".
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