WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Mark Tyler is an ordained itinerant elder in the Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, documentary film maker, organizer and activist for social justice, loving husband, and devoted father; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Tyler was born to Bill and Elroy Tyler in Oakland, California. In 1987, Reverend Tyler accepted God’s call to preach the liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ. Since his call to ministry, he has served full time as the 52nd pastor of Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Philadelphia, a position he has held for sixteen years; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his ministry career, Reverend Tyler has been a radio host on WURD Radio station where he hosted several programs, including “The POWER Hour,” “Wake up with WURD,” “Urban Insights,” and “Mark and Denise in the Mornings;” and
WHEREAS, Reverend Tyler is a documentary filmmaker. He has worked on and produced several projects, including Bishop Richard Allen: Apostle of Freedom (The Documentary); The Anvil: Echoes from the General Conference; The Anvil: The Spirit of African Methodism; and, The Anvil: Preaching on the Frontline. He has been consulted as an on-air expert on numerous other documentaries, including Dr. Henry Louis “Skip” Gates’ PBS documentary, The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross; multiple episodes of Sam Katz’s Philadelphia: the Great Experiment; The Scroll: Evidence of the Life Unseen, Volume 2, and others; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Tyler has received numerous degrees throughout his ministry career, including a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion from Clark Alanta University, a Masters of Divinity from the Payne Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Dayton; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Tyler’s ministry includes his work as a leader organizing for social justice. Mother Bethel is one of the founding congregations of POWER (Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower, and Rebuild), a part of Faith in Action, is the region’s largest faith based organizing effort. Reverend Tyler has served as one of the directors of the LIVE FREE campaign which centers on criminal justice reform, ending mass incarceration, and police accountability; and
WHEREAS, In August 2024, Reverend Tyler was elected to the position of Executive Director of the Department of Research and Scholarship and Historiographer of the Global AME Church which sits on 5 continents and more than 40 countries. In his new position as General Officer, Reverend Tyler will play a critical role in preserving and documenting the church’s rich history through archival management, research and documentation, publication and education, and will also serve as an advisor in church leadership helping to inform decisions and strategies through a historical lens; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors and celebrates the exemplary career of the Reverend Dr. Mark K. Tyler.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Dr. Mark K. Tyler as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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