Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas

Senior Pastor

The Reverend Dr. Neil G. Thomas is the Senior Pastor of Cathedral of Hope of Dallas, called and elected by the 4,500-member congregation on April 12, 2015, following a year-long search. He began his tenure on June 3, 2015. In 2015 he has been granted Privilege of Call in the United Church of Christ. Prior to his arrival at Cathedral of Hope, Dr. Thomas served as Senior Pastor of two Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC); MCC Bournemouth, England (1989-2002) and Founders Metropolitan Community Church, Los Angeles (2002-2015), the founding church of Metropolitan Community Churches, an international movement of churches reaching in and beyond the gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, and inter-sex community. A member of Metropolitan Community Churches since 1981, Rev. Neil has served in numerous denominational positions including Chair, Board of Ordained Ministries (European District); Member, Elder’s Task Force on Education; Member, European District Committee; Member, Board of Samaritan College in Europe; Supervising Pastor, and Ecumenical Officer. He has served on the Moderator’s Advising Team and consultant to the Office of Formation and Leadership Development. As a native of Bournemouth, England, Dr. Thomas was born into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His family left the Mormon Church in his early years. Dr. Thomas is a sought-after speaker and contributor to local, national and international conversations around the intersectionality of faith, color, gender, gender-identity and sexual orientation. EDUCATION: St John’s Theological College (Church of England), La Saint Union (Roman Catholic) and King Alfred’s College, and graduated with a BA (M. Div [USA equiv.]). San Francisco Theological College (Presbyterian) Doctor of Ministry (D. Min) October 2009. PUBLISHED: Dr. Thomas is a contributing author of Daring to Speak Love’s Name (Penguin Books, 1993), From Queer to Eternity (Cassell, 1997), The Queer Bible Commentary (SCM Press, 2006). Our Witness: The Unheard Stories of LGT+ Christians (Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd., UK and Cascade Books, USA, 2017). He has also been featured in several journals relating to queer theology and ministry to the LGBTQ community.