Rev. Dr. Michael Diaz

Executive Pastor of Discipleship and Strategy

About  Reverend Michael

Rev. Dr. Michael Diaz is a Texas faith leader, passionate about recognizing the sacred value and inherent dignity of every individual, especially the most marginalized in society. Although ordained in Metropolitan Community Churches since 2008, he initially shied away from congregational ministry, viewing the church as an ineffective agent for societal change. After working with immigrant communities in graduate school, he began to experience just how empowering faith traditions can be on a personal and societal level. Journeying with immigrants, refugees, and queer communities awakened him to a deeper spirituality, evidenced by divine love and radical inclusion.

Rev. Diaz has served congregations in Massachusetts, Florida, and Texas, most recently serving as the Director of Connections at Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church in Houston. At Resurrection MCC, he led the planning and implementation of visitor integration and engagement strategies for a dynamic community, specifically in first impressions, volunteer development, congregational care/counseling, and leadership development areas.

Previously, he served as the Director of Religious Education and Volunteer Ministries at the Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale, FL, a Metropolitan Community Church affiliated with the Center for Progressive Christianity. At the Cathedral from 2007-2010, he uncovered a newfound love for connecting congregants to volunteer service opportunities and oversaw the transition of the Cathedral’s religious education arm from Light University to The Samaritan Institute at Sunshine Cathedral.

Rev. Diaz also worked as a labor and interfaith community organizer in Boston, MA, guest lectured at local universities on sexual ethics and queer Latin@ theologies, co-coordinated and spoke at the International New Thought Alliance’s 95th World Congress, presented at the 2011 Victory Fund Gay And Lesbian Leadership Conference and the 2014 NGLTF Creating Change Conference. He also participated in the 2010 Walk for Tolerance, the first ever public-wide HIV/AIDS March in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Rev. Diaz was honored to be named the 2016 Jennifer Justice and Carlos Chavez Young Adult Award recipient in UFMCC. He is a two-time recipient of the Faith Leader of the Year FACE Award in Houston, and holds an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from The Samaritan Institute at Sunshine Cathedral. In Boston, he garnered awards recognizing his excellence in biblical exegesis and for his commitment to peace and justice work.

Rev. Diaz holds a bachelor’s degree from Oral Roberts University and a master’s degree from Episcopal Divinity School (EDS). He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from EDS in 2012, focusing his research on developing biblical reading strategies for queer Latin@s. He most recently earned an MBA from Hult International Business School in Boston where he learned how to incorporate sustainable solutions for maximum social impact.

Currently, Rev. Diaz serves on the Board of Directors for AIDS Foundation Houston and as an advisor for the Organización Latina De Trans en Texas, the first trans Latinx rights group in the state. In November 2016, Rev. Diaz joined the leadership team of the Cathedral of Hope, a Dallas congregation of the United Church of Christ, as Associate Pastor.

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