Grace Bowen (2019-2020)

grace bowenRev. Grace E. Bowen was born on August 2, 1950. Originally from Cambridge, Massachusetts, she received her Bachelor of Science for Northeastern University in Boston, a Masters of Education from Antioch College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a Masters of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. She was licensed to preach the gospel by the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and ordained by the National Baptist Convention March 28, 1987.

Rev. Grace, as she was affectionately tagged, served in the Detroit Presbytery as an associate pastor at Calvin Presbyterian Church, interim associate pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church, pastor of the Gratiot Avenue Presbyterian Church, and as a member of the presbytery’s program staff.

She was received as a minister member of the Presbytery of New York City on January 1, 1990, with a call as the associate executive presbyter for Educational Ministries. Following this service, she became co-pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Staten Island, served as part-time pastor at Mt. Morris-Ascension Presbyterian Church. Rev. Grace also moderated sessions or served as liaison for the presbytery's Committee on Ministry with at least 15 congregations in this presbytery and preached at many more.

Rev. Grace deemed it a privilege and a particular calling to be able to combine her two life-long passions - education and ministry - into vocational goals in Detroit and New York City over the past 40 years. From the very beginning, her touchstone verses from scripture were Proverbs 3:5-6 as her faith journey carried her coast-to-coast through a myriad of experiences.

The year 2020 marked her 30th anniversary as a minister and member of the Presbytery of New York City and her 40th year overall in ministry.

Her family and true village remains in the Boston area, consisting primarily of two sisters, two nieces, two great-nieces and a host of cousins serving in vital ministries and pastorates across many interfaith and denominational lines. Her family gatherings are often energetically and theologically charged.

Rev. Grace was excited to be called interim pastor of FPCN in 2019. She looked forward to this season of transition which the Lord has so ordained and said that she could not wait to see what God had in store for this wonderfully blessed communion. Unfortunately, she passed away suddenly on April 20, 2020, one week after celebrating an online Easter worship service.

Some of the biographical information here was provided by the Presbytery of New York City.