Rev. Leon F. Parker, III is the Lead Pastor of St. Luke Christian Methodist Episcopal Church located in the Music City, Nashville, Tennessee. ​Rev. Parker experienced God at an early age while being led to attend services at Carter Temple CME Church in Chicago, IL in the 3rd grade. This congregation became a second family, where he matured and cultivated his calling under the leadership of his father in ministry, Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr. and nurtured by then pastor, Bishop Sylvester Williams Sr.

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​Rev. Leon Parker is a graduate of Miles College, Birmingham, AL. During his matriculation he was recognized as an influential citizen of Birmingham, AL, being highlighted in Who’s Who in Black Birmingham and Black Alabama: The Inaugural Edition. While attending Miles, he served as Student Intern to the President’s Office and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Research and Fundraising where he gained his grant writing and fundraising skills under the mentorship of Dr. George T. French, Jr., 14th President.  ​In the Summers of 2010-2012, Rev. Parker partnered with community leaders, uniting the Mizpah Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Stars, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, One Church One School and a team of Miles College scholars to implement and sponsor a Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools Program; a summer and after school enrichment that helps children fall in love with reading, increase self-esteem, and generate more positive attitudes toward learning for children and youth.

  

Rev. Parker is a proud graduate of the only Seminary of the CME Church: Phillips School of Theology at the ITC in Atlanta, Georgia (May 2015) where he also served as the 2014-2015 Student Christian League President.  He is an ordained Elder in Full Connection in the CME Church and has served exceptionally in Alabama, Georgia and presently Tennessee.​  ​In the fall of 2016, Rev. Parker was appointed by board members to serve as the Vice-Chairman of the St. Luke Housing Ministry and the St. Luke Geriatrics Center non-profit agencies which provides affordable housing for senior citizens sixty-two years of age and over. He was also appointed to serve as a secretary of One Church One School: A Community Partnership Program.  Rev. Parker is currently a candidate in the Doctoral of Education Program at Bradley University in Peoria, IL.

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Rev. Parker is married to Rev. Nathalie Nelson Parker who currently serves as the National Program Coordinator for The National Network of Young Adults under Strengthening the Black Church for the Twenty-First Century (SBC21), an agency of United Methodist Church.  They are the proud parents of Leon F. Parker, IV. Leon & Nathalie are the founders of Parker Ministries for the commitment and purpose of sharing the love of God with the world through sound preaching, teaching, community-based initiatives, and consulting. Their calling is to speak, teach, resource faith-based organizations and develop programming, which empowers others and positively impacts the world. To learn more about Parker Ministries visit www.parkerministries.com.