Bishop Steven Sawyer

Bishop Steven R. Sawyer is a pioneering Pentecostal leader, global health equity strategist, and influential figure within LGBTQ religious movements whose work bridges faith, public health, and community transformation. A third-generation preacher, he was raised in the Missionary Baptist tradition, where his early formation was shaped by the Black church’s legacy of preaching, social justice, and community-centered ministry. This foundation continues to inform his theological voice and his commitment to liberation, dignity, and inclusive faith.

He began his formal ministerial preparation at Logos School of Ministry, where he completed a twelve-month training program and was licensed and ordained to public ministry in 1999. He later pursued theological education at the School of Theology at Multnomah University, studying in a Master of Divinity Program with a concentration in Global Development and Justice in 2020. His academic background also includes a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Organizational Development.

Bishop Sawyer is a founding member of the United Progressive Pentecostal Church Fellowship and served on its original General Board, working alongside fellow founding leaders including Presiding Bishop O. C. Allen III, Bishop Ra’Shawn Flournoy, and Pastor Candace Hartman. Together, they helped establish what has become the world’s largest and only affirming Pentecostal denomination. He was consecrated as a Bishop in 2018 and elevated to Second Assistant Presiding Bishop in 2024. His theological leadership has helped shape UPPC’s identity as a Spirit-filled, justice-centered, and affirming denomination, particularly through advancing a framework of inclusion and liberation often expressed in his work as “radiant grace.”

In Seattle, Washington, Bishop Sawyer founded Living Water International Church in 2007. an affirming Pentecostal congregation that has served as a spiritual home for LGBTQ individuals and allies seeking reconciliation between faith and identity. His pastoral ministry has focused on healing from religious trauma, restoring spiritual dignity, and cultivating inclusive worship spaces grounded in Pentecostal tradition.

Parallel to his ecclesial leadership, Bishop Sawyer has made significant contributions to the HIV/AIDS movement and public health. He went on to serve for a decade as Executive Director of POCAAN, where he led a major organizational transformation. Under his leadership, POCAAN evolved from a small, struggling agency into a comprehensive, multi-million-dollar health equity organization delivering HIV prevention, PrEP navigation, behavioral health services, housing support, and clinical care to underserved communities. His work has been particularly impactful in addressing disparities affecting Black communities and Black LGBTQ individuals.

Bishop Sawyer’s leadership extends into civic and policy arenas. He is a founding member of the Washington State LGBTQ Commission, contributing to statewide efforts to advance equity, representation, and policy reform. His broader affiliations have included leadership and membership roles with organizations such as the NAACP, the African American Executive Leadership Council, the Center for Black Equity, and national LGBTQ leadership cohorts.

He is also the Founder and CEO of Pacific Northwest Black Pride, a regional platform that has grown into a significant space for Black LGBTQIA+ cultural expression, health engagement, and leadership development.

Internationally, Bishop Sawyer has engaged in ministry in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he has worked to build relationships with affirming clergy and support the development of LGBTQ-inclusive faith communities. His ministry in Johannesburg reflects a broader vision of connecting diasporic Black LGBTQ experiences and fostering transnational networks of spiritual and social transformation.

Throughout his career, Bishop Sawyer has received recognition for his leadership, including the Outstanding New Leader Award from United Progressive Pentecostal Church Fellowship in 2012 and his consecration to the College of Affirming Bishops in 2018.

Bishop Sawyer’s life and ministry represent a significant contribution to the evolving history of LGBTQ religious movements, particularly within Pentecostal traditions. His leadership embodies a synthesis of spiritual conviction, institutional transformation, and community-based advocacy that continues to shape both church and society.

(This biographical statement submitted by Bishop Steven Sawyer.)

Biography Date: April 2026

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