Dr. Tyler’s Bio

The Reverend Mark Kelly Tyler, Ph.D., is a native of Oakland, CA. Following a rough and dangerous period following graduation from Bishop O’Dowd High School, he eventually found the right path before it was too late and began preaching the liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ in 1987. He is an ordained itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. He is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University (B.A., Religion), Payne Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity), and the University of Dayton (Ph.D., Educational Leadership). Since 1994, Dr. Tyler has been in full-time ministry in the AME Church. As an itinerant pastor in the AME Church, he served congregations in Missouri, California, Ohio, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. For 16 years, Dr. Tyler had the esteemed honor of serving as the 52nd pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia, the congregation founded by Bishop Richard Allen.

At the 52nd Session of the General Conference in Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Tyler was elected to serve as the 15th Historiographer of the AME Church. In this role, he also serves as the Executive Director of Research and Scholarship for the denomination on five continents and thirty-nine nations. The Historiographer serves as the authoritative source for AME history, directs the AME Church Research Program, maintains the repository of AME Church artifacts and documents, and directs production of the scholarly magazine the AME Church Review. Dr. Tyler also consults with clergy and members about preservation projects related to preserving the AME story.

Dr. Tyler is a documentary film maker. He has worked on and produced several projects, including Bishop Richard Allen: Apostle of Freedom (The Documentary); The Anvil: Echoes from the General Conference; The Anvil: The Spirit of African Methodism; and, The Anvil: Preaching on the Frontline. He has been consulted as an on-air expert on numerous other documentaries, including Dr. Henry Louis “Skip” Gates’ PBS documentary, The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross; multiple episodes of Sam Katz’ Philadelphia: The Great Experiment. His upcoming documentary will focus on the historic Mother Bethel AME Church.

Dr. Tyler has also been active in the world of theological education, currently serving as a Fully Affiliated Faculty Member at the Methodist Theological Seminary in Ohio. He has been a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Payne Theological Seminary, Northeastern Seminary, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Missio Seminary, and United Lutheran Seminary. Additionally, Dr. Tyler is the past Director of Church Relations and Alumni Affairs at Payne Seminary and the past Director of Church Vocations at New Brunswick Seminary. He has served on numerous boards and committees for various seminaries.

Dr. Tyler has also served his community in additional ways. He currently leads an effort to increase voter turnout in the Black community through Black Faith Votes, uniting Black Christian and Muslim clergy in mobilizing their congregations. He is the Co-Director of the Philadelphia extension of Live Free USA, a national social justice movement aimed at reducing gun violence, mass incarceration, and bringing about greater police accountability. His work with Live Free helped to change the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to bring about the historic Citizen’s Police Oversight Commission (CPOC). He was appointed by the Philadelphia City Council to serve on the Inaugural Selection Panel which nominated the first Commissioners to serve on CPOC. In 2024, he was elected as a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in Chicago, IL.

Dr. Tyler is a former radio personality having hosted several past shows, including “Wake Up With WURD”, “Mark and Denise in the Mornings”, “Urban Insight”, and “The Power Hour”. He currently curates a YouTube channel, “Black History on Twos” where he documents forgotten Black History sites on his motorcycles. He is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He and his wife, Leslie, live in the greater Philadelphia area.