The End of an Era: Hugely Influential Local Church Leader is Retiring

We don’t talk about religion on this blog too much; politics are generally contentious enough. But when religion intersects with community and personal influence, it is worth talking about. And one of the most important and influential church leaders provides the right moment to give kudos and honor to a special career.

Dr. Warren H. Stewart Sr. recently announced that after 47 years at the helm of the First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix, he will be stepping down as Senior Pastor and entering the next chapter of his life: retirement.

Dr. Stewart has been a shining example of lifelong learning, earning two Master’s degrees and a Doctorate in various theological fields, as well as an honorary Doctorate. He has also been a prolific writer, having had five books published throughout his career. But while he is intellect in a field not always known for it, it has been his impact on Arizona society that has turned him into a near household name.

Perhaps the most shameful part of Arizona’s past was its dogged resistance to accepting Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday, a stance that cost it the chance to host a Super Bowl, a stance that alienated it from much of the rest of the country. Dr. Stewart served as the Chairperson for the group that pushed for the legislative passage of MLK Jr. Day as a state holiday, and then organized the coalition that led to a successful statewide vote which codified it and helped reverse that stain.

His church had long been a must-stop for Phoenix politicians to stop in, his support a gold standard for South Phoenix’s African-American community. Dr. Stewart tried his own hand at politics in 2013, running for City Council in District 8; he ran into the buzzsaw that was Kate Gallego and as such finished a strong second place. That said, his affable nature and his disdain for negative campaigning meant that he did not alienate others and maintained a prominent role in the community; he never sold his soul for the brass ring, and his flock recognized that and appreciated it.

His contributions did not go unnoticed by the political class; the intersection near his church, 12th Street and Jefferson, was renamed as “Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr. Way”, as a way of honoring his contributions to Phoenix and the entire state. It was an honor bestowed onto him by none other than Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego.

Dr. Stewart has absolutely earned a restful retirement, but for the sake of South Phoenix and the rest of the state, it is our hope that he remains present in the community and continues carrying a mantle of leadership and fellowship, albeit with fewer obligations. We are all better off as a result of his leadership.