Overview
Reverend Michael Malcom is an environmental justice advocate, using his faith to educate and advocate for environmental racism and injustice. He is the Founder of The People’s Justice Council, a faith-based group of various faith traditions working to advance justice. He serves on the Board of Directors as a Non-Voting Member. The PJC is based in Birmingham, Alabama. Additionally, Reverend Malcom is the Executive Director of Alabama Interfaith Power and Light and the Environmental Justice Minister for the Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Early Life and Education
Reverend Michael Malcom was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Growing up in East Atlanta, he experienced many environmental harms, from landfills to over-policing. His experiences growing up intertwined justice in his life and work. He attended Beulah Heights University for his Bible/Biblical Studies degree, one of the nation’s oldest and fastest-growing Bible institutions. He completed his bachelor’s in 2008 and began his graduate work at Interdenominational Theological Center. He completed a Master of Divinity in Theology in 2011. In 2016, he earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business. He completed a Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration certificate from Cornell University in 2017 and a Certificate of Convergence Leadership, Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law from the Convergence Leadership Project at the Center for Progressive Renewal in 2018. Reverend Malcom also completed an Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law Certificate from The Wilmette Institute.
Career
Reverend Malcom served in the United States Navy as a Hull Maintenance Technician from 1994 to 2002. In the role, he installed and repaired shipboard structures, carpentry, and sheet metal fabrication, and oversaw personnel. After his service, he served as a Youth Minister at the Central Holiness Church of Deliverance, where he led weekly Bible studies and additional activities for youth. While with the church from 2005 to 2009, he increased Vacation Bible School attendance by approximately 17% yearly.
He previously worked for AnMed Health as a Chaplain Resident in 2011, a 12-month, four-unit program in which he participated in clinical and educational experiences, including didactics, community outreach, and medical service rounds. At AnMed, he developed and led pastoral ministry for hospital staff, visitors, and patients. He also led a mentorship program for extern students, where he helped increase the graduation rate by 45%. In 2009, he founded Fellowship Christian Ministry and served as the organization’s Senior Pastor, planning weekly worship services and overseeing church administration. In 2013, the church merged with Rush Memorial UCC. From 2009 to 2013, while with Fellowship Christian Ministry, he also worked as a Chaplain for the U.S. Air Force Reserve. At the Air Force Reserve, he oversaw a team of 12 staff members. He provided counseling to military personnel returning from deployment on topics relating to loneliness, work, grief, marriage, and mental health, among others. Reverend Malcom also implemented the Sexual Assault Awareness and Stress Management training program, which is still currently used.
Reverend Malcom joined Sustaining Way South Carolina Interfaith Power and Light in 2017 as their Interim Director. His responsibilities included managing day-to-day operations, collaborating with other organizations, and programming. With the collaboration, he testified at the Clean Power Plan hearing in West Virginia and spoke at the People’s Legislative Day with Reverend Leo Woodberry and Kingdom Living Temple. From 2013 to 2020, Reverend Malcom served as a Senior Pastor for Rush Memorial Congregational UCC for almost seven years. He led church operations and spoke on social, economic, and environmental justice issues.
In 2017, he founded another non-profit, Martha’s Corner, and served as its Executive Director. In his role, he oversaw operations and administration. His achievements at Martha’s Corner included raising $10,000 in seed funding, mobilizing 6,000 volunteers to reach over 30,000 people, and forming a collaboration with other faith leaders representing eight organizations and approximately 75 congregations.
In 2018, Reverend Malcom founded The People’s Justice Council (2018), which brings together people across faith to advocate for justice using a faith perspective. With the organization, he has co-chaired Building Power from Grassroots Action for the U.S. Climate Action Network, Building Power from the Grassroots Action Team International, and the Global Climate Strikes Faith Working Group. He also recruited staff, volunteers, and people for the Board of Directors and Advisory Board. Moreover, he helped relaunch Alabama Interfaith Power and Light, where he works as their Executive Director. He leads the organization’s mission to use faith-based perspectives to engage and empower people to respond to climate change. Reverence Malcom’s expertise has also led him to serve as an Environmental Justice Representative for the United Church of Christ’s Southeast Conference, a role he has held since 2017. He is responsible for educating 56 ministers in the conference about environmental justice and creation.
In 2020, Reverend Malcom left Martha’s Corner to become the International Liaison for the U.S. Climate Action Network. In his role, he worked with government leaders to advance policies that advanced climate justice through community efforts.
Reverend Malcom continues to give back to his community through volunteering at organizations including Harbor Grace Hospice, Junior Achievement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Subcommittee, the Democratic National Committee Council on the Environment and Climate Crisis, and the Climate Action Network.
Reverend Malcom sees founding the People’s Justice Council as a career highlight. He built it from an idea to an impactful grassroots environmental and climate justice organization. The organization has regranted $90k to communities to continue justice-oriented work. Reverend Malcom cites this as his greatest highlight.