Our PASTOR
Rev. Edlen Cowley
Senior Pastor
Rev. Edlen Oltrent Cowley (pronounced Ed-lin Awl-trent Cow-lee) has served as an ordained Elder in the Horizon Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church since the year 2000. He was ordained a Deacon in the year 2000 and an Elder in 2003. After earning a degree in Government and Politics from The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) in 1993, Edlen entered Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University (SMU) where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in the fall of 1999.
Edlen has served as an Associate Pastor, Senior Pastor, and District Superintendent in the Horizon Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC). After serving two years at his home church, St. Luke “Community” UMC in East Dallas, he founded the first of two churches he would start from scratch: The East Grand Foundry Church in East Dallas and Connection UMC in Frisco. Over the span of Edlen’s 26 years of service as an Elder, he served 24 of those years in cross-racial, cross-cultural settings, leading Multicultural and Anglo congregations. One of Edlen’s greatest gifts is his ability to talk and connect with all types of people. He has served in the city (St. Luke, East Grand Foundry, and Munger Place Church, East Dallas), the suburbs (St Andrew UMC in Plano and Connection UMC in Frisco), and in the Town and Country setting (Fellowship UMC in Trophy Club).
During his service as District Superintendent, Edlen supervised clergy and lay leadership at all 65 UMC churches in Dallas County. Edlen’s service was distinguished in the role as DS because of his core focus on building relationships and caring for people, individually and collectively. His focus on administrative excellence, his creative problem-solving skills, and his passionate preaching served him well in that role.
On his birthday, October 6th of 2024, Edlen began serving as Acting Pastor of Munger Place Church, a part of his role as District Superintendent. The Bishop of the Horizon Texas Annual Conference, Bishop Ruben Saenz, appointed Edlen as Senior Pastor of Munger Place Church February 1st of 2025. Altogether, Edlen served as DS and Senior Pastor of Munger Place Church for nine months, an extremely uncommon feat. He began his service solely as Senior Pastor of Munger Place Church on July 1, 2025. Edlen will tell you that he absolutely loves Munger Place Church. He is grateful to have played a role in helping Munger successfully transition from being a campus of Highland Park UMC to becoming an autonomous UMC, which happened in December of 2024. Edlen firmly believes Munger’s best days are ahead of it, and he is dedicated to walking with the church into that bright future.
Edlen has been married to Jennifer Monet Cowley, a visual artist, curator, and designer, since 1991 (35 years!). They have three children: Seth, Indigo, and Willow, and are the proud grandparents of Kensley and Konner.
During his service as District Superintendent, Edlen supervised clergy and lay leadership at all 65 UMC churches in Dallas County. Edlen’s service was distinguished in the role as DS because of his core focus on building relationships and caring for people, individually and collectively. His focus on administrative excellence, his creative problem-solving skills, and his passionate preaching served him well in that role.
On his birthday, October 6th of 2024, Edlen began serving as Acting Pastor of Munger Place Church, a part of his role as District Superintendent. The Bishop of the Horizon Texas Annual Conference, Bishop Ruben Saenz, appointed Edlen as Senior Pastor of Munger Place Church February 1st of 2025. Altogether, Edlen served as DS and Senior Pastor of Munger Place Church for nine months, an extremely uncommon feat. He began his service solely as Senior Pastor of Munger Place Church on July 1, 2025. Edlen will tell you that he absolutely loves Munger Place Church. He is grateful to have played a role in helping Munger successfully transition from being a campus of Highland Park UMC to becoming an autonomous UMC, which happened in December of 2024. Edlen firmly believes Munger’s best days are ahead of it, and he is dedicated to walking with the church into that bright future.
Edlen has been married to Jennifer Monet Cowley, a visual artist, curator, and designer, since 1991 (35 years!). They have three children: Seth, Indigo, and Willow, and are the proud grandparents of Kensley and Konner.
OUR STAFF
Gracie Jones
Director of MungerYouth
Alaina Livingston
Executive Director
of Operations and Finance
of Operations and Finance
Louise McCallion
Director of MungerKids
Kelly Riley
Director of Worship
Anthony Stevens
Associate Director of MungerYouth