was ordained a Baptist preacher by his childhood pastor, Rev. Lipscomb at his home church in Inman, Zion Hill Baptist. In early March 1941, at the age of 31, he was unanimously elected the third pastor of the Capital View Baptist Church in Northeast, Washington, D.C., after the church's second pastor had accepted a chaplaincy in the army. Within five years of his appointment, Fowler disbursed all of the church's debts, spearheaded the construction of a new $330,000 edifice, and led the church to contribute annually to denominational schools and affiliate with numerous local organizations, including the National Urban League, the Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home Association, the DC chapter of the Tuberculosis Association, the local branch of the NAACP, and the Mayor's Emergency Committee on Health. While initially elected to serve as pastor for one year, Fowler served Capital View for a total of 62 years until his death in 2003. Washington Baptist Theological Seminary While pastor of Capital View, Fowler developed a relationship with Rev. Dr. William H. Jernagin, then President of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention, founder of the Washington Baptist Theological Seminary, chair of the National Fraternal Council of Negro Churches (NFCNC), and a nationally recognized figure in religion and civil rights. After delivering a message at the Seminary's chapel service, Fowler became an instructor at the school in 1947 teaching English and literature. In May 1970, he was elected interim president of the school. As interim presidents he helped acquire the personal libraries of well-known African American Baptists and raise endowment funds. In 1976, Fowler was formally named president of the seminary. By 2002, under Fowler's leadership, the Seminary had in its endowment well over a million dollars. Divinity Degree In 1960 Fowler was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree by the Lynchburg Seminary and College (now Virginia University of Lynchburg) for his outstanding work as a denomination leader, teacher, builder, civic leader, missionary, and pastor. Politics Civil Rights Leader Upon the deaths of Dr. William H. Jernagin, and later Drs. J.L.S. Holloman and Earl L. Harrison, Andrew Fowler became the principal leader in organizing the clergy and laity in the District of Columbia. He committed himself to a number of social causes, particularly civil rights. He spent six years as Commissioner of D.C. General Hospital. As a member of the board of the National Fraternal Council of Negro Churches, director of its Washington