Rev. Willie Bodrick, II, J.D., M. Div.

14th Senior Pastor (2021-Present)

Rev. Willie Bodrick, II, J.D., M. Div. is the talented, enthusiastic, and anointed Senior Pastor of the Historic Twelfth Baptist Church in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, MA. Rev. Bodrick leads with dynamic preaching, insightful teaching, and gospel-driven social engagement in the community and throughout the country. Rev. Bodrick is the church's fourteenth senior pastor, celebrating 185 years (1840) as a congregation and 220 years (1805) since the founding of the First African Baptist Church, also known as the African Meeting House. 

 

Rev. Bodrick successfully led the 185-year-old church through profound challenges created by the pandemic, partnering with Boston Medical Center to establish a vaccination clinic at TBC that vaccinated 2,500 people and leading efforts to feed over 15,000 residents yearly through the continuing services of the church’s food pantry and other special programming. During this season, TBC was able to continue our ministries and services, as well as increase their viewership and engagement to over a thousand weekly viewers from across the country and the world. Rev. Bodrick and TBC also led vaccine education efforts, donated more than $375,000 to community members and organizations. Rev. Bodrick also brought in a $1 million gift from King Boston (now Embrace Boston) – the largest gift ever made to the Twelfth Baptist Church.

 

Rev. Bodrick serves as the President of the SAMH Corporation, overseeing the church’s housing ministry, thrift shop, peace walks, and after-school and summer enrichment programs.

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In 2025, the church completed a major Restoration and Renewal Project, restoring its historic edifice in Roxbury while revitalizing its spiritual, cultural, and social mission. This restoration symbolizes not only the preservation of a building but the renewal of a calling, ensuring that the church remains a beacon for future generations. On October 17, 2025, under the leadership of Pastor Bodrick, the church commemorated the 220th anniversary of the founding of the First African Baptist Church (1805) and the 185th anniversary of Twelfth Baptist Church. Marking its first gala in more than thirty years, the congregation gathered for a historic celebration themed “Built to Last.”

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Prior to becoming Senior Pastor, Rev. Bodrick served on the ministerial staff for nine years, first as Youth and Young Adult Minister, then as Young Adult and College Minister, Assistant Pastor, and ultimately as Associate Pastor. He also served as the Director of the Afterschool Program and Summer Enrichment Program, successfully managing both programs and maintaining student and family engagement. ​

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Rev. Willie Bodrick, II was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and is the eldest son (Brothers: Winston “Skip” Bodrick and Weldon T. Bodrick) of Rev. Willie Bodrick and Anna Bodrick. Pastor Bodrick is a proud product of Atlanta Public Schools Rev. Bodrick holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from Georgetown University, a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from Harvard Divinity School, and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Northeastern University School of Law. In May 2022, Rev. Bodrick received an honorary Doctorate of Community Service from Northeastern University.

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Concurrently, Rev. Bodrick is the President & CEO of The American City Coalition (TACC). He brings extensive executive leadership and a personal and professional commitment to social and economic justice in the Roxbury community. Under his leadership, TACC launched Roxbury Worx. This workforce development model will bring the untapped talent of Roxbury’s hidden workers and middle-skills workers into the talent pipeline in three industries: Bio-Tech/Life Sciences, Healthcare, and Green/Blue Tech. Prior to joining TACC, Rev. Bodrick worked in the Corporate Group at the law firm Brown Rudnick, LLP.

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Actively engaged in the community of Roxbury, the City of Boston, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Rev. Bodrick holds multiple leadership positions including member of the Board of Trustees of Boston Medical Center, YMCA of Greater Boston General Board of Directors, ABCD Board of Directors, Massachusetts Advocates for Children Board of Directors, SRGE Board of Directors, Boston Public Schools Opportunity and Achievement Gap Taskforce, Building Bridges Board of Trustees, United Negro College Fund (UNCF) New England Leadership Council, a member of Harvard Divinity School Society for Promoting Theological Education, and appointed by Governor Maura Healey to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Council for Black Empowerment.

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Rev. Bodrick has received numerous awards and honors including 2025 Golf Fights Cancer Heroes Award, 2025 Greater Boston Morehouse College Alumni Association Legacy of Light Lux, 2025 Roxbury Unity Parade Pillar of the Community Award, 2024 Martin L. King, Jr. International Chapel College of Ministers and Laity Board of Preachers Inductee, 2023 Boston Magazine 150 Most Influential Bostonians, 2023 Get Konnected Boston’s Most Influential Men of Color, 2023 Bloomberg-Harvard City Leadership Initiative Fellow, 2022 Harvard Business School Young American Leaders Program Fellow, 2021 Boston Business Journal (BBJ) 40 Under 40 Award, 2021 Boston Chamber of Commerce and City Awake Ten Outstanding Young Leaders Award, The Boston Foundation 20 Leaders of the 2020s, 2020 Eta Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Citizen of the Year Award, 2020 First District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Citizen of the Year Award, 2019 Fletcher “Flash” Wiley Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association Legacy Award, and the 2019 Citizens for Public Schools Champion for Education Justice Award.

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Rev. Bodrick is a member of the Boston Branch of the NAACP, the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, the Boston Black Golf Association, the Georgetown University Alumni Club of Greater Boston, and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 

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Rev. Bodrick is married to his wife, Dr. Devin Cromartie Bodrick, and they are the proud parents of their son, Willie Bodrick, III.