Dr. Walter Scott Thomas, Sr. graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1967. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland in Economics. He received his Masters of Divinity degree from the Howard University School of Religion in Washington, D.C. and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Saint Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to his earned degrees, Bishop Thomas was bestowed with an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Virginia Seminary and Bethune Cookman College.

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Dr. Walter Scott Thomas, Sr. has served as the Pastor of the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore since 1975. Under his leadership, the church body has grown from 200 to more than 7,000 active members. On October 16, 2010, a vision was fulfilled as the New Psalmist family moved into their new edifice, a 4,000 seat state of the art facility designed to minister to the needs of individuals in the 21st century.  

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Dr. Thomas is known as a Pastor’s Pastor. He truly has a Pastor’s heart and makes himself available as a mentor and source of strength for other Pastors. On January 31, 2005, 28 sons and daughters of New Psalmist, who Pastor churches across the nation gathered and voted unanimously to elect Dr. Thomas to the Office of Bishop and President of the Kingdom Association of Covenant Pastors.

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Bishop Thomas has also served as the past president of the Hampton University Minister’s Conference from 1999 to 2002.  He is the author of two books and the editor of Outstanding Black Sermons Volume 4.

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As the pastor of one of the largest churches in Maryland, Bishop Thomas has demonstrated his commitment to continuous service to the community, with a specific focus on the field of education.  In addition to various local, national, and international mission ministries, under his leadership, the New Psalmist Baptist Church has initiated several projects in support of the Baltimore City Schools.  Those projects include providing books and school supplies, funding educational field trips, creation of various mentor programs. 

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In his sermons, Bishop Thomas often mentions his High School Alma Mater, the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, and the creation of this scholarship will create a lasting relationship with the institution that set him on the pathway of success as a leader in our community and the nation.