A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he is the son of the late Deacon Steve Butler and his Mother, Carolyn Butler, who resides in Baltimore, Maryland. Rev. Butler moved to Maryland at an early age. He was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System and received his high school education at Harford Technical High School, from which he graduated.

Rev. Butler received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophical Theology from Coppin State University in 1996. Graduating Cum Laude, Rev. Butler was also an inductee to the Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society.

After completing his studies at Coppin, Rev. Butler matriculated to Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.  In May of 2001, he received his Masters of Divinity. He was also awarded The Fellowship Seminarian Award, established by The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts, given to graduating seminary students who display outstanding leadership in music and worship arts.

In 2019, Dr. Butler completed his Doctor of Ministry Degree as a Martin Luther King Beloved Community Scholar. In addition, he formulated “A Model for Congregational Unity to Develop Disciples” at the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

In 1976, Dr. Butler joined the Maryland Army National Guard. His military career spanned 41 years. He is known as Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel William Butler in the military community. He served as Chaplain for the 1100^th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group (TASM-G) in Edgewood, Maryland. His other areas of military service includes: 2004-05, served a 13-month tour as Battalion Chaplain in Al Asad, Iraq, with the 1297^th Corps Support Battalion. During this tour, Rev. Butler ministered to over 800 men and women serving in the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines.

He returned from his second tour of duty in September 2012. During this tour of duty, He served as Brigade Chaplain for the 29^th Combat Aviation Brigade for 13 months in Iraq and Kuwait. Part of his responsibilities was the supervision of six Battalion chaplains. Along with Dr. Butler, they provided Pastoral Care, Counseling, and Spiritual Fitness for 4,000 men and women in uniform serving in five countries.

Rev. Dr. Butler answered his call to ministry in 1980, serving as Pastor of Queens Chapel United Methodist Church in Beltsville, MD.

Rev. Butler holds active membership in the following: Faith-Based Advisory Board under the County Executive for Prince Georges County, Maryland; the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Maryland; the Multicultural Prayer Movement under the Bilingual Christian Fellowship in Baltimore, Maryland, and serves on the District Committee of Ordained Ministry (DCOM) for The Washington East District of The Baltimore Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Dr. Butler is happily married to Lady Sonja Butler, the love of his life. They work closely in ministry and are the proud parents of four children and grandparents to 17. Rev. Dr. Butler is a loving, dedicated family man; his family is his greatest blessing.

Because of God’s goodness; and Dr. Butler’s obedience to God’s calling on his life, He has accomplished great things in his military, academic, and ministry. However, there is nothing more critical to Rev. Dr. Butler than his relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Rev. Butler’s favorite Scripture and life philosophy are in Proverbs 3:5-6.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

To God be the Glory for the Great things He Has Done.