Floyd H. Flake (born January 30, 1945 in Los Angeles) is an American politician (Democrat) and former member of the House of Representatives, as well as the senior pastor of the 13,000 member Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church in Jamaica, Queens, New York. Flake grew up in Houston, Texas as one of thirteen children of Robert Flake, Sr. and Rosie Lee Johnson-Flake. During his childhood, he was influenced by his parents' Christian moral beliefs. After high school, he obtained his BA from Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio, thus becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college. He then served as a social worker and then worked for Xerox as a marketing analyst. He was then asked to direct the Martin Luther King, Jr. Afro-American Center in Boston University, which he did. In 1976, he was asked to head the Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church (now The Greater Allen Cathedral of New York). Under Flake's leadership, the church grew from having about 1,400 members to over 13,000 parishioners.
In 1986, he was elected to the 100th United States Congress from the 6th New York Congressional District. He remained in the House of Representatives until 1997. In Congress, he was known for his bipartisanship, and has previously endorsed George Pataki for Governor and Rudolph Giuliani for Mayor of New York City.
Flake is married to Margaret Elaine McCollins and has four children. He is also a fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research.
Presently, Flake serves as President of Wilberforce University.
Preceded by: Alton R. Waldon, Jr. U.S. Representative, New York 6th District 1987-1997 Succeeded by: Gregory W. Meeks
