Rev. Archie Lee Hatten III is the new pastor of St. Luke AME Church – Waco. He is the elder of seven children born to Archie Lee and Evelyn Ruth Hatten (deceased) of Corsicana, Texas. He received his formative education in the Corsicana ISD. He graduated from Corsicana High School in 1973 and moved to Waco to attend Paul Quinn College. While at Paul Quinn, he met and married his wife of 45 years, Lucia Young. Pastor and Sister Hatten have three children, Christopher DeWayne (Nashema), Archie Lee IV (Amanda) and Bianca Renee (Benjamin) and six grandchildren, Archie V, Ayson, Micah, Alexandria, Aniyah, and Aryah. 

He graduated from Paul Quinn College Waco in 1978, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and later received a Master of Education in Mid Management from Prairie View A&M University in 1988, and a Master of Biblical Studies from Wesley Biblical Seminary in 2021.  In 2011, Pastor and Sister Hatten retired together from Waco ISD.  He retired as principal of J. H. Hines Elementary with 32 years of service and she retired as a 4^th grade teacher from Meadowbrook Elementary with 27 years of service both solely in Waco ISD. They retired in June, and he was appointed to his first pastoral charge at Bethel AME-Hearne, TX in September of that same year. They served in Hearne for four years.  In November of 2015, Pastor Hatten was appointed pastor of Trinity AME-Waco where they served for nine years,  until September 13, 2024, when he was appointed pastor of St. Luke AME-Waco.

Rev. Hatten is known as a bridge-builder and public servant. He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., a Mason, and the Chaplain at Hopeful Lodge # 78 in Marlin, Tx. He is the past president of the Waco-Temple District Lay Organization, the Current Asst. Curriculum Director of the Paul Quinn District Church School, and the Current Chairman of the Northwest Texas Board of Trustees. He has served on the YMCA Board of Directors of Central Texas in Waco and as a Member of the Quinn Campus Development Board of Waco. Pastor Hatten is a loving husband, a proud pastor, caring father and grandfather, a humble servant-leader and family mentor. He is dedicated to improving the lives of those around him while giving all the glory to God.