Luke Pretorius was born in South Africa, in the City of Durban, the Province of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
He completed his undergraduate degree in Commerce in 1983 at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, whereafter he completed his Diploma in Banking Management and worked for the South African Permanent Building Society (The Perm).
In 1998 he began theological studies as an Ordinand of the Diocese of Natal at the then St. Paul’s Theological College (now the College of the Transfiguration) in Grahamstown, these he completed in 1990.
He later read for and achieved a Masters Degree in Organisational Leadership from Easter University, Pennsylvania, USA.
He was Deaconed in December 1990 and Priested in December 1991.
He served his Curacy in St. James, Greytown, from December of 1990 and was posted to St. Mary’s Richmond cum Byrne in August of 1992 as Rector. He was also at this time made Priest-In-Charge of St. Margarets, Mid Illovo.
In July of 1999 he moved to the Diocese of St. Mark the Evangelist and became Rector of the Parish of Letaba, centred around the Lowveld Town of Tzaneen.
Shortly thereafter he was made Archdeacon of the East, and then after a Diocesan restructuring of all Archdeaconries, the Archdeacon of Mopani.
In June 2011 he became the first Dean of the newly created Christ Church Cathedral in Polokwane.
In October 2019 he was installed as the third Bishop of the DIocese of St. Mark the Evangelist, a position he currently holds.
He married Jenny Deppe, a Nursing Sister, in 1986. Jenny is currently running a Clinic in Polokwane.
They have two daughters, Lisa and Rachel. Both are married, Murray-John Smit and Nic Saker respectively, and they have two grandchildren.
