Michael Keys was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1976 he earned a bachelor's degree in history at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Wash, a master of theology degree in 1984 from Mount Angel Seminary, a Roman Catholic seminary in Mount Angel, Oregon, and a master of divinity degree in 1990 from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, California.

Keys was ordained in 1990 in the ELCA. He was associate pastor and later senior pastor from 1990 to 2001 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Gresham, Oregon. In 2001 he became senior pastor at Central Lutheran Church, Anchorage, Alaska.

In 2006, Mike was elected bishop of the Alaska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.