Rev. Michael Brown

Minister Emeritus

After serving our congregation for over 27 years, Rev. Michael W. Brown retired on December 31, 2018. In appreciation of his long and meritorious service, the congregation granted him the honorary title of Minister Emeritus. During his many years of service, Michael-—as he was known around the church-—led the congregation through a period of growth in membership and expansion of our programming. His sermons and Adult Religious Education classes were always popular and thought-provoking. (You can read one of his sermons here. In addition to his valuable everyday contributions, Michael’s wise leadership provided stability as the congregation made and carried out the decision to move to a newly constructed church on Richwoods Boulevard. 

Michael was active not only in the church, but in the larger community. He co-founded the Central Illinois Chapter of the Interfaith Alliance, served on the Central Illinois Workforce Development Board, and helped create the YES (Youth Employment for Summer) job program for Peoria area youth. He received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service Leadership Award, the Faith and Freedom Award from Interfaith Alliance, and the Love in Action Award from Common Place.