Personal Endorsements
These folks have offered their personal recommendations, endorsements, and letters of support for Curtis. If you would like to add your own personal endorsement, just use the "Get In Touch" button below.
Rev. Dr. James A. FielderIt is with extreme honor and dignity that I write this letter of endorsement for Reverend Dr. Curtis Brown. I have known Dr. Brown for the past four years. Working with Dr. Brown has allowed me to witness his kindness, character, and leadership ability in person, and I have watched Dr. Brown grow into the strong leader he is today.
Over the past three years, I have worked closely with Dr. Brown on issues important to me as an African American United Methodist. These issues are critical to me as an elder who has served in cross-cultural/cross-racial appointments in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference during my tenure as a pastor. These past few years have been arduous in our conference and our country regarding racial issues. I have been vocal about the African American populous of the IGRC. Considering that, I have been adamant about restarting our Black Methodist for Church Renewal Caucus and issues concerning cross-cultural appointments for people of color. Dr. Brown’s leadership has been integral in those matters. As director of Connectional Ministries, he and his department supported the relaunch of the BMCR and helped us establish ourselves as a viable committee within the IGRC. We now have two annual events, “Seven Last Words of Christ” and the annual prayer breakfast during the annual conference, that have become events that the entire conference looks forward to. Regarding cross-racial/cultural appointments under Dr. Brown’s leadership, we have, as a conference, established several committees regarding the concerns of cross-cultural appointments and the churches receiving pastors of color and women. These committees are both tactical and strategic. We realize that the issues regarding people of color will not be resolved overnight. However, we meet periodically to discuss current problems and future endeavors. One of the events that we planned and executed was the “Better Together” conference. The principle of this event is that we, the people called Methodists in the IGRC, are better together because of our differences in race, creed, and culture. This event was attended in person and via social media by the entire IGRC. I believe this is now an expected annual event as well. I am confident that Dr. Brown is the perfect candidate for Bishop. His drive for success, change, and determination to step up in a time of need define Dr. Brown. Reverend Dr. James A. Fielder MRE, MDIV, DMIN Kaleidoscope Institute Associate Pastor, Teacher, Facilitator, Life Coach Rev. Ryan RussellCurtis has been a blessing to work with over the years on the NCJ Mission Council. He brings not only knowledge about the church but also joy and fun to our work. His friendship inside and outside of the church work has been a blessing; it is one that shows his deep caring nature for his friends and the church. I am so thankful that he is humbly seeking the episcopacy in our church.
Rev. Ryan Russell Iowa Conference North Central Jurisdiction Mission Council Chair Rev. Dr. Jennie Edwards BertrandIntentional inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in the life of the church is the minimum we need from our episcopal leadership. While I have deeply valued Curtis's active support for the inclusive congregation I lead, the reason I passionately endorse Curtis Brown for Bishop is because of the creative and strategic ways he approaches leadership and the future of the church. And as a Gen Xer, he'll be in active ministry for that future!
I see someone with the heart of a church planter (passion for those who are outside the church and/or far from God's love) AND the knowledge of needed church systems for all congregations. I appreciate that Curtis not only has experience in administrative oversight of conference ministries, but he's an active volunteer as a local church youth leader and is deeply supportive of a community ministry for women recovering from addiction and abuse. In other words, he is not in an institutional silo. He gets how difficult ministry is, he understands the impact of the pandemic, and he sees the potential for a creative future, with the skills to create it. Rev. Jennie Edwards Bertrand Pastor, Hope UMC Clergy Delegate, Illinois Great Rivers Conference Rev. Dr. Bener AgtarapI’m honored to endorse Curtis as an episcopal candidate. We have worked together for many years in equipping conference leaders for their efforts to start new and vital churches throughout the United Methodist Church. He brings gifts of vision and strategy, but he can also move teams to deliver and execute their plans. Curtis values the gifts and skills of diverse people, and as a Filipino and an immigrant myself, I have always found Curtis to be an excellent colleague and friend. Curtis will be an outstanding episcopal leader to lead our denomination toward building a strong UMC in the United States and globally.
Rev. Dr. Bener Baysa Agtarap Executive Director, Community Engagement & Church Planting/Path 1 Director, Connectional Mobilization Discipleship Ministries |
Jason MooreWith a powerful mix of clear vision and great wisdom, Curtis Brown is one of the most gifted connectional leaders I’ve known and worked with in my twenty-five plus years of ministry in The United Methodist Church. Curtis brings a strong theological backing to everything he does, but his work extends beyond the the theoretical. He exemplifies the essential combo of knowing the why, the what and the how. He’s the kind of leader that other leaders naturally want to follow. Curtis’ ability to bring nuanced conversation to the challenging situations facing the church, while possessing a deep understanding of all of its complexities, makes him the perfect person to lead the church into the next season of ministry.
I proudly endorse Rev. Dr. Curtis Brown as a candidate for the episcopacy of the North Central Jurisdiction. Jason Moore Midnight Oil Productions & author of Amazon bestselling book BOTH/AND Maximizing Hybrid Worship Experiences for In-Person and Online Engagement Paul BlackAt this critical time in the life of The United Methodist Church, we need leadership that is collaborative and visionary. For these reasons, I heartily endorse the Rev. Dr. Curtis Brown for the Episcopacy. I have worked with Curtis for the past four years and have seen both visionary leadership that can set a course; a strategic approach that turns theory into practice and a collaborative spirit grounded by a deep faith that invites others on the journey. His unique life experiences enables Curtis to wear a variety of hats based upon the need — whether innovator, dreamer, bridge builder or consensus builder — Curtis has a track record that would be a missional fit for the North Central Jurisdiction.
Paul Black Director of Communication First Elected Lay Delegate, Illinois Great Rivers Conference Rev. Carol Lakota EastinI’ve worked closely with Curtis Brown In IGRC in our work as a cabinet. His leadership through the pandemic was stellar, supporting our local churches and districts as we navigated through new territory. Committed to Inclusivity and Diversity, Visionary, Intelligent, Vigilant, Dedicated, Approachable, Available, Adaptable, and Faithful all describe Curtis’ Spiritual Leadership.
Rev. Carol Lakota Eastin Illinois Great Rivers Conference Elder, Missionary, Church Planter, District Superintendent Rev. Mike CrawfordI have served with Curtis as colleague, covenant group member, and supervisor. I have learned from and been inspired by his leadership. His passion to reach new people, diverse people, and younger people and his strategic, systems-oriented thinking would serve him well as an episcopal leader for the church leaning into the future.
Rev. Mike Crawford Coordinator of Congregational Development, District Superintendent, Jurisdictional Delegate, Illinois Great Rivers Conference Kim WoodsCurtis Brown is a strong & confident leader. He is knowledgeable, passionate, & genuine. I have served with Curtis on several committees & have been blessed to have his guidance on numerous occasions.
Kim Woods Discipleship Director, Wesley UMC of Macomb; interim Director of WIU Wesley Foundation Lay Delegate, Illinois Great Rivers Conference Certified Candidate for ordained ministry, Deacon track Rev. Eric SwansonI have experienced Curtis as an innovator who cares deeply about the future of the church. From my very earliest conversations with him, I have been challenged to look at the future of my own ministry, and the ministry of our denomination in new and life-giving ways. While he has pushed me to look at ministry in new ways, he has also pushed me to elevate those who have historically been left out.
I believe that Curtis will give his passion, faith, energy and resolve to see the future of the United Methodist Church as a space where the redirecting power of Jesus is made real on local and global levels. Pastor Eric Swanson Grace United Methodists Church, Pekin IL Clergy Delegate, Illinois Great Rivers Conference |