Rev. Brian William

I grew up in Corvallis, Oregon, where I was nurtured and confirmed in the First United Methodist Church. I was an active member of the United Methodist Youth, with several occasions to preach during the annual youth-led worship service. I studied Environmental Engineering at Washington State University, and was part of the WSU Common Ministry and Simpson UMC. In addition to leading as a peer minister and representing the campus ministry at the United Methodist Student Forum, the choir at Simpson was even willing to learn the (rather mediocre) songs I wrote and sing them during worship. Following graduation in 1998, I worked for a year as a chemistry laboratory technician at the Pacific Northwest National Labs before beginning seminary at Garrett-Evangelical in Evanston, Illinois.

In the fall of 1998, I attended Exploration ’98 (which Pastor Harnish was instrumental in organizing!), a national gathering of United Methodist young adults who are interested in considering the ordained ministry. While there, something (I’m sure it was God’s providence!) led Monica Moore to sit at my table for dinner. We remained connected over the following year, and married the following fall.

I received my Masters of Divinity degree in 2002, and requested a two-year appointment while Monica completed her seminary degree. At the end of the two years, I was having such fun serving in Burlington, Illinois, I knew God had more work to complete during my ministry there. During the past seven years, we experienced significant spiritual and numeric growth, even while the surrounding population remained steady. The church has a solid core of young families, strong leadership in the areas of small groups, children's ministry, and youth ministry, and worships God in a variety of styles. In short, it has been a spiritually healthy congregation that has been willing to lead where God has led us.

Now, as Monica and I begin this new stage in ministry at First UMC of Birmingham, we are eager to live out the words Paul used to begin his letter to the Philippians: “I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Phil. 1:5) We look forward to partnering with the leadership and membership of the church to share the joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ with Birmingham, the surrounding community and region, and out into the world.