-
Title
-
Brown, Robert L. S.
-
extracted text
-
r;qpc;
;9qo
Robert L.S. Brown
AUTOBIOGRAPH Y: I was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 15, 1925 to Samuel and Eva
Brown. I was raised on the south side oi Chicago
along w ith my older brother and sister.
Throughout my childhood and youth I was an
acti ve participant in the life of Englewood
M ethodist Church. I was president of my
Methodist Youth Fellowship, and it was in working with th e Assistant M inister who was at that
time a student at Garrett Biblical Insti tute (now
GETS) that I began having serious thoughts about
entering the ordained ministry. At a summer
youth camp at Lake Geneva, Wiscons in at the
end of my freshman year in high school, I made
my commitment.
From th at point on my schooli ng was directed . ...__ __ ,M
entirely toward the Ordained Ministry. I received the A. B. Degree in Philosophy at
Illinois Wesleyan University, and the B.D. Degree from Garrett. Also w hile in seminary,
I met Ruth Atki ns w ho was studying for the M.A. Degree in Christian Education. We
were married j uly 16, 1949. We have four children: Gerald of Germantown, Maryland;
Barbara Carlisle of jackson, Michigan; Roberta Schmidt of Oconomonowoc, Wisconsin; and Virginia O lsen of Hemmet, California. We have eight grandchildren.
I received my first pastoral appointment as a college student in j une, 1945 to Hudson
Church in the Centra l Illinois Conference. While in seminary, I served as assistant
minister at the LaGrange church in the Rock River Annua l Conference (now Northern
Illinoi s).
I was ordained Deacon in 1949 and Elder in 195 1 by Bisho p j . Ralph McGee in the
Rock River Conference. Since seminary grad uation in 1950, I served the fo llowing
two churches in Chicago: Cen tra l Park Avenue and Commun ity. Then tran sferri ng to
the Detroit Conference in November 1958, 1 have served th e fo llowing churches:
Detroit M etropolitan (Associate); Sault Ste. Marie: Centrai/Algonguin/LSSC W esley Foundation; Saginaw: First; Farmington: Orcha rd. Since 1985, I have served as Superintendent of the Fl int District.
The primary focus and purpose of my entire mini stry has been to make the experience
of the Christian fai th, live, real and releva nt to those to whom 1 have ministered. We
have always had a keen interest and concern for the church 's larger mission in the
world, particularl y in the developing nations. M y w ife, Ruth, has always been a part
of our ministry together and a great source of support and encouragement to me.
Interests have been travel, music, entertaining, enjoying our cabin in the Upper Peninsula, and time w ith our family. We look forward to retirement as a time to find nev'
and different o ortunities fo r ministry and personal growth .
TESTIMON IAL: My, what a ministry Bob Brown, and his w ife, Ruth, have had over
the past 40 yea rs! From his days at Illinois Wesleyan with a student charge at Hudson,
Illinois, Bob has cut a w ide swath of effectiveness for Christ and His Church. Going
to Garrett and servi ng in the Ch icago area, then com ing to Metropolitan in Detroit
and subsequently serving three other ch urches here, he concludes 32 years in Michigan.
The past five years have been a crowni ng experience upon an effective ministry, as
he finishes with the lofty position of Dean of the Cabinet w hich, in itself, must create
some brownie points with the Lord!
Bob Brown has distinguished himself in many ways. His incisive thought, his excellent
preaching, his solid Christ-centered and person-cen tered theology, his strong administrative abilities, and his unusual head of hair have contributed to an exceptionally
fine 40 years of ministry.
For many years I had the privilege of being Bob's roommate during Annual Conference
sessions here in Adrian which was an enjoyable experience long to be remembered.
The sessions were very often embellished w ith our late-night conversations covering
God, the world, the chu rch, the devi l, and the system.
Robert L. S. (R.L.S. doesn't stand for Robert Louis Stevenson-which I assumed for a
long time) has been a successfu l worker in the Lord's vineya rd as he has given absolute loya lty and constant energy to the cause. Along with Ruth, his wife, he has
had a vital interest in the missionary en terprise of our Church which took them a few
years ago on an extended to ur of our mission stations throughout India and Nepal
and elsewhere. Several years earlier Bob visited Bangledesh which was trying to recover
from a devastating hurricane. This experience influenced him greatly and gave him
an increased interest in what we do in missions throughout the wo rld. The Boards
of Ordained Ministry and Global Ministries have had his loyalty to w hich he gave
indefatigable service for many years.
The Browns' four children expressed deep appreciation of the parents on the recent
occasion of the Browns' 40th Anniversary. Their "kids" have been mightily blessed
by having unusual, loving parents.
Retirement now puts them not only into a change of venue, but also affords new
challenges never before encountered. God wi ll continue to use them as His servants
in some creative way. Emily joins me in congratulati ons for illustrio us years of service
and best wishes for the next important phase of their lives.
Bob Boley
..
lZo\3~\lT
ll. NarJe
Pr e s e nt po sitio n
l'-' u i:i cer
----":>:.. . ~.~.Co-=:..
;:. . ~----
De. to _ (!-Ll::.. . :
L. st ~~ow tJ
(as y o u wi sh it usad i n
2.
I d~nt i.fic ;;t tion
"' o ·-.. ·ittee
l.....
v
Personal Info r on tio n S he~ t
COi"ii1ISSION ON PUBLIC REL:lTIONS
and METHOL>IST I NFOI1f.LT I ON
De tr o i t ~nn ual Co nf ere nce,
THE UNITED i·1ETHODI ST CHURC!1
Dirthdc. te
pn~ cr s)
Al9 (§. ,
' 5'l
lq :::Z.. S
~~~\J~~~\~N~'ILS~~
~\~E=~~
~~~~~~~~~--~------------
( Mi nist e r , ~ssoci~to , Studunt , e tc.,)
3-
Pr e se nt Address :
4.
.f'r~ o e nc <J o nre:cP.nce Tic lc.tio n sh i p
EL fJER - FUI-. L- /V'JEMl3£f?
( p l e::ts~ ind:ic; i:l. l; c-- .~ nr-.;?ly , P eac c n , El der , O. T . , Full Ncnber , ot c)
If the re i s t o be a ch:1n cre in the r ol ationshi p a t Co nferenc e ,
in d ic a t e that cha n c e -- t o
If t o be ordained at c o nfe r ence , indicate
n r d in a tio n t o be r e c c ive :i - ti<J . L . D. , L . E .J E . 1 D.)
_5.
Their ~dd r ~ ss
( If liv inc)
6.
"·
tv\ fl.. g . E V' t} ~ '13 KO t..t..J tt/
Yo ur Par· e n t ' o I'bn"!
Yo ur Hooo Town
:r:.- L L I NO f.;?_
Pre:tch
l Cj' 13
C \t \ ~ 1\ 6-o
Recoooe n ded for Lic e nse t o
_ _ __ _ __
1
by the Quarterly
(w hen )
CN ?-L/3-WO!.;p fv\ ertf. @_
of
8.
f.fl'F7~1-f-
CHf(LA6-0
TLL- .
Church
If a Conf e r ence McrJb e r -- Wh e n were y ~ u rJc~ivcd ,
1 r;~/7
on Tria l
Full HeJJbershi p
/9 51
Ed uc :1tio n:
Whe r e
Cc ll c rre
j2o
Wh o. t Ce- nfc r c nce ,
If :1 tra nsfer t o Detro it Co nf e:r o nc o , wllCn
fr O[l what
l?oe gl?;, v&rc:.
Wha t Co n f er e nce
I
1 0.
1
I
c on f e r e nc e
t£ K....
/? Jt/£ f?:
N ov. /"1/ 19~.:tnd
_}o
'""'-".._..<!_.l(=-l}cf-=._..I.&.V..~: =-wf2_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Grad ua t c d fr orJ _ __P
~A,.!. .~
.I=-r.K::. . .E"."'--.&:R..,..=..._£;
.:::......e.~
.;: AJ~<:.~..::
: : f?:_
==-._ _ Hir.;h s choo l
l o c ::~. t cd
-=+::-
Locatad a t
.;;;~~A-.:..~6-~~;..J,o4l=L
e:..L
::::..!:L
=-.·--
_ C.
-=--...:\..:.....:..
{(
t-L rNLJt f.
J3 t..p 0
Decr e ta
A,(
~ran t .;d
W~S.LE o/A N'
_ what y e ar
UN.tiiEC. s
rry.
r Aj6-T t?dJ J It... L'
A . [5,
_
Ye:1r g r .:1nt e d
/qtjz
~Z -~30I,!
..L I NF0.:11-i.lT I ON SHEET
FOR
Tl1u Co· n::i s::> i o n o n Pub l ic :Jc l e1.tio ns
.:: n c~ i ;, t;lod i s t I n f a r r.Jo. tio n
1 0 . Educ a ti o n c o nti nu~l :
Othe r C o ll e~0 __________________
E ll A IJ IToA.L i :z-:t..~ ~--------B r ycar Gr :\!1 t c d J.I.:..CfL:::s:!....!::rv~-------t ])
Post g r .:d ua t e
Honurs c r Tlo nc r n.r y Decr ee s
11 .
-
Mcnb e r o f Co nfere nc e CNi!.J it t _- us : _ _J3~J-AJ?..b
oFT+\-"E. J\1\,V\S }R ~
'
J ?.. .
Respo n sib ilit i o s o r .'tct ivi ti es in :..; ·
1 3.
Ma rito.l Sta tu s :
I f ::1arri ed : Wi f e ' s
Si nc l c ____
r.J~idc n na[J~
Her Po.ren t 's No.D<:
Her hot:K· t own
Her P.'lr v nts ,
p r .:: s :.: n t .l.:ldr c ss
·;. un i ~:-
Marri~ J ~-E. • RuTH
fv( E-.,
.. ff .:-..irs , wh e r e y o u liv o ,
Art;; tAl S
J3 Vf2 C' -H AT K- i l.LS
?v\ ~S
S l . loo 1 $ _ ~-L--------------'D
...._E
::.;~
=-:E
::...:.A
~
.S:..-=
E=
:....
.:...:
D:!--_ _ ____
If y -.)o.;, h :tV.:J c hil dren , nanes , . pJ. -.: '"'.se , ,'.~1 :1
~ ~ rz:aLb
Widcwar ------
L.{;;~o<u tJ - f]~f'·~
p~ l\l3A17A 'J:]5lfow tv - l£/'(sr.$
}q, § E- ~:r:AJ<: •]S ~tCl)~ l Z. ~ c_s,
0.6C S
_ _ __ _ _ _ __
if a t ho!:Je .
\),I? '- I Nl A :r:-lS~cpLJ ·- IO~:j rs
- - --·- --
-
- - --
·-
In t he space b el ow , o n tho b~ ck of tl1is s~0o t nr a n o.dditional s hcd t s
p l e~ se add a ny it e r.1s yo u t hi nk o o.y bo o f
i~t G r es t t o the p u blic .
( su c h as o cc up~ ti o n bc f or .1 0 n t 0 rinc oinls try , unus u ~l h o bb i es ,
trav e l s , e tc) .1LSO --LI ST CHURCH~.:; YOU H .VL. S:J:~~VED
(\,\~ \5t=:tL - b u;:. M to. (!~ l
\.
-
~"~-t-A All?>«.~ ~f.\\ (o~-AJA ATl~_)
Q. H V"tl.~\\~~~
Qe
"'* ro.. \
~ 'G Me~*'. - Ch '<'~,'~P
~OM~UWfT~
N_t::-r+-( ,
''
M E\lZ.o ·ptJ L ( I A IV'- b ~~ IW1 <r- (A S5fol!.';)
go. u (-t .5--le L Ma: tr(e - Ce. f'\-t f((
~~('/)~,I) -
\-A
w~ >(e.'r r::ovnrltt "6ot)
I
MINISTERIAL BIOGRAPHICAL FORM
DETROIT CONFERENCE HISTORICAL SOCIETY FILE
Date of Record ____~ne~c~e~m~b~e~r-3~·~1•9~7-6________
NAME·----~~~ro~u~n~------------------~~R~o~be~r~t~----------~L~e~e~~~no~w~----------~---(tast)
(first)
(middle)
··
BIRTH.__~A~u~~-u~s-tTl~S~,_l_9_2~5----------~~C~
h ~~c~a~g~o~,_I~l~l_i_n_o~_·s__________________________
(d te}
(pla c e)
PERSONAL APPEARANCE__~·~5~'~7~~~~·~--------~~l-7~0~----~~~Bro~w~n--~~-Bro~w~n----(h~1gp~}
( weight)
(hair )
(eyes)
FAMILY BACKGROUND:
Father's name in full _____·~saam~u~e~l~I~r~
um~B~ro~w~n------------------------------Date of . b1rth April 19.187'-Nat1ono l1ty
Mother• s Me.1£len Name
~
Occupation Accountant
h nk
--~E~va~~J~u~ne~s~~a~~-----------------------------------
Date of birthFe"b. 7, 1887
..,
u.s·,
Nationality_--..~.r...w.~------------
Any notable item in family history (Public Service , Authorship,
Invention, Educ~tion, Medicine , etc.)
PERSONAL HISTORY:
1.
netigious Experience and Church Work be fo re entering the Minis t ry
Active i n local church and a child and youth - choir, M.Y.F. etc,
2
2.
Call to the Ministry During freshJnan year of high sbhool , public conuni trnen t
mad~
J.
at slU!lffier you th camp at Lake Ge neva,
Educati on:
Col lege
Ill
Schools and Degrees--High School Parker H, S , Chicaso, ill.
t-:e§leyan
Post- Gradue te
•
4.
Admitted
~n
Hisconsi~~
\Jniy. t..D.
Seminary Garrett Tbe olo9ical B.D.
-------------------------------------------------------
Tria l,
~ nd Or dt n~ ti o ns:
-
.ruoo 1951
- Full hembt:r ana i.1ders Oruers ''
0 .T,
and Deaco ns urd£;r s
Rock Rivt r Annual Co nfe rence
June 1942
I
II
I
(over)
II
II
- 2 MARRIAGE : ·
Do.te
,I p l l'
Ptace____~f-~t~._.L_o~u_i_s~,._M.o_•._________________
16, 12h9
WIFE' S l"'f IDEN NPJ!E__L..,dl13.11~~.o~.t~h:...R.,u:.aot~h~A.:~~tk._il;,loln..,.s_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
EDUCATION
7·
A. B. \'Jashi ng ton Unv . St. Lo uis - H. A., Garrett (C hri s t i an Educatio n )
CHILDREN:
NJII·1 E_..~o.Q..,.e...r""'a""'
l d..,.,......,
• r............
a.~.~mo~.~w~~~o.~n.__ _~----DATE OF
De cember 10 , 1953
l a r a a ra J. Brown
Fe b. 16
.. ·-Roberta .. R . Brown ·
Vir ginia J. Brown
APPOINTHENTS SERVED, WIT H DATES;
8.
BIRTH May 12, 1951
~ept .
2t,
19'55' .
19S7
----~~~~~~tr~~ ~~lii~-51-----------------------------------
------~~l~~t~~-~~i~~-s~~~~~-ih~~~~~122I~~------------------------
s a ginaw: First 1972 OF FICES HELD I N 'l'HE CO:NFEilENCE , OR ON DISTRI CT :
Detroit Conf : fec 1 y Dist. Committee on Ninistry; Treas. Conf. Board Social Concerns;
-------~----------------~~-~--~
----------------------------~-~---~-Regj.s trar ~ Conf . Board of .Ninistry;
Pres. Nar~uatte Distr Hini sters; Camp staffs.
10. PUBL!C uR COM1UNI TY OFFICES:
----~--~---~------~-~-----~-~--~~---~---~--~---~-~-----------~-----
11.
SERVICE RECORD WITH U.S. ARHED FO'iCES:
- ..-------------H~............--..--....._
.... _____________ ..., __________ ........................... __
12.
WRITINGS--ARTICLES
OR BOOKS:
~-~-~--~--~~--~--~-----~-~~-------~-----~------------~--~~----~
-----------..... ---·------------·------ ..--... ______ .. _______________________ _
..;.
••
RE~REATION,
m,~
HOBBIES, ETC •
~~~
h~~·
.
-~----~~.~~-----~-~~-----~-----------~----~~-----~---~--
_____________ ____ ... _··--· __ . ___ _________... _________
....._
._
.,.
;;.
~-------------
......
--
~~~----~-----~-~-----~-~-----~-------------~----~-----~--------~~-
....
- J -
e
tl.J..
CLUBS AND FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS :
_
Si~a... Clli
j 'r.a tfU'ljj. tl_;
15.
Jh~t~
:.Jpha .PIU-
--- - - - - - -
~
Il.0119r~ry_
- -
D.raJ!a tj.c_Fx;.pt~rQ.it_y ;_K~a.oi~; _!td)_:tazy ;_
------- --
~
- - - -
- - - - -
List one or two it ems wh ich yo u c onsider outst ~n ding in your Mi nistry:
such as a Building Progra m, on Evangelist i c Crus ade, an exceptiona l
class of new members, some bit of communi t y servi ce , etc .
Directio n of evangelist-ic outreach of f>te tropoliLa n -.;hurch, Detro i t, especia tly
feat uring r: . E:ta nley J o ne s .
Evangeli~t. ic empha~~s
Invt::bt.igati· •n t o ur O! Ban;;l e de s r· t.!1 ree montns af t .e r the wa r
. . •. :
emerge ncy Ht: l i e f Furrl, Inc. of Lans ing and the n returnill?; to tell the s t o r y a nd
a s s i s t in rais ing ov. r one million doll a r s in r elief.
v -
••
"
Built an e u ucationa l u: j t at Centra l Churc h , Sault ~ L. e har ie a nd es t a bli shed
much nee ded pre -shc<(_01Lntr~l15 .iJ?:q.Je~Js>ye d mofltht rs.
(about you persona llY or your ministry)
Use revere~ side of this pAge for
give.
DATE OF BIRTH
~ny ~ ddition a l
in forma tion you wish to
..
PLACE__________________________________
PL ~ CE OF BUR I AL·------------------------------------------------------------------
of Chelsea, MI. Age 91, died
October 3, 2016, at Chelsea
Retirement Community. Bob
was born August 15, 1925,
in Chicago, IL. He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan
& Garrett Theological Seminary. The Rev. Brown was
a United Methodist minister,
starting his ministry in 1947
in Chicago, later serving at
Metropolitan UMC (Detroit),
Central and Algonquin UMC
(Sault Ste. Marie), First UMC
(Saginaw), Orchard UMC
(Farmington Hills) and ending
as Superintendent of the Flint
District, retiring in 1990. He
was involved in starting services to help the Samaritan
Counseling Center of Southeast Michigan, and
Emergency and Affordable
Housing Corporation, serving under-privileged individuals locally and in third-world
countries. Bob was also a
volunteer chaplain . He enjoyed traveling to many
places. He was preceded in
death by his beloved wife of
52 years, Edith Ruth Brown.
Survivors include a son
Gerald Brown; 3 daughters:
Barbara (Jonathan) Carlisle,
Roberta (John) Schmidt
and Virginia (Richard) She~
pier; 10 grandchildren; & 3
great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held 3
p.m., Sunday, October 23 at
the First United Methodist
Church of Chelsea. Burial Will
be at Mi~sion Hill Cemetery,
near Bnmley, Michigan. In
lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions may be mad
to Vellore Christian Medic~
Colleg~ & Hospital, Chelsea Ftrst United Methodi
Church or the UM RC
. Full obituary at wwW.
.com
1
Rev. Robert L.S. Brown of Chelsea, Michigan. Age 91,
died Monday, October 3, 20 16, at Chelsea Retirement
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Community. He was born August 15, 1925, in Chicago, IL,
Rev. Robert L.S. Brown
August 15, 1925 - October 3, 20 16
the son of Samuel I. & Eva June (Shank) Brown.
He
graduated
from
Theological Seminary.
Illinois
Wesleyan
&
Garrett
The Rev. Brown was a United
DATE AND PLACE OF MEMORIAL SERVICE
Methodist minister, starting his ministry at LaGrange
Tuesday, October 3, 2016
Methodist Church in Chicago in 1947, then serving at
10:00 a.m.
Central
Park Ave
(Chicago),
Community
Methodist
(Chicago), Metropolitan UMC (Detroit), Central and
Chelsea Retirement Community Chapel
Chelsea, Michigan
Algonquin UMC (Sault Ste. Marie), Director of Ecumenical
Campus Ministry at Lake Superior State College, First
UMC (Saginaw), O rchard UMC (Farmington Hills) and
OFFICIATING
Rev. Cathy Rafferty
ending as Superintendent of the Fhnt District , retiring in
1990.
He was involved in starting services to help the
Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeast Michigan, and
ARRANGEMENTS BY
Cole Funeral Chapel
Lenawee Emergency and Affordable Housing Corporation,
serving under-privileged individuals locally and in thirdworld countries.
Continued on back
Bob was also a volunteer chaplain, Kiwanian, Rotarian &
Civitan. He enjoyed traveling to many places, some for
pleasure, and some to bring awareness to third-world
countries.
He was the beloved husband of Edith Ruth Brown of
Chelsea. They were married July 16, 1949, in St. Louis,
MO, and she preceded him in death on January 5, 2007.
Survivors include a son, Gerald Brown of Clarksville, MD;
three daughters, Barbara (Jonathan) Carlisle of Brimley,
Roberta (John) Schmidt of St. Paul, MN, and Virginia
(Richard) Shepler of Hemet, CA; ten grandchildren; three
great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Burial will be at Mission Hill Cemetery, near Brimley,
Michigan.
Rev. Robert L.S. Brown
1925-2016
Memorial contributions may be made to
Vellore Christian Medical College & Hospital, Chelsea
First United Methodist Church or the UMRC Foundation.
SR534L·B
Bass·Mollett
Printed 1n U.S.A.
e:¥remoties
In Loving Mernory
Robert Brown
August 15, 1925 - October 3, 2016
Lord of us al~ asy ou have promise~
you now dismiss y our servant in peace.
Robert Brown
10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Chelsea Retirement Community Chapel
Prelude
Pastoral Greeting and Call to W/ orship
Hymn 344: Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore
For the love of Christ urges us on,
because we are convinced that one has died for all;
therefore, all have died. And Christ died for all,
so that those who live might live
no longer for themselves,
but for the one who died and was raised for them.
II Corinthians 5:14-15
Invocation (In Unison)
Gracious God, as your Son wept with Ma1y and :Martha at
the tomb of Lazarus, look with compassion on us who
grieve today. Grant us the assurance of your presence here
just now, and faith in your eternal goodness, that in us may
be fulfilled the promise that those who mourn shall be
comforted; through Jesus Clu1st our Lord. Amen.
Gospel Reading: John 16:29 -17:1-3
Hymn 707: Hymn of Promise
Ivi emorial Sermon: "For Chdst's Love" (II Corinthians 5:14-15)
Prayer of Commendation
Hymn 711: For All the Saints
Benediction
Postlude
You are invited to gatl1er for refreshments on the Mezzanine
following tl1e service.
P.K. Offered National Merit
Scholarship to Attend MSU
l
General L. Brown, son of Rev. and Mrs.
Robert L. S. Brownof Sault Sainte Mawho
placed
rie,
27th in the Michigan
Mathematics
Prize Competition
in which 27,000 students competed, has
been awarded a
National
Merit
Scholarship to atten d
Michigan
State University
Gerald
this fall. Gerald attended a High School Honors Science
program there last summer.
A member of the National Honor Society, National Thespian Society, Speech
Club, Quill and Scroll, Senior Band and
photographer for school publications,
Gerald received the Robert L . Brisson
award which is presented annually to an
outstanding graduate of Sault Sainte Marie High School. He ranks fourth scholastically in his class.
Gerald was a part of the technical staff
of the tricentennial pageant last summer
and co-directed the production of a sound,
eolor motion picture of the history of
the city entitled, "From Indians to Indus-
I
.., 1rv"
Ct>/; 2.. ) /o Cj'
Brown, Robert L. S.