Bishop Thomas Louis Brown, Sr. was
elected the 54th Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church on June 28,
2006 in Memphis, Tennessee.Bishop Brown was born June 21,
1951 in Oakland, MS, the eighth child of Stephen and Lillie H. Brown. His
elementary and secondary education was attained at Walker High School in Oakland
from which he graduated as valedictorian of his high school class. He attended
Northwest Junior College, Senatobia, MS; and earned the Bachelor of Arts degree
from the University of MS (Ole Miss) in 1973. He matriculated at the Phillips
School of Theology at the Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta,
Georgia, from which he earned the Master of Divinity degree, with honors, in
1976. Bishop Brown also earned, with honors, the Doctor of Theology degree in
Pastoral Counseling from the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in
cooperation with Candler School of Theology/Emory University and Columbia
Seminary in 1991. He is a member of Theta Phi Honor Society.The ministry of Thomas Louis
Brown, Sr. began during his junior year at Ole Miss when he answered the call to
Christian Ministry. In the fall of 1973, he was admitted on trial in the MS
Annual Conference by Bishop Joseph A. Johnson, Jr. and was assigned to pastor
Rice Chapel in Durant, MS. In 1975 and 1976 respectively, Bishop Joseph C. Coles
Jr. ordained him Deacon and Elder and admitted him into Full Connection in the
Georgia Annual Conference.Bishop Brown's itinerant
ministry in the C.M.E. Church has been extensive and thorough. In addition to
Rice Chapel, he served Murray Memorial, Covington, GA; St. James, Columbus, GA;
Butler Street, Atlanta, GA; and College Park, College Park, GA. He was the
organizing pastor of the Good News Community Church in Lithonia, GA. From June
1990 until July 2006, Bishop Brown served with distinction as the sixth
President/Dean of the Phillips School of Theology at the ITC. During his tenure,
more than ninety-five students graduated. It was under his leadership in 1996
that the Annual C.M.E. Pastors' Conference was established.The 54th Bishop is a noted
scholar, lecturer and preacher. He has served as adjunct professor of CME
History and Polity as well as pastoral care; lectured at Candler School of
Theology, (Emory University) and Columbia Theological Seminary, and Princeton
Theological Seminary; and regular teacher and preacher with the Institute of
Church Administration and Management (ICAM). He is in national demand as a
preacher both within and outside the CME Church. Moreover, Bishop Brown has
represented the church exceptionally well. He has been a delegate to the General
Conference of the CME Church from 1978 to 2006; and was a delegate to the World
Methodist Conference in Nairobi, Kenya and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was a
founding member of Concerned Black Clergy of Atlanta, an advocate for the
homeless and persons on death row. Civic participation includes the NAACP, SCLC
and Urban League.Bishop Brown is married to Dr.
Louise Baker-Brown. They are the parents of Charisa Nicole Brown-Jefferson and
Thomas, Jr. Upon his election, the General Conference assigned him to the Fourth
Episcopal District which encompasses the states of Louisiana and MS. He is the
Chair of the Department of The Christian Index.
