Sanford Brown
Encyclopedia
Rev. Dr. Sanford "Sandy" Brown is a United Methodist minister from the Seattle, Washington
area. He currently serves as Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church, the oldest church in the Seattle area.
in 1957 and moved to Seattle with his family in 1965. A graduate of Evergreen High School
in 1975, Brown went on to receive his bachelor of arts
degree from the University of Washington
in 1978, his M.Div. from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
in 1982 and his doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary
in 1997.
from 1982–1986, the Lake Washington United Methodist Church in Kirkland
, from 1986 to 1992, and was senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Wenatchee
from 1992 until 2001. He is currently senior pastor First United Methodist Church aka First Church of Seattle Washing from 2009 to date. www.firstchurchseattle.org
in 1989 in one of his first acts of public service beyond the local church. He served as president of the board from 1991-1992. He ran unsuccessfully for school board in the Wenatchee School District in 1997.
Brown gained local notoriety for his challenge, along with Rev. Kel Groseclose, of the 1999 election of the Wenatchee mayor. Brown and Groseclose contended in Chelan County Superior Court that Mayor Gary Schoessler was not a resident of Wenatchee for the requisite one year prior to his election. The court agreed, the verdict
was upheld on appeal to the Washington Supreme Court
on April 20, 2000, and Schoessler was removed from office.
. In 2003 he was elected as executive director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, one of the largest regional ecumenical bodies in the U.S.
At the Church Council, Brown's work has focused on ending homelessness. He has been an advocate of Tent City 4, helping the homeless encampment with legal challenges in several suburban Seattle communities, and he has been leader of the legislative advocacy arm of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County.http://www.cehkc.org
Brown has authored numerous op-ed
pieces in support of ending homelessness as well as other topics, like bringing an end to conflict in the Middle East
and (with his wife) has advocated for high ethical standards in the practice of medicine
. He has also written on the subject of living wage
s and the need for additional human service funding
While at the Council, Brown led in the establishment of the Service of Hope, an interfaith program that brings a service of prayer to sites of homicides. Services of Hope were held at sites of the Capitol Hill massacre and the Jewish Federation shooting. Brown was criticized by Ken Schramm of KOMO-TV
for considering a prayer service for the killer of a police officer
simultaneously with the service for the officer himself
In 2005 Brown received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. In 2007, Bishop Edward Paup announced his intention to appoint Brown to serve as senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Seattle beginning in July 2008.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
area. He currently serves as Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church, the oldest church in the Seattle area.
Education
Brown was born in Lancaster, CaliforniaLancaster, California
Lancaster is a charter city in northern Los Angeles County, in the high desert, near the Kern County line. Lancaster currently ranks as the 30th largest city in California, and the 148th largest city in the United States. Lancaster is the principal city within the Antelope Valley...
in 1957 and moved to Seattle with his family in 1965. A graduate of Evergreen High School
Evergreen High School (Seattle, Washington)
Evergreen High School was a secondary institution in the Highline School District located in unincorporated King County, Washington, United States. The school served unincorporated areas, including White Center. The school's mascot was the wolverine...
in 1975, Brown went on to receive his bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in 1978, his M.Div. from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary is a graduate school of theology of the United Methodist Church located in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1853, Garrett-Evangelical is on the campus of Northwestern University and continues many associations with the university...
in 1982 and his doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
in 1997.
Pastoral service
He was ordained a United Methodist deacon in 1979 and became an elder in the church in 1984. He served the Fall City United Methodist Church, Fall CityFall City, Washington
Fall City is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. Located 26 miles east of Seattle, the community lies along the Snoqualmie River. The population was 1,993 at the 2010 census...
from 1982–1986, the Lake Washington United Methodist Church in Kirkland
Kirkland, Washington
Kirkland is a city in King County, Washington, United States. It is a suburb of Seattle on the Eastside . The population was 48,787 at the 2010 census makes it the 9th largest city in King County and the 20th largest city in the state...
, from 1986 to 1992, and was senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Wenatchee
Wenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee is located in North Central Washington and is the largest city and county seat of Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population within the city limits in 2010 was 31,925...
from 1992 until 2001. He is currently senior pastor First United Methodist Church aka First Church of Seattle Washing from 2009 to date. www.firstchurchseattle.org
Public office, contested election
Brown was elected to the Board of Directors of the Lake Washington School DistrictLake Washington School District
The Lake Washington School District #414 is a public school district in King County, Washington. it is the fifth-largest school district in Washington. It serves the region to the east of Lake Washington, one of the wealthiest in the Puget Sound area...
in 1989 in one of his first acts of public service beyond the local church. He served as president of the board from 1991-1992. He ran unsuccessfully for school board in the Wenatchee School District in 1997.
Brown gained local notoriety for his challenge, along with Rev. Kel Groseclose, of the 1999 election of the Wenatchee mayor. Brown and Groseclose contended in Chelan County Superior Court that Mayor Gary Schoessler was not a resident of Wenatchee for the requisite one year prior to his election. The court agreed, the verdict
Verdict
In law, a verdict is the formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. The term, from the Latin veredictum, literally means "to say the truth" and is derived from Middle English verdit, from Anglo-Norman: a compound of ver and dit In law, a verdict...
was upheld on appeal to the Washington Supreme Court
Washington Supreme Court
The Washington Supreme Court is the highest court in the judiciary of the U.S. state of Washington. The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Justices. of the Court are elected to six-year terms...
on April 20, 2000, and Schoessler was removed from office.
Post-pastorate work
In 2001 Brown left the pastorate to serve as executive director of Deaconess Children's Services, a United Methodist mission agency, in EverettEverett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
. In 2003 he was elected as executive director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, one of the largest regional ecumenical bodies in the U.S.
At the Church Council, Brown's work has focused on ending homelessness. He has been an advocate of Tent City 4, helping the homeless encampment with legal challenges in several suburban Seattle communities, and he has been leader of the legislative advocacy arm of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County.http://www.cehkc.org
Brown has authored numerous op-ed
Op-ed
An op-ed, abbreviated from opposite the editorial page , is a newspaper article that expresses the opinions of a named writer who is usually unaffiliated with the newspaper's editorial board...
pieces in support of ending homelessness as well as other topics, like bringing an end to conflict in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and (with his wife) has advocated for high ethical standards in the practice of medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
. He has also written on the subject of living wage
Living wage
In public policy, a living wage is the minimum hourly income necessary for a worker to meet basic needs . These needs include shelter and other incidentals such as clothing and nutrition...
s and the need for additional human service funding
While at the Council, Brown led in the establishment of the Service of Hope, an interfaith program that brings a service of prayer to sites of homicides. Services of Hope were held at sites of the Capitol Hill massacre and the Jewish Federation shooting. Brown was criticized by Ken Schramm of KOMO-TV
KOMO-TV
KOMO-TV, virtual channel 4, is a television station in Seattle, Washington. It is an affiliate of ABC and broadcasts on digital channel 38. KOMO-TV is the flagship station of Fisher Communications, and its studios and offices are co-located with sister radio stations KOMO , KVI , and KPLZ-FM ...
for considering a prayer service for the killer of a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
simultaneously with the service for the officer himself
In 2005 Brown received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. In 2007, Bishop Edward Paup announced his intention to appoint Brown to serve as senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Seattle beginning in July 2008.