Let Me Introduce Myself

I write to introduce myself as your pastor.  Over the past few weeks, I have come to fall in love with Glen Burnie United Methodist Church.  The people of this congregation are genuine, loving, and welcoming.  While you may have heard me preach and met my family, I suspect there are things you do not know about me.  In an effort for us to get to know each other better, I wanted to write a little about me and to invite you to meet with me at your convenience so that I may get to know you better.

I am an ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church.  Since 2008, I have served as a pastor in the Baltimore Washington Annual Conference, serving first at Emory UMC in Upperco, next at Bethany and Emory UMCs in Ellicott City, then at Calvary UMC in Finksburg, and most recently at Magothy UMC in Pasadena.  Prior to that, I served for 13 years in youth ministry both in United Methodist and Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) churches in upstate New York, Washington, DC, and Takoma Park.  I bear a passion for youth and young adults that I have lived out in church-based ministry and in my work as a professor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY.  I taught there for six years in the field of Peer Education in Human Relations, conducting research and instructing students on issues of oppression and how to build coalitions across difference.  I also served in the Army National Guard for three years.

I hold Master of Divinity and Master of Theological Studies degrees from Wesley Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University.  While I am proud of these accomplishments, it is my role as Glen Burnie’s pastor that, aside from my family, gives me the greatest joy.  I bring to my role a passion for Jesus and for communicating how our faith can play a role in our daily lives.  I enjoy working with the staff and leaders of our congregation and bring creativity to planning and leading worship and Bible study as well as enjoy learning about our community and mission activities.

I was born in the south side of Chicago and was a close friend of bad, bad Leroy Brown!  Prior to moving to Washington, DC, for graduate school, I spent most of my teen and adult years throughout New York.  Once an avid comic book collector (visit my office to see my Marvel posters), I watch nearly every superhero and science fiction movie that comes out!  I love to play Ultimate Frisbee and baseball / softball, and will cheer loudly for the White Sox at Orioles games!  I have camped throughout the country, and hiked down the east coast of the United States after high school.  While I love working in Glen Burnie and throughout Anne Arundel County, I currently reside in Ellicott City with my wife and 10-year-old daughter.

I would love the opportunity to meet you and treat you to a meal or a drink at a time that works best for you.  Please introduce yourself to me before or after worship, or contact me at 410-761-4381 (work), at 410-739-1488 (cell) or at pastormartin@gbumchurch.org.  I hope to hear from you and to have us learn about each other’s hopes and dreams for Glen Burnie and our faith journeys.

In Christian love,

The Reverend Martin P. Brooks

Senior Pastor