The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference has hired the Rev. William Brawner as its new Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, effective July 1, 2021. The coordinator works with the Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) and with youth and young adult ministry leaders conference-wide, and also serves as Executive Director of the Wesley Student Foundation and Campus Minister at Drexel University.
Brawner has been the conference’s Coordinator of Urban Ministries since September 2017. Coordinator positions are part-time. He is also the pastor of African Zoar UMC in Philadelphia and is earning a Doctor of Ministry degree at United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia.
Brawner formerly led the growth of a popular church and community youth ministry at Haven Peniel UMC in Philadelphia and introduced many youth there to summer camp at Carson Simpson Farm. He also served as the pastor of Midtown Parish UMC in Philadelphia.
Before becoming a pastor, the father of three founded and directed the Haven Youth Center, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides educational, career and other support services to youth infected with HIV and AIDS.
“Rev. Brawner has faithfully led our Urban Ministry programming in Eastern PA, expanding our work to include Urban Alliances, Urban Grants and a grassroots Fight for Floyd Movement,” said the Rev. Dawn Taylor-Storm, Director of Connectional Ministry. “He also brings significant experience and a passion for growing youth and young adult ministries to his new role in our conference. We celebrate the gifts he brings to this position.”
The conference has posted the Coordinator of Urban Ministries position opening for in-house applicants initially, in accordance with conference policies. If no one is hired from among current staff over the next few weeks, the position will be advertised for applicants publicly.
Brawner will succeed the Rev. David Piltz, Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministries since 2014, who leaves to serve as the pastor of St. Andrews UMC in Warminster.
"We give thanks for the faithful ministry of Rev. Dave Piltz, who has led our youth and young adult ministry programs, as well as the Open Door Campus Ministry at Drexel University,” said Taylor-Storm. “Rev. Piltz iscommitted to the faith formation and empowerment of youth and young adults; and he has led youth in both our conference and jurisdiction with excellence.”
