Rev. Amos Cleophilus Brown
1970 - 1977

The 17^th pastor of Pilgrim, Rev. Amos Cleophilus Brown was reared and received his early education in Jackson, Mississippi.  In 1964 he received the A. B. degree from Morehouse College and in 1968, the Masters of Divinity from Crozer Theological Seminary, Chester, Pennsylvania.  Rev. Brown assumed the pastorate of Pilgrim in August 1970, and resigned June 15, 1976, to accept the call to pastor the historic Third Baptist Church of San Francisco, California.

Under Rev. Brown’s dynamic ministry, Pilgrim entered a new and glorious era.  Highlights of his ministry include a substantial growth in membership, and expanded involvement of the Board of Education in the ministry of the youth.  This program required a full time minister of social services, Rev. Dale Anderson.  Rev. Brown instituted the 8:30 AM (now 7:45 AM) Sunday worship service.  The library collection was organized, and the church newsletter, now called "Pilgrim’s Progress," resumed publication.

Pilgrim’s financial growth and physical worth increased phenomenally under Rev. Brown’s leadership.  With a $21,000 grant from I. A. O’Shaughnessy, the church purchased a bus and organized the Bus Ministry in May 1975 for program development.  One of the most unique projects to be completed was the stained glass windows.  These not only portray the church’s symbols, but also beautiful portraits of past ministers of Pilgrim and Dr. Martin Luther King III.  The entire church, the sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, the parlour, and the Pastor’s Study was renovated.  A Moeller organ, built in Hagerstown, MD, was installed.  The total cost of these projects was $130,000.  Later, the nursery and expanded session rooms were beautifully redecorated and furnished by the Young Women’s Guild.

Further, the Morris Plaza Housing Development was completed at the cost of $900,000.  An electric chairlift for senior citizens and the handicapped was installed as was a new sound system.  The church’s operating budget increased from $38,000 in 1969 to over $100,000.

Another significant development at Pilgrim was the initiating of a radio broadcast in 1972.  This was a delayed broadcast of each Sunday’s 11:00 AM service.  Rev. Brown  encouraged an ecumenical ministry of involvement and organized groups, such as the New Horizon club for newly married couples and the Young Women’s Guild to provide another avenue of service.  Also, Rev. Brown resurrected groups such as the Men of Courage Club and Young Adult and Youth Usher Board.

Following in what had become a tradition for Pilgrim’s pastors, Rev. Brown expended a lot of energy in religious and civic affairs.  In the wider community, Rev. Brown served as a chairman of the board of the Community Housing Corporation, was a member of the St. Paul Planning Commission, President of the NAACP, and chairman of the Benjamin E. Mays Learning Center, a proposed alternative school for St. Paul.

Through his influence, Rev. Brown made Pilgrim, already a leader in civic and political affairs of the community, a haven for community forums and dialogue sessions on issues.  Rev. Brown also served as president of the Minnesota State Baptist Convention, USA from 1971 to 1974 and served as a member of its national Board of Directors.  He also served as chaplain for the Minnesota State Senate, a practice of Pilgrim's pastors since 1916, taught at Sioux Falls College, and was a frequent lecturer at other area colleges.

On the national level, Rev. Brown's energetic participation seemed boundless also.  He served as National Chairman of the Black Caucus of the American Baptist Churches; Chairman of the Midwestern American Baptist Black Churchmen, National Co-Chairman of the Resolution Committee, and team leader for the ABC Evangelistic Life Style program.  In 1974 Rev. Brown was selected as a delegate to the World Evangelism Congress in Switzerland, and in 1975 to the World Council of Churches in Nairobi, Kenya.  Also in 1975 he attended St. James Academy for Parish Clergymen in Switzerland.  In 1976 Rev. Brown was appointed to the national commission by the Urban League to study  Black crime.

Rev. Brown was elected to Who's Who in Black America in 1976 and was honored as Outstanding Young Man of America in 1972 and 1976.

Rev. Brown was married to Jane E. Smith of Richmond, VA in June 1966, and they had two sons and one daughter.  Scholastically, Mrs. Brown received her M.A. degree in Business Administration in 1975 from the University of Minnesota and was employed as an International Banking Representative at Northwestern National Bank of Minneapolis.  Like the wives of pastor's before her, Mrs. Brown was also multi-talented.

She was often featured soloist of the Chancel Choir of which she was a member.  She worked untiringly with the projects of the Young Women's Guild.  In addition, she was active in a great variety of civic activities.  She served as coordinator of Community Arts Production in 1972, was co-chairperson of the community campaign for the United Negro College Fund, was appointed a member of the Bicentennial Committee by the Governor, and served as a board member of the St. Paul Urban League and the United Way.  She was also deeply involved in the field of music and studied voice under Dr. Luther Stripling, Minister of Music at Pilgrim.  Moreover, she took the leading title role in Scott Joplin's "Treemonisha" which was directed by Dr. Stripling and presented in March of 1976.

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