Moscow church installs new pastor after yearslong search

Hannah Brown joins United Church of Moscow on path of transformation

The United Church of Moscow has a pastor again. After a three-year vacancy, the American Baptist and Disciples of Christ congregation installed the Rev. Hannah Brown.

When the former pastor left, the congregation faced three options, said Oz Garton, a co-chairperson of the pastor search committee: close the church, merge with another congregation, or transform and seek new members.

“(Brown) stood out — first for her gifted preaching, then for her calm demeanor,” said Iris Mayes, a co-chairperson of the pastor search committee, about the church’s new pastor.

Brown has a Master of Divinity from Baylor’s Truett Seminary and a Master of Theology from the University of Edinburgh. Preaching wasn’t always what Brown wanted to do, but it was during divinity school that she found her love for it. She said after meeting her mentors there, she pushed herself to try it. Brown said the first time she prepared a sermon she felt fulfilled. “This is the thing God made me to do,” Brown said.

She is the co-host of a podcast titled “Preacher Handshake” where guests discuss the craft of preaching. Brown said it’s a way to continue to grow and learn about preaching. She also writes on Substack where she connects her faith with her lived experiences. Brown said her parents were both in ministry when she was growing up in Texas and she knew she wanted to work in the church.

Author’s note

Author’s summary: Hannah Brown’s pastoral path blends formal training, teaching experience, and ongoing engagement with preaching communities and personal faith, signaling a transformative era for the Moscow church.

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Moscow-Pullman Daily News Moscow-Pullman Daily News — 2025-11-20

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