Rev. Dr. Brian C. Smith

Senior Pastor

In July 2013, Bishop Sally Dyck appointed Rev. Dr. Brian C. Smith as the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church of Wilmette. A lifelong United Methodist, he was baptized as an infant and confirmed as a teenager at First United Methodist Church of Washington, Illinois. The church taught him essential life lessons, such as “Jesus Loves Me,” and “Jesus Loves the Little Children, All the Children of the World.” In confirmation, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and Christ’s way as the rule for his life.

Pastor Brian earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary with an emphasis on congregational leadership. Previously, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois Wesleyan University with majors in religion and sociology and a minor in French. He had an urban studies semester in Chicago and became hooked on this great Midwestern city. Then he earned the Master of Divinity degree at Boston University School of Theology with a semester on the church and public policy at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C.

Pastor Brian previously served churches in Pekin, Aurora, Cary, Evanston, Chicago, and Addison. Currently, he serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry for the Northern Illinois Conference.

Brian met his husband Joe while they were both in seminary, and they have been together since 1996.  Brian’s interests include birding, biking, backpacking, paddling, beekeeping, and nearly any other way of exploring the glories of God’s creation. Visit his blog at www.trinitywilmettepastor.blogspot.com.