Hope United Church of Christ
Staff & Leaders

The Reverend J. Gary Brinn
Pastor and Teacher

The Rev. J. Gary Brinn has served as the congregation's pastor and teacher since October 1, 2019. Brinn was born into a working-class family of police officers and firefighters in Norfolk, Virginia, and is a disabled Army veteran. After completing his service, he embarked on years of travel, adventure, and odd jobs before settling into the world of digital design. He was the Director of Learning for a small tech firm in Manhattan serving Fortune 500, governmental and non-governmental organizations on 9/11. His life changed that day, as did so many others. Brinn returned to complete his Bachelor's Degree in English Literature and Studio Art at Hunter College – City University of New York. He received a Master of Divinity from Harvard University in 2008, and served a year as the Tanenbaum Fellow for Inter-Religious Practice at Vassar College before ordination in the United Church of Christ. He has served parishes in Central Pennsylvania, Long Island, New York, and most recently on the coast of Maine. A fan of Pearl Jam, Disney, and NASCAR, Brinn brings popular culture into conversation with scripture, the rich and progressive theological tradition of the United Church of Christ, and real life. In addition to justice and witness advocacy in areas like anti-racism and LGBTQ equality, he has worked on a number of community issues including work-force housing and food insecurity.