Let us introduce you to our new minister and his wife.
Duane and Amy Brown
Rev. Dr. Duane Brown
- Amy Brown
In their own words:
Duane and Amy met at Bates College in a class on contemporary religious thought. Amy’s a Vermont Yankee and Duane’s a Connecticut Yankee. Somehow they’ve managed to make that unlikely alliance work – maybe because they both come from small towns and have in common a passion for reading. They recently celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary.
Duane grew up in North Canaan, Connecticut, a little town that hasn’t changed much over the years. During his late teens, he got a part-time job cleaning buildings at the Silver Lake Conference Center, a United Church of Christ camp in Sharon, Connecticut – an experience that profoundly influenced his spiritual journey. He became a member of the permanent summer staff there and over the next three years formed relationships that deepened and broadened his awareness of Christ’s presence and love. Unfortunately, both his parents died while he was in his early twenties, and he has no siblings, but he still enjoys going back and visiting from time to time. He was baptized, married and ordained in his home church, so it holds a special place in the hearts of both Duane and Amy.
Amy grew up in Vermont. Starting in Saxtons River, and then Montpelier, where her father was a high school math teacher, her family moved to Poultney and then to Proctor, where he became a high school principal. Shortly before his death he was appointed assistant headmaster to St. Johnsbury Academy. Amy’s mother, Eleanor Belding, still lives in St. Johnsbury, where she was an elementary school teacher in North Danville for many years and very active in the Vermont Conference UCC. Her aunt, uncle and cousin are long-time residents of Barre. Amy has two younger brothers, one who lives in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and one in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.
When Amy graduated from Proctor High School and went off to college, she always assumed she’d return to Vermont; she couldn’t really imagine any other place feeling like home to her. But things happen – love happens – and she married Duane. He’d attended Bates with plans to become a math teacher. But God – and a remarkable Old Testament professor – intervened.
They started their married life in the Boston area, where Duane attended seminary, and then he was called to a small church in western Massachusetts, where their first two children were born. From there they’ve followed God’s call to southern New Jersey, central Pennsylvania, Maine, and Massachusetts.
Amy had dreams of becoming a professional writer from the age of nine. In high school, she edited both the school newspaper and literary magazine and won several state writing contests. She held onto this dream despite life’s ups and downs and began to have moderate success publishing some short stories in the 1980s. She discovered her writing passion – historical fiction – in the mid 1990’s and is the author of Mr. Emerson’s Wife, which came out in 2005. She’s currently finishing a revision of a new novel set in Massachusetts during King Philip’s War
Amy received her MFA from Vermont College in 2000 and has held a number of part time and temporary jobs over the years, including a delightful three-year stint as a tour guide at Orchard House, home of Louisa May Alcott. For the last six years, she’s been teaching writing to college freshmen in Massachusetts. Perhaps it’s in the blood – she comes from a long line of educators – but she enjoys the challenges of teaching more than she expected. When she’s not writing, teaching, reading, or spending time with her family, Amy enjoys photography, amateur painting and quilting.
Duane and Amy share their living space (and hearts) with a mixed breed dog, Angel, who seems to be under the illusion that she chose them rather than the other way around. They’re the proud parents of four grown children – all redheads. Daryl, the oldest, lives and works in the Boston area. Nathan, next in line, lives in Los Angeles and works for Warner Brothers. He married his wife, Lisa, (also a redhead), in January of 2010 at an outdoor wedding at which Duane was honored to officiate. Their only daughter, Samara, works in New York City at a genetics research lab. A couple of years ago she became a dog owner – and she’s now companioned by an energetic cairn terrier. Their youngest, Matthew, is a high school history teacher in central Massachusetts. Though he was last born, he was first to be married – to Melissa – in October, 2009. The service was held in the Congregational Church of Grafton, with Duane proudly officiating.
And now Duane and Amy look forward to continuing their joint adventure in Vermont.
From his present Church’s website:
Rev. Dr. Duane R. Brown
Born and raised in northwestern Connecticut, Duane received his B.A. from Bates College and his M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School. He later returned to ANTS and received his D.Min. in Psychology and Counseling. He began his ministry in Western Massachusetts in 1972, and has served churches in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maine before returning to Massachusetts.
Duane is an avid reader and an equally avid sports fan who enjoys keeping a close eye on the adventures of the Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics. He brings a passionate intensity to his efforts to deepen and strengthen the spiritual vitality of individuals and church organizations, and a gentle, self-deprecating good humor to his relationships. He and his wife, Amy, are the proud, empty-nest parents of four children.
Reactions from the Search Committee:
Pam Brackett: I find Rev. Brown to have a very calming presence and his focus on God is unwavering.
Tony Perkins: I admire Rev. Brown’s humor, Godliness, and his comment to not lose the true meaning of Church!
Paula Howes: I like his sense of humor and his teaching, spiritual manner.
Pat Densmore: His is very personable and brings God with him!
Mary Ayer: Rev. Brown made me very comfortable and I find him to be down to earth.
Francene Ellis: I like his interaction with children.