Rev. Brian Tillman Joins Conference Staff in Inclusion and Advocacy Role

Meet Rev. Brian Tillman, the first Director of Inclusion and Advocacy for the North Georgia Conference. Tillman will serve as a part of the Conference Connectional Ministries staff.  

In service to North Georgia Conference congregations, Rev. Tillman will provide consultation, support, and training aimed at strengthening engagement with and advocacy for the communities they serve. Tillman's work is aimed at helping congregations bolster both justice and discipleship ministries. 

Working in concert with the North Georgia Conference's advocacy and church development groups and leaders, Rev. Tillman is tasked with leading the Conference's efforts to create, assess, and facilitate the continuous improvement of systems and processes related to:

• cultivating and strengthening engagement with Communities of Color and within multi-ethnic communities, as foundational to our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ, from all communities, for the transformation of the world

• helping clergy and laity in predominantly white/Anglo churches engage in dialogue about systemic racism and white privilege, and developing plans and ministry as a result of that dialogue

• ensuring the intentional development of Leaders of Color across the North Georgia Conference, both lay and clergy

• planting of new churches and ministry expressions serving Communities of Color and within multi-ethnic communities, with equal access to North Georgia Conference funding and other resources

• Increasing communication, coordination, and collaboration between and among Conference boards, committees, advocacy groups, and agencies with an aim to focus and deepen support offered to all North Georgia Conference congregations and the communities they serve. 

An ordained elder in the North Georgia Conference, Rev. Tillman has served as Chair of the Conference Commission on Religion and Race for five years. His previous appointment was as associate pastor of Ben Hill UMC in Atlanta. He has served at Johns Creek UMC, McEachern Memorial UMC, and Powers Ferry UMC.

He has traveled internationally to study with peacebuilders in Northern Ireland and Germany. He plans to travel to South Africa in the next year with his clergy continuing education group (ACE2).

As a pastor and advocate for racial healing, he holds Luke 4:18-19 as his charge to share God’s love, grace, mercy, justice, and righteousness to all.

Contact Rev. Tillman at brian.tillman@ngumc.net. 

Check back for more staff introductions as the North Georgia Conference says farewell and welcome to team members at the start of a new Conference year.