Arthur M. Brazier

Dr. Arthur M. Brazier is the pastor of the Apostolic Church of God in the Chicago neighborhood of Woodlawn. He is also a bishop and a prominent civic leader. He is a founder of The Woodlawn Organization, which was prominent in Chicago's civil rights movement in the 1960s and continues its work to this day.

His church claims an active membership of more than 20,000 and is housed in a large modern complex on the South Side of Chicago.

He is a member of the Public Buildings Commission of Chicago and has lectured at leading universities, including the University of Chicago, Northwestern. Harvard and Antioch College.

In addition to The Woodlawn Organization, he also founded The Woodlawn Preservation and Investment Corporation as well as The Fund for Community Redevelopment and Revitalization. He has been a national leader in community development.

He is the author of "Black Self-Determination", "Saved by Grace and Grace Alone" and "Delivery systems for model cities."

He is married to Isabelle Brazier and they have four children Lola, Byron, Janice, and Rosalyn.

External links

* [http://www.apostolicchurchofgod.net/index.html Apostolic Church of God home page]

Up until October 2007 his church was a member of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW), headquartered in Indiana. He has parted ways with the church because of a major doctrinal issue. Brazier believes in "Eternal Security". This is a major no-no in the eyes of the Apostolic Community. Eternal Security means that the believer never loses salvation once they obtain it, despite their lifestyle.

On April 30, 2008, during Bible Study. Bishop Brazier announced his Retirement effective June 1, 2008. On June 1, 2008, Bishop Brazier took the pulpit for the last time in his robe. On this historic date of June 1, 2008, Bishop Brazier preached two sermons to a standing room only congregation. The entire Woodlawn community was shut down with traffic police and cars parked in alleys and sidewalks. The church has two sanctuaries, Dorchester and Kenwood. These sanctuaries filled to capacity with people watching the services via closed circuit television. There was over ten thousand ACOG members, well-wishers and visitors in attendance of this historic occasion. Press from all the networks were in attendance. It was a sight to behold. He now holds the title Pastor Emeritus. The Apostolic Church of God will install a special Pastor's Chair in his honor. Bishop has Pastored this flock for forty-eight years without a day off. Bishop Brazier's predecessor is his only son Dr. Byron Brazier. Dr. Byron Brazier has been the church's administrator for twelve years. He has a corporate background and was very successful with IBM and as a entrepreneur. He is married to Sister Mary Brazier. With great foresight the Board of Trustees and the congregation voted five years ago to elect Dr. Byron Brazier to be named Bishop Brazier predecessor. To even further Bishop Brazier's Legacy his grandson Elliott Miles lives in Atlanta and is also fulfulling his call to the ministry.