Marco United Church Celebrates New Pastor

When former  Pastor Mark Williams stepped down from his position as the pastor of the United Church of Marco Island to accept a new position with the United Church of Christ in Naples, many were stunned but happy for the opportunity it held for the family they had shared over the years. I had the pleasure of getting to know Mark during his eight years at the United Church of Marco and found him to be a great addition to our small community. 

At the installation ceremony held on January 12th for Rev. Ed Brandt, the newly appointed pastor for the longtime house of worship on the island, I pondered how my friend Mark would categorize the process and final choice. Knowing how much Mark loved baseball I came to believe he would quickly respond that the search committee and their congregation had “hit it out of the park,” calling on his longtime love of “America’s Pastime”while flashing that trademark smile of his beaming from ear to ear knowing thechurch and its congregation was in good hands. 

At the installation ceremony for Brandt, the congregation was introduced to Reverend Nayiri Karjian, a Transitional Conference Minister Pastor for the United Church of Christ, who along with the Reverend Donald Lincoln officiated at the ceremony with church moderator Kenneth Hennessy. 

Every pew within the church was full, and the warmth of the congregation was palatable within those walls. Rev. Brandt had quickly warmed to the community, and the feeling was seen as mutual. His affable personality and quick wit were on great display that day, as was his intelligence that came in part from his exposure to the tragedies of war he had seen as a chaplain when deployed during the two Gulf Wars.  

He ended his 30-year career in service to his nation as a Brigadier General within the Army National Guard, having served as the Senior Army National Guard Chaplin and Deputy Chief of Chaplains for the Army National Guard. He also served as the primary Army National Guard liaison to the United States Army Chief of Chaplains. He oversaw resources, training, and policy for over 800 chaplains who served over 350,000 Army National Guard Soldiers and their families both here and on deployment overseas. 

You could readily observe Brant’s foundation in life is based on his love of the ministry and his desire to serve those around him. You can see that from every word he speaks and the footprints he has left in his life,which are a testimony to the love of his church and the good he can do. That was reflected in his appointment as the Pastor of the Lely Presbyterian Church in Naples prior to coming to Marco and how he and his Lely congregation made a difference under his leadership. 

Brandt and his wife Jean arrived on Marco Island midway through 2024 and served as interim pastor, allowing the selection committee an opportunity to observe the man who would now serve as the congregation’s shepherd.  

Brandt’s long service to the ministry was on full display that day as Lincoln, his friend, and fellow pastor over the last 30 years, traveled from the Philadelphia area, where he continues to serve in an active ministry at the Arch Street Presbyterian Church in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Lincoln’s long friendship with Brandt was evident to all to witness as he gave lighthearted and humorous tidbits from Brandt’s past as part of the day’s ceremonies, leaving all with smiles on their faces. 

At the conclusion of the formal installation, congregation members mingled in Disseler Hall forrefreshments and a light lunch.  

Fittingly, it would be  Brandt who would have the final word as we chatted after the close of the day’s events. “I am so honored to serve the United Church of Marco Island in the capacity of settled Pastor and to become part of this beautiful community. Our church is engaged and so involved with so many  wonderful organizations here on the Island.”