Pastor Picked After Elmhurst Church's 4-Year Search

ELMHURST, IL – After a four-year search, the congregation of Elmhurst's First Congregational United Church of Christ overwhelmingly approved a new pastor late last month.

The Rev. Brian Louis most recently served as the pastor for Faith Presbyterian Church in Sierra Vista, Arizona. He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church after earning his master of divinity from the University of Chicago's divinity school in 2022.

Before entering the ministry, Louis was a journalist for a quarter century, including a dozen years as a business and finance reporter for Bloomberg News in Chicago.

A native of Marshfield, Wisconsin, Louis holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota and is now pursuing a doctor of ministry in creative writing and public theology from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

"His background in journalism, combined with his theological training and pastoral experience, brings a unique perspective to ministry and community leadership," the church said in a news release.

His first sermon as a "settled" pastor at the Elmhurst church is set for Aug. 17. The public is invited.