Pastor Timothy Brand

Transition Interim

Timothy John Brand was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota in 1965 to Theodore Paul Brand, a farmer, and Apryl Cora Tostenson, a nurse. In 1987, Rev. Dr. Brand graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pre-seminary studies, Elementary Education and Director of Christian Education from Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois. From 1987 to 1996, he served several churches throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana as a director of Christian education (DCE). In 1987, he married Susan Gibson with whom he has four children: Alexander and his wife Liz and grandson Henry; Steven; Jacob and his wife Elizabeth, grandson Trevor, and granddaughter Aria who is due to be born in June; Rachel and fiancée Anthony. Tim’s wife Susan also graduated from Concordia- River Forest with a Bachelor’s degree in Lutheran Elementary Education. She taught for 26 years at Trinity Lutheran in Traverse City. She retired from teaching in 2022. Upon Tim’s graduation in 1996 from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tim was called to pastor St. Michael Lutheran Church in Traverse City, Michigan for eleven years. From 2008 to 2010 he served as Vacancy Pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Interlochen, Michigan. In 2011, he became the pastor of Salem National Evangelical Lutheran Church in Westland, Michigan, and in 2015, he was called to pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Caledonia. Pastor Brand completed a Doctor of Ministry degree from Covenant Theological Seminary in 2017, with an emphasis on Pastoral Leadership and Biblical church governance. In the fall of 2024, Pastor Brand began training for future ministry as a TIM (transition interim ministry) pastor. He was certified by the Michigan District last February. Trinity Conklin is his first placement as a TIM pastor.