The Reverend Brian Edward Murray is a native of New York City. He grew up in the Borough of Queens. A product of the New York City Public School System, Rev. Murray is a graduate of one of its crown jewels, the nationally known science and mathematics magnet, Stuyvesant High School. He is a second-generation graduate of Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he attained his Bachelor’s degree in biology. His formative years were spent in the African American Episcopal Church in New York. Like many young people, he drifted away from the church during his teen years but returned to actively practicing his faith with his young wife and daughter in the Baptist faith in Baltimore. It was at Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Baltimore where the Lord called Rev. Murray to the ministry, and he ran from it for three years. As a young man in the corporate world, he maintained a professional career where he worked for Bristol Myers Squibb, Glaxo Smith Kline, Genentech, and Pfizer. Even though Rev. Murray rebelled and enrolled in the MBA program at Morgan State University, the pull of God was strong, Rev. Murray left that program and finally enrolled in St. Mary’s Seminary and University, where he attained his Master’s degree in theology. In the following years, Rev. Murray served on the ministerial staff of two Baptist churches before starting full time in 2008 as the founding pastor of New Covenant.  Today he is a beloved pastor, former adjunct seminary professor, well-known activist minister and community organizer in the Maryland area, anti-racism lecturer, and has served on nonprofit boards in the Baltimore region. He is a graduate of several of the region’s leadership programs, is an Adese Fellow in the United Church of Christ, and currently a doctoral candidate at  Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.  Rev. Murray is a father of two wonderful adult daughters and is also a grandfather. Rev. Murray and his wife Janese, his college sweetheart, live right here in Baltimore. “Rev” is a servant, a people person, a gifted preacher/teacher, and as he says, “just a skinny kid from New York trying to make a difference.”

 

 

Our First Lady: Janese (Alexander) Murray was born at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and grew up in Willingboro, New Jersey. She is a graduate of John F. Kennedy High School in Willingboro and graduated with honors from Morgan State University with a Bachelor’s degree in speech communications. Janese grew up in the Baptist church in New Jersey, and it was her persistence as a young wife and mother that got Rev. Murray back into the church. First Lady Janese began her professional career in retail management and eventually transitioned to a distinguished career in human resources. At the peak of her professional career, she moved into the area of diversity and inclusion, where she was the chief architect of the diversity and inclusion program for the Exelon Corporation in Chicago. Coming from one of the largest energy suppliers in the country, Janese has been a sought-after speaker and facilitator around the country on matters of diversity and inclusion in corporate America. Janese retired from Exelon as Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion in 2018. Today, as the founder of Inclusion Impact Consulting, LLC. a firm focusing on corporate diversity and inclusion, Janese has continued to lecture and facilitate both nationally and internationally. In the United Church of Christ, she serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Central Atlantic Conference, a six state jurisdiction with nearly 200 churches. She loves traveling, shopping, and spending time with the family. With all Janese does, she always makes time for her New Covenant family. She is shoulder to shoulder with the ladies at worship, bible study, and women’s ministry programs. Janese is a model “First Lady” for the 21st Century. She is one who takes advantage of all life has to offer and is thankful to God for the chance.