Born in Tonawanda, New York (a Buffalo suburb), on May 3, 1943, the Rev. Gary L. Miller was nurtured in a deeply faithful family of musicians who found in the church a perfect setting for the sharing of God’s wonderful gift of music. What began in the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, became a part of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, United Church of Christ, as an organist/choir director mother and a bass soloist father moved from a founding family to an extended family and an opportunity to more fully explore the talents which God had entrusted.  This beginning portion of a life’s journey filled Gary with a rich appreciation for the worship experience and the power it contained when it was “alive” and filled with the spirit of God’s presence…particularly as it was enriched by music and other artistic gifts.

Through Gary’s educational journey, music was and continues to remain a vital part of his life. Although he was initially trained as a “classical” musician, his eyes have remained open to the possibilities of many and varied kinds and/or types of musical expression. He continues to keep his trumpet “chops” alive and cherishes his early moments of musical journey.

Athletics were and are a continuing diversion for Gary. Although his major personal participation was on the football field, yes—even a year professionally, he has, through his wife and three sons, developed an even deeper appreciation of those athletic pursuits which continue to provide good health and relaxation with accumulating years and pressures.

After graduation from Elmhurst (Illinois) College in 1965, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Rev. Miller attended United Theological Seminary of New Brighton, Minnesota, where he graduated in 1968. He has and is continuing that educational journey which now finds him a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry Degree, under the auspices of the Minnesota Consortium of Theological Schools.

Rev. Miller’s ordained ministry began in June 1968, with a three month interim assignment in rural Fillmore/Boltonville, Wisconsin. In September of 1968, he became the Youth Minister at The First Congregational Church of Saginaw (Michigan). During his first two years in Saginaw, Gary was named the community’s “Outstanding Young Man” and was given the County Bar Associations’ “Liberty Bell Award” in recognition of his community service.  In 1971, Gary was elected to the Saginaw City Council.

Also in 1971, Gary initiated “non-traditional” worship services in local churches with a heavy emphasis on contemporary and jazz music. In 1972; he organized the Celebration Road Show, an all-star collection of musicians, to further explore the possibilities of music and worship in the church. From 1972 through 1977, the Celebration Road Show traveled over 800,000 miles providing programs and worship in the sanctuaries of most major Christian Denominations, classrooms, concert stages and supper clubs. In the United Church of Christ alone, they provided music and program for two General Synods, twenty-seven Conference Annual Meetings and over five hundred local congregations.

In January of 1977, the Miller Family moved to the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ as Associate Conference Minister, under the auspices of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries, with major responsibility for Christian Education, Youth Ministry and Media/Identity Development. It was during these next two years that Gary was to acknowledge the urgency of his family’s return to a local church setting.

In January of 1979, the Miller Family accepted and began a pastorate at The Congregational Church of Algonquin, Illinois. In the thirteen and one-half years of their service and ministry, the church grew from approximately two hundred members to almost fourteen hundred members at the time of their department in June of 1992.  The hallmark of that growing and exciting church is worship that is alive and generating power for each and all of the church’s members and ministries.  During Rev. Miller’s tenure, he was recognized as the “community’s” pastor and became an integral part of most community activities serving as President of the Chamber of Commerce, Good Shepherd Hospital Board Member and participating with many service organizations.

He continued, during this time, serving the wider church with involvement in the Illinois Conference, United Church of Christ, and as a Church Growth Consultant for several denominations and conferences.  He is author of The Worship Experience in a Growing Church published by the UCBHM.

On August 1, 1992, he began his work as the Senior Pastor of the Coral Gables (Florida) Congregational Church. In the Miami metropolitan area, it is a church of diverse and multi-cultural influences which clearly wishes to explore what it yet can become as a creative body in the midst of God’s Creation. One of the leading churches of the United Church of Christ in its commitment to mission and outreach, it began seeking to energize the creative balance of worship and mission for all of the people of God. Needless to say, it was alive with the “sounds of music.”

In February of 1999 Rev. Miller became Senior Pastor of Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, Connecticut.

Rev. Miller and his partner since 1968, Beth (a counselor and educator), have three sons - Kent, Mark and Christopher - and four grandchildren.