Dr. Byron T. Brazier was born and raised on Chicago’s south side, being the second child of four children and the only son of Bishop Arthur M. Brazier and Isabella Brazier.  He was educated in the Chicago Public Schools, attended and graduated from Doolittle Elementary School and Wendell Phillips High School. He received his bachelor’s degree from Roosevelt University, a master’s degree in theological studies, and a doctorate from McCormick Theological Seminary.

In 1972, Dr. Brazier started his professional career as a production supervisor at Johnson & Johnson. In 1973, he joined the data processing division of IBM Corporation as a salesman. He later became a marketing instructor in Dallas, Texas and was promoted to several positions at IBM, reaching top-level management as a business unit executive over the public sector.  During his tenure at IBM, he regularly received national recognition for his outstanding service and leadership.

In 1991 Dr. Brazier transitioned from IBM and founded Brazier and Associates.  His entrepreneurial acumen and unquestionable business savvy led to his appointment as Chief Information Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority.  He remained in this role until 1995 – the year he became the general administrator of the Apostolic Church of God.  Dr. Brazier served as general administrator from 1995 thru 2008.  In this role, he systematically developed a fool-proof business model, making the Apostolic Church of God a well-run organization, housing over 20,000 members.

MINISTRY
In 2008, Pastor Arthur M. Brazier announced his retirement; the Apostolic Church of God’s Official Board, through unanimous vote, elected Dr. Byron T. Brazier to fill the vacancy.  Pastor Arthur M. Brazier officially passed the torch to Dr. Byron T. Brazier on June 5, 2008. Dr. Brazier humbly accepted his new role and readily assumed this awesome responsibility. His primary motivation was for the congregation to grow in the grace they have received from God, to build their spiritual identity, character, and vision, and to enjoy being a part of the body of Christ.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
As an advocate for the community, Dr. Brazier continues to ensure that the church remains a beacon of light and an agent of change in the community. Through the establishment of the Bishop Arthur M. Brazier Foundation, Dr. Brazier has obtained funding from various philanthropic organizations to support the development of the Woodlawn community in the areas of education, public safety, and economic development. In 2010, Dr. Brazier proposed the development of the Network of Woodlawn which has provided a unifying vision for the Woodlawn community.  In 2014, Dr. Brazier established a social enterprise manufacturing company that provides workforce development services for residents in robotics controls.  The revenue from this social enterprise entity is reinvested into the Woodlawn community.

Dr. Brazier is the chairman of the board of the Network of Woodlawn and its pillars, the Bishop Arthur M. Brazier Foundation, and BSD Industries L3C.  He sits on several boards, including the Cook County Sheriff’s Merit Board, the Bishop Arthur M. Brazier Foundation, the Network of Woodlawn, the Olive Branch Mission, the South Side YMCA and the Museum of Science & Industry.