Dr. Jonathan E. Miller didn’t know that he wanted to become a pastor when he was growing up. He originally wanted to work with the FBI, when a friend passed away and he received a sign to follow the path of God. This was the start of Miller’s life serving the community.
For all of his work with the Moorestown community and beyond, Miller was chosen as Moorestown’s Citizen of the Year for 2016. Miller will be honored at a dinner at the Moorestown Community House on Wednesday, Feb. 3.
The Citizen of the Year in Moorestown is a Moorestown resident who has, through voluntary community service activities, significantly contributed to the quality of life of both the community and its citizens.
Miller has exemplified that through his time as a pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Moorestown as well as his acts of kindness outside of the church.
“Jonathan is a pillar of the community. He’s done a lot of work, as head pastor people are aware of, and behind-the-scenes work that people don’t know about. In my opinion, thinking about candidates, Jonathan was the first who popped in my mind. It is an honor he is very deserving of, and I think the right choice for the award,” said Brad Kenney, who nominated him.
Miller was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was raised in a home where his father was a pastor and worship was one of the constants in the home. His family moved to Wilmington, Del., when he was 12. He graduated from Wilmington Friends School and Trinity College in Connecticut, where he majored in history.
Anticipating a career in the FBI, he was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a communications officer from 1971 to 1974. He married his wife Karin in 1972.
His life direction shifted with the death of a close friend and fellow Marine in Vietnam. Miller was unsure of his life and the direction he wanted to go. Then, for Miller, God’s healing comfort was present when that life-changing moment happened.
“When he (his friend) was killed in Vietnam, my whole world kind of stopped. I grew up with the church, but that wasn’t the direction I had wanted to go … I didn’t not believe, but I definitely put God in the back of my mind. So when my friend died, that was the first place I went when this crisis happened. A pastor at a church had said in times of uncertainty turn to God. For me, as an adult, that was an invitation and I took it,” Miller said.
He attended Princeton Theological Seminary from 1974 to 1977 to pursue the ministry. He completed the doctor of ministry degree in 1993.
The Millers have two daughters, Katie and Sarah, who are married and have two children each. Sarah lives with her family in Mt. Laurel, and Katie lives with hers in Atlanta, Ga.
From seminary, he served at churches in Red Bank, Laurel Springs, Havertown, Pa., and then came to the FPC of Moorestown in 1994.
“It’s been a wonderful 22 years and a great congregation,” Miller said.
During Miller’s 20-plus years in Moorestown he has:
• Led nine mission trips, helping build churches and school rooms, restore homes and teach children and adults
• Initiated the seminary internship program with Princeton Theological Seminary, training and encouraging those who would lead the church of tomorrow
• Helped FPC partner with Urban Promise, which invests in the youth of Camden, for more than 20 years
• Has been the head of the Moorestown Ministerium for more than half of his tenure in town
• Has helped lead 20 couples retreats
• Has faithfully attended and supported every Memorial Day service at Memorial Field for 21 years, many times contributing with prayers of invocation and benediction
• Has opened the FPC to the community, accommodating the MTPS buses on the parking lot, car washes for athletic teams, funerals for high school students tragically deceased and many local meetings
• And has regularly participated in the Rotary Run, always coming in first in his category: Presbyterian ministers older than 40.
“I love being in the town. I have never been with such a dynamic ministerium, the representative clergy in the town … I love serving there,” Miller said. “Our church, when I first came, was inward focused, and what I’ve tried to do is try to help us look outward, with (the organizations in the town) and push beyond like (mission trips). I’m so thankful for the generosity of this congregation.”
Miller has been working with the FPC for 22 years, and as a pastor for 39 years. In May, Miller will be retiring at the age of 66. Miller wished to serve longer, but he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is taking this time to focus on his health and family.
“For the most part, I feel good. I’m thankful for every day. When you’re carrying some illness, the day has a different glow to it, and knowing that God and the resurrection is real is an incredible comfort,” Miller said.
With this honor, Miller would like to underscore the remarkable privilege he has had to work with so many outstanding men and women in the town. He is grateful for meaningful friendships shared with the school board, township leaders and especially the ministerium. He is always thankful for God’s grace and the caring and redemptive community.
“I’m very humbled by it. When I think of all of the people who gave so many hours to the township, I’m very humbled. I love to be active in the town, and I was very surprised (to be chosen). It’s been great getting to know the (township leaders) and support them,” Miller said.
There will be a dinner at the Moorestown Community House on Wednesday, Feb. 3 starting at 6 p.m. to honor Miller. Tickets are $55 and can be purchased at the Community House or The First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown.
