In recognition of his decades of service and dedication, the Rev. Tyler C. Millner was recently honored with the title of Pastor Emeritus by Morning Star Holy Church. This title acknowledges Millner’s significant impact through exemplary pastoral leadership, faith, and community engagement.
Millner, who expressed surprise and humility upon learning of the honor, was out of state when the announcement was initially made. “I wasn’t even there the Sunday they intended to do it. I was over appreciative and humbled by it,” he said.
Ordained as a Christian minister by the United Holy Church of America in 1971, Millner returned to Martinsville in 1991 to pastor at Morning Star Holy Church, a congregation founded by his mother, the Rev. Almeda F. Millner, whose legacy and commitment deeply influenced him.
Reflecting on his mother’s contributions, Millner said, “It was an honor to come back and honor my mother’s legacy.” Almeda Millner was both a community leader and a family matriarch, a dual role that her son said left a lasting impression on his ministry. “She met the needs of her family and the community. That made an impression on my sense of ministry—that you have to meet the needs of members and people if you’re really faithful,” he explained.
His mother’s steadfast example left an indelible mark on Millner. “She was a mother to nine of us,” he recalled, describing her as an “excellent model” who upheld both her family responsibilities and her preaching obligations without fail. “She never missed a preaching assignment and never missed a revival.”
Education, a deeply rooted family value, was central to Almeda Millner’s influence. “It used to be that if there was one thing the Black church promoted and supported, it was education,” Tyler Millner said, noting his mother’s involvement with the Laurel Park school board. “I am the first graduate of the church and the first college graduate. Since then, this small church, Morning Star, has had over 50 college graduates.” Millner hopes this emphasis on education will remain a priority.
As a pioneering female founder in a male-dominated field, Almeda Millner also served as a role model for many women. “If I did half of what my mother did, then I did alright,” Millner reflected.
After nearly a year of retirement, Millner said he has spent considerable time reflecting on his ministry and his role in the community. “Faith is a major part of career development, family development, and your personal goals,” he said. He believes that faith remains essential to human growth and fulfillment, underscoring that one should “never go without faith and trust in God.”
In Millner’s view, the church plays a vital role as a moral guide in society. “The church really is the saving influence of society. As Martin (Luther King Jr.) said, we are to be the moral conscience of the state,” he noted, adding that the church’s responsibilities extend well beyond its walls. “There is a lot to be done in the community.”
Passion and commitment are essential to fulfilling this role, according to Millner. “If we are not devoted to them, passionate about them, then why would the world be any different?” He believes that being passionate about Christ will both draw people to the church and help the church meet the community’s needs.
The Pastor Emeritus also expressed reservations about aligning the church too closely with societal trends and social media. “If I preach 52 sermons a year, there are going to be a few in there that you don’t like if I’m being faithful to the prophetic tradition,” he said, noting that he opposes tailoring sermons to please audiences or gain favor.
For Millner, the responsibility of the preacher is to convey God’s word faithfully, even when it challenges or unsettles the congregation. “The world hasn’t outgrown the need for the preacher because we haven’t outgrown the need for God,” he said.
