The alum was a former trustee of the University and adjunct faculty member
April 2026 – Drew University is mourning the loss of The Rev. Dr. Clayton Z. Miller T’59,’75, former trustee of the University and adjunct faculty member, who died on April 11 at the age of 92.
Miller’s legacy at Drew will continue on through an endowment he established in 2013—The Rev. Dr. Clayton Z. Miller T’59,’75 Scholarship. Awarded annually to a Drew Theological School student, the scholarship recognizes excellence in supervised ministry and strong promise for leadership in congregational clergy.
“The gift that I give to them is not an end in itself,” Miller had said of his endowment. “It’s a means to a greater gift, which is their ministry.”
Miller earned both a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Drew Theological School.
In addition to his work at Drew, Miller was appointed Council Director of the New York Conference of The United Methodist Church, the Conference’s primary program agency. In this role, he initiated the Parish Consultant Network, training clergy and laity to guide congregations through pastoral transitions and times of conflict. He also helped launch the ministry fair model, transforming Annual Conference sessions into interactive, collaborative spaces for sharing ministry. During this time, he also served as a delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences of The United Methodist Church, the international legislative body of the denomination.
Miller also served as senior pastor of Asbury Methodist Church in Tuckahoe, NY, and pastor of East Northport United Methodist Church, in East Northport, NY.
