Kingdom Authority Church plans public meeting on hospital campus purchase

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The owners of Kingdom Authority Church have announced plans to hold a public meeting to address plans for their recent purchase of the former Rockford Memorial Hospital campus.

Pastor Melvin Brown, of Kingdom Authority Church, 815 N Church Street, and his wife, Shiela Brown, were revealed as the new owners of the hospital in early September.

“Kingdom Authority is pleased to announce that it will host a community information meeting to provide details and clarification regarding its new building project,” the church said in a press release Wednesday.

“Our desire is to be clear and intentional with everything we do,” said Pastors Melvin and Sheila Brown. “This meeting will allow us to explain the heart behind this project, outline the next steps, and most importantly, listen to the voices of those we serve.”

Mercyhealth closed the Rockton Avenue campus in July.

Mercyhealth stated on September 3: “Mercyhealth is pleased to announce that Pastor Melvin Brown and his wife, Sheila Brown, have signed a purchase agreement and are now closing on the former hospital facility on the Rockton Avenue Campus. The Browns have spent more than 30 years ministering and providing social support for members of the Rockford community. Their dedication to serving others, coupled with their vision for the building, will have a positive impact on the community.”

Notice of the hospital’s sale triggered a response from Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara, who said in a statement, “Dumping the property to an individual/organization without the resources, plan or capacity to follow through would almost certainly leave the building vacant, creating another source of blight on the west side.”

The community information meeting is scheduled to be held Saturday, September 20th, at 12 p.m. at the former hospital.