After graduating from Walla Walla College in 1954, Gerald D. Brass began his ministry as a pastor in the North Dakota Conference, then became the Education and Missionary Volunteer Director of the same conference before moving to Minnesota and serving there in the same capacity. He then became principal of Fresno Academy and then moved to the Potomac Conference where he again took the position of MV Director and Temperance Director. In 1973, he became the personnel director of the Portland Adventist Hospital before joining the Washington Conference as health director.