The Reverend Brian K. Milford has been elected as the Chief Content Officer & Book Editor of The United Methodist Church. He will begin his new responsibilities on July 1, 2014.
Neil Alexander, President and Publisher of the United Methodist Publishing House, announced the election by the Board’s Executive Committee saying, “A treasured part of United Methodist heritage is the importance of quality literature – from scholarly to broadly popular. From the wide-ranging reading and prolific writings of John Wesley to today’s Common English Bible, along with crucial teaching, preaching and worship resources, publications have always been at the heart of the life, work and witness of the people called Methodists. Brian Milford brings appreciation for that heritage, a critical mind, deep theological moorings and a pastor’s heart to lead our editorial ministry for the next decade.”
As Chief Content Officer/UMC Book Editor Milford will oversee and direct the editorial development for Abingdon Press, Cokesbury, Common English Bible and other imprints of the UMPH publishing program that includes books, periodicals, Bible reference products, dated and undated teaching and learning curriculum, music products and church resources and supplies. The UMPH editorial department also directs development of official UMC resources including The Book of Discipline, The United Methodist Hymnal and other approved resources, and serves as the production unit for the Daily Christian Advocate.
Upon election, Rev. Milford said, “I am excited to join the team at Abingdon Press and Cokesbury who are dedicated to providing the highest quality resources to help people know God through Jesus Christ, love God, and choose to serve God and neighbor. I am honored to join the long line of Book Editors and thrilled to work with the excellent authors and staff who bring the Good News of Christ to bear upon the considerable challenges we all face. As UMC Book Editor, I will strive to remain faithful to the Gospel and the Wesleyan tradition.”
Reverend Milford is currently Dean of the Appointive Cabinet in the Iowa Annual Conference. He has served Emmanuel UMC in Granger, Iowa, Methodist Churches in Greytown and Featherston New Zealand and Lovely Lane UMC in Cedar Rapids. He has chaired jurisdictional and conference task groups, been a delegate to the last two General Conferences, and was the head of the Iowa Delegation in 2012. He will continue to maintain his Iowa Conference membership as an Elder and serve this Appointment Beyond the Local Church with the United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville, Tennessee. He received his Master of Divinity degree from the Divinity School at Duke University and his B.A./B.S. in Business Administration and Sociology from Iowa State University.
About Milford’s new role, Bishop Julius Trimble said, "Brian has demonstrated exceptional leadership in Iowa and across the Church. Imaginative, innovative and deeply rooted in Wesleyan theology Brian has exemplified what a servant leader as missional strategist can accomplish. A team leader who is well respected by laity and clergy, this superb communicator, writer and preacher will make a big difference in the life of the Church. I am pleased that he is taking on this unique role at an important time for the church and the publishing house."