The board of the United Methodist Publishing House (UMPH) has elected Reverend Brian K. Milford as the incoming president and CEO. The decision was made Tuesday during a video conference meeting. 

"I am honored by this opportunity to serve The United Methodist Church and wider community,” Milford said. “I look forward to working with a stellar team of dedicated and talented people as we provide relevant, quality and helpful resources for the Christian journey. We will strive every day to creatively sustain and enhance the ministries of Cokesbury and Abingdon Press.”

When Neil Alexander, UMPH’s president and publisher for 20 years, announced his plans to retire by the end of the 2013-2016 quadrennium, the board entered into a study of the leadership needs of UMPH and reviewed the qualities necessary for the next leadership team. Their efforts included new descriptions of responsibilities and provisions for greater flexibility in matching individual talents with necessary roles. 

After completing the strategic assessment, the board authorized a wide-ranging search for the next president and CEO. Throughout 2015, numerous candidates were screened through extensive interviews, case study analyses, reference and employment checks, focused conversations with leaders across The United Methodist Church (UMC) and with UMPH staff executives.

Milford previously served as chief content officer and book editor of The UMC at the United Methodist Publishing House. He is an elder in the Iowa Annual Conference of UMC and was previously a district superintendent and dean of the appointive cabinet. He was a delegate to the last two General Conferences and was elected as a delegate to the upcoming 2016 General Conference. Milford served churches as the senior or lead pastor and participated and chaired numerous jurisdictional and annual conference groups. 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.

Justice Cornelia A. Clark, board vice-chair, celebrated Milford’s election.

“Brian Milford is known across The United Methodist Church as a gifted and astute servant leader who has earned the respect and trust of many,” Clark said. “As UMC book editor and chief content officer, he has gained valuable insights that make him exactly the right person to lead the publishing house into the future with hope.”   

Bishop Gregory V. Palmer (Ohio West Episcopal Area), a member of the board and search committee, also commented: “Brian’s spiritual, intellectual and ecclesial depth will help us build on our heritage and strengths to adapt and innovate as we move into a future filled with unprecedented opportunities to proclaim, teach and serve.”

Milford will continue in his current assignment with UMPH and assist President Alexander through the end of the quadrennium. He will officially assume office as president/CEO at the time of the first meeting of the new board to start the next quadrennium (October).

Dr. R. Carl Frazier Jr., board chair and lead pastor of First United Methodist Church in Cary, North Carolina. said that Milford demonstrated he was the right candidate for the job.

“In our careful consideration of 10 finalists with great track records in publishing, leveraging new technologies and leading organizations through periods of intense creative change, Brian Milford emerged as far and away the person most ready to provide missional vision, innovative business practices, sound stewardship and trusted leadership for the challenges ahead,” Frazier said.

Ultimately, the vote was unanimous in inviting Milford to lead the publishing house.

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