Rich Brown served as managing editor of the Herald (published monthly by the Community of Christ) from January 2007 until August 2009, when that position was eliminated as part of a major downsizing of ministry staff at International Headquarters and in the mission field.
Rich began as copy editor at Herald Publishing House in 1986 and within a couple years he was named senior editor. In that role he directed all book publishing efforts and served as editor of the testimony magazine Restoration Witness, the devotional guide Daily Bread, the scholarly journal Theology, and the spirituality quarterly Face to Face (the latter two he originated).
His feature articles appeared regularly in the Herald and he is well-known by Daily Bread readers for daily devotionals and “Sunday sermons.” Rich authored more than a half dozen books published by Herald House, including Temple Foundations: Essays on an Emerging Concept (1991) and the two-volume text, Studies in Romans (1986). His blog “Forewords” (formerly on a separate WordPress site) is part of this Web site. His study text for adults, What Was Paul Thinking? (published by Isaac’s Press and available from Amazon), is an introduction to the New Perspective on Paul for general church members.
After accepting an early retirement offer from the church, Rich created Isaac’s Press as an independent and progressive voice, beginning with members and friends of the Community of Christ but also extending beyond that faith community within Christianity. This online publishing house is named in honor of Isaac Sheen, who founded The True Latter Day Saints’ Herald in January 1860 as a way to unite the scattered Saints after the death of the movement’s founder, Joseph Smith Jr., in 1844. Isaac Sheen served as the Herald‘s managing editor until May 1865, when church president Joseph Smith III assumed that role. Perhaps it’s only fitting that the Herald‘s “last editor” should honor its first in this way.
Rich lives in Blue Springs, Missouri, with his wife Sally. Their twenty-something son and daughter, Matt and Beth, both now live in Denver, which makes for a delightful vacation destination for the parents (especially now that Rich has discovered the spiritual joys of fly fishing).
Rich can be reached at the following e-mail address (the “AT” is used to discourage voluminous Viagra spammers; well, at least here’s hoping it does!): rich.brown.227ATgmail.com
