New Associate Secretary Elected to GC Ministerial Association

Jeffrey Brown has been elected as an associate secretary of the General Conference’s Ministerial Association and associate editor of its Ministry magazine.

Brown, who will assume the position on July 1, replaces Willie Hucks II, who will step aside after 10 years to teach as a professor at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University.

Brown currently is a professor of religion at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, and director of its Bradford Cleveland Brooks Leadership Center.

“He brings a breadth of experience and is known for a deep spirituality,” said Jerry Page, secretary of the Ministerial Association. “Everyone who knows him likes him.”

Born in England, Brown holds an B.A. from Newbold College and M.Div. and Ph.D. from Andrews University. He has worked as a pastor, administrator, and teacher in multiple countries, including president and family ministries director of the church’s Bermuda Conference; senior lecturer and director of pastoral studies at Newbold College; religion teacher in the Bekwai and Agona Adventist secondary schools in Ashanti, Ghana; and senior pastor of the Apple Creek Adventist Church in Toronto, Canada.

He also wrote the book Single and Gifted and, with his wife, Pattiejean Brown from Bermuda, co-authored three books: The Total Marriage, A Guide to Parenting, and The Four Love Seasons.

The General Conference’s Executive Committee, the top governing body of the Adventist Church, elected Brown on March 22.

At the General Conference, Brown will join five associate secretaries: Jonas Arrais, who oversees elders, deacons, deaconesses, retirees, and ministerial resources, and edits Elder’s Digest; Robert Costa, evangelism and church growth; Anthony Kent, continuing education, and PREACH; and Derek Morris, editor of Ministry magazine, and Janet Page, Shepherdess International and prayer ministries.

In addition to serving as Ministry’s associate editor, Brown will focus on theological education, clergy leadership development, and clergy families.

Asked about what he hoped to accomplish in the Ministerial Association, Brown highlighted his desire to strengthen and support clergy families.

“We are being devastated on every side. The devil is wroth with the woman and is waging war on our marriages and our children, not forgetting our parents and siblings,” said Brown, who has two young adult children, Kristle and Jamel.

He noted that his sister, Anne, a member of the Lewisham Seventh-day Adventist Church, was killed in an accident in London last week.

“Pastoral students in my Christian Ministry class at Oakwood University ask me, ‘When tragedy hits our families, who pastors the pastor?’” he said. “Counseling, care, and comfort of pastoral families — I know from first-hand experience, we need it.”

Regarding clergy leadership development, Brown said pastors, departmental directors, and executive officers needed to be quipped with cutting-edge skills while retaining the humility of Jesus.

“We are chief servants in the church,” he said. “We are not at the top of a hierarchy, and we are more than servant leaders. We are leading servants. We live the lifestyle of our Lord. Degrees yes, pride no. Accolades yes, worshipped no. Credentialed yes, praise no.”

He pointed to Jesus’ words in Luke 17:10, which read: “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”