[1]OKLAHOMA CITY (BP)–Glenn Brown, editor of Oklahoma’s Baptist Messenger since 1987, has announced his retirement effective Sept. 30.
Brown, who turns 65 on Sept. 6, made the announcement in the form of a letter to Anthony Jordan, executive director-treasurer of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, and then wrote about it in the May 29 issue of the Messenger. He cited the health of his wife as a contributing factor in his decision.
“I had planned to wait until the end of the year to retire, but Jean’s (my wife’s) increasing health problems make the earlier date preferable,” Brown wrote. “For years Jean has battled debilitating fatigue and pain.
“It is time I turn more of my energies and hours toward helping to make life more bearable and more enjoyable for her.”
Brown joined the Oklahoma convention staff in 1971, working in the religious education department. When editor Richard McCartney left to take a post with the Radio and Television Commission in Fort Worth, Texas, Brown was asked to become editor.
“I don’t know how God could have given me leadership roles — from religious education to stewardship and church administration to communications — that would have been more challenging or more enjoyable than the ones I have had at the BGCO,” Brown wrote. “When I was asked to join the staff in 1971, I was confident that it was God’s leading and I have never looked back.”
He said the future is bright for Oklahoma Baptists and the Baptist Messenger. Restructuring of the BGCO began this spring, and the Messenger changed to a new format Jan. 2. The format change was the first in the history of the 85-year-old publication that is fifth-largest in circulation in the Southern Baptist Convention.
“The Baptist Messenger will continue to play a crucial communication role by sharing the news, information, features and opinion that will help Oklahoma Baptists move forward together,” Brown wrote. “The Lord’s work is dynamic. In some ways it is like a relay race in which one runner gives his/her all for one segment of the race then hands off the baton to a fresh runner.
“I ran the half-mile in high school track meets. It is no problem for me to hand off the baton to another. I’m just happy to have been on what I believe to be a winning team.”
Brown served as associate secretary in the BGCO religious education department from 1971-73, then as associate director of planning and promotion, 1973-87. Before joining the BGCO staff, he was minister of education and music at Springdale Baptist Church, Tulsa, 1957-60; at First Baptist Church, Sallisaw, Okla., 1960-63, and at Britton Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, 1963-67. From 1967-71, he was minister of education at First Baptist Church, Ada, Okla.