Branson L. Thurston, a former editor of Church School Publications, retired after 19 years as a staff member of The United Methodist Publishing House. Earlier in his career, he pastored several local churches, served on the Kansas East Conference staff, was Ledden Fellow and instructor at Syracuse University, and served as a college dean and professor of religion at United Methodist colleges in Florida and North Carolina. He is the author of numerous United Methodist publications, including The United Methodist Way, A Brief Introduction to the Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, and Meet Your Bible and Discover Life.