John Schmalzbauer: Editors more important than bishops
“Disciples don’t have bishops. They have editors.” An old saying in the Restorationist movement, this ecclesiological aphorism is true for more than just low-church Protestants. In “Helping Theology Matter,” the late William Placher described Protestant magazines as a key resource in the theological development of clergy and lay leaders. Though editors have yet to replace bishops in every denomination, they play a vital role in the ecology of faith.
For starters, it is impossible to imagine the world of mainline Protestantism without "The Christian Century." As Elesha Coffman documents in “Constituting the Protestant Mainline,” the magazine united an influential swath of moderate-to-liberal Protestants around a common identity. Likewise, in "Building a Protestant Left," Mark Hulsether tells how Christianity and Crisis gave voice to everyone from Christian realists to feminist theologians. For neo-conservative Catholics and Protestants, "First Things" has played an equally important role.
On the conservative side of the Protestant house, "Christianity Today" functioned as a midwife in the birth of the “new evangelicalism,” going on to become the most widely read publication among American pastors. More recently, "Books & Culture" has become the house organ for a new generation of evangelical scholars, serving as an antidote for what Mark Noll famously called “the scandal of the evangelical mind.”
Similar tales have been told about "Commonweal’s" influence on an earlier generation of Catholic intellectuals. As the American voice of liberal Catholicism, Commonweal nurtured a highly visible network of Catholic public intellectuals, including the journalists Peter Steinfels and E.J. Dionne, Jr.
I call attention to religious press in the same way that environmentalists call attention to clean air and water. Though Christian publishing remains a renewable resource, it must never be taken for granted.
As Christian periodicals struggle to adapt to the digital age, there is a possibility they will not survive. In 2008 the United States witnessed the death of 613 periodicals. With the folding of "Gourmet" and other venerable publications, 2009 was just as bad. Though the republic will probably survive the demise of "Travel & Leisure Golf," I’m not sure North America’s religious ecology could survive the demise of religious publishing.
Back in 1993, progressive Christians mourned the end of "Christianity and Crisis." Since then, "The Other Side" and "Zion’s Herald" have ceased publication. Writing their obituary in “The rise and fall of Protestant magazines,” John Dart predicted a much rosier picture for the Christian Century, noting an increase in circulation since 2001 to 36,000 subscribers. According to Duke’s Pulpit & Pew survey, it remains the most popular periodical among mainline Protestant clergy.
Less certain is the fate of the fifteen year-old "Books & Culture." Never a profitable publication for parent company Christianity Today, its precarious future has been highlighted by increasingly urgent appeals for funds. According to "B&C’s" marketing data, its 12,000 subscribers purchase an average of 25 books a year and read nearly 15 hours per week. Such individuals constitute an intellectual leaven within the larger loaf of American evangelicalism. At a time when a “sullen, angry populism” is making a comeback among some evangelicals, it remains a precious cultural resource.
To be sure, many religious magazines have successfully made the transition to the religious blogosphere. From "CC Blogs" to "dotCommonweal" to First Thoughts, theological discourse has migrated into cyberspace. Yet without the print and paper versions of their sponsoring publications, it is unlikely such ventures would survive.
Until American Christians find an ecclesiology and a business model for the digital age, they risk becoming a people without editors or bishops.
John Schmalzbauer is a sociologist of religion teaching at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.
Thanks for this
Books & Culture is a treasure. Editors and journals are indeed important. The Other Journal (available free online) is perhaps the youngest face (early 30's most of them) of intellectual journalism.
Disciples need editors
Among other questions is the sustainability of print publishing with its great costs when compared to digital publishing with considerably less cost and the potential for wider circulation. How long can the Christian Century maintain itself with 36,000 subscribers as costs increase? There is no business model yet for digital media. The NY Times announced today it will return to fee for content.
The Kaiser Family Foundation report on media use by 8- to 18-year-olds reveals the spend their waking hours online and are reading newspapers less and periodicals less. They are using media primarily through cellphones and smartphones.
Prof. Schmalzbauer is correct. unless we find the means and theology to participate in the conversations people are having online, the old line religious communities will fade into irrelevance.
The future of religious journalism
Thanks for this post, John. This struggle has been a constant for religious periodicals for quite some time, but its urgency has particularly increased this past year. 2009 saw the untimely death of, among others, the Disciples World magazine (the outstanding magazine whose 2002 launch your first linked article reported on; apparently the Disciples now already have neither bishops nor editors!), the previously high-circulation Episcopal Life newspaper, United Church News, the venerable Church Herald (after 180 years!!), and the Wesleyan Christian Advocate (after 172 years). I am a board member of the Associated Church Press, and while we are currently growing our membership among religious blogs and online-only publications, we remain concerned for the future of independent, professional religious journalism and will be redoubling our efforts to assist our membership in working on this challenge.
P.S.: In a "What are we, chopped liver?" spirit, I hope you will indulge me if I put in a plug for, and invite you to check out, the magazine and website I work for: U.S. Catholic magazine, which like Sojourners and The Christian Century has been able to grow its circulation in recent years, and uscatholic.org.
Zion's Herald isn't dead, but transformed
Dear Prof. Schmalzbauer:
As a journalist of nearing 40 years' tenure, half of that in religion journalism, I'm deeply appreciate of your affirmation of the importance of our vocation to the life of the church.
However, as Managing Editor of The Progressive Christian magazine, the heir of Zion's Herald, I must gently correct your assertion that Zion's Herald magazine has died. Its name was changed in 2008 to designate its identity more accurately for a 21st century audience unfamiliar with the metaphorical significance of the vision of Zion as the divine place of peace and justice.
In other words, Zion's Herald isn't dead, but transformed. Like many of our colleagues, we're struggling, but we're still moving forward in hope and faith. Find us online at http://tpcmagazine.org
Glad to be reminded of the
Glad to be reminded of the new form of Zion's Herald. John Dart mentioned that this would be happening (in his article I cite). I remember reading this, but did not mention it in the blog. Glad to know The Progressive Christian Magazine is continuing the tradition. Blessings on your continuing vocation.
U.S. Catholic
I'm also glad to hear that U.S. Catholic is thriving. I have read some nice pieces from that publication in the past.
Had I more space, I would have also talked about America magazine, where folks like James Martin, S.J., are doing great work.
Editors and Bishops
As a Disciple I know this slogan quite well. Alexander Campbell, Barton Stone, and Walter Scott all provided leadership through their journals. It is unfortunate that Disciple World died -- and we are now as a community struggling to create some way of getting the word out. For now it seems that we'll be doing this in a sort of freelance way online.
By the way the Christian Century began as a Disciples journal that over time became ecumenical. But, its original editor, CC Morrison was a committed Disciple!
religious magazines
I just checked the number of religious publications I can subscribe to. Just check the list: http://www.magazinenook.com/153-religious-lifestyle
Frankly I don't think most of the publications from that list will be available in 5 years.
'You may be right'
As HL Mencken wrote back to most of the letters he got. At the same time, I heard Martin Marty say last week it's remarkable that in a day when Marshall Fields is gone from Chicago, when Newsweek magazine is on life support, when so many other institutions have vanished, there's the Christian Century still trucking along.
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