From the editor
As interim editor of The Mennonite since February, I have received many questions regarding our publication, its purpose, who it serves and more. In this editorial, I address some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs).
What is the purpose of The Mennonite?
Mennonite Church USA established three purposes for publication: (1) to provide a forum for the voices within the denomination, (2) to promote the ministries of Mennonite Church USA and (3) to offer an editorial voice distinct from but collaborative with other leadership voices. It serves and is owned by members of Mennonite Church USA through the delegate body. The Mennonite, Inc., publishes content across three media: a monthly print magazine, two free ezines (TMail and Meno Acontecer) and a website, www.themennonite.org.
What is the The Mennonite’s relationship to Mennonite Church USA? The Mennonite is an entity of Mennonite Church USA, not a churchwide agency. This offers some separation between The Mennonite and Mennonite Church USA leadership.
What about the relationship to the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board? The Executive Board appoints three members of our board of directors. A representative of the Mennonite Church USA communications office is permitted as a nonvoting observer at all directors’ meetings, except executive sessions of the board. That person is Hannah Heinzekehr.
How is the publication funded?
Mennonite Church USA bylaws require The Mennonite to be a “self-supporting entity.” We are funded primarily through paid subscriptions, as well as donations and print and web advertising. Our new website—launching this fall—will offer a viewer-friendly PDF of the print magazine to nonsubscribers for a donation each month. Otherwise only a select amount of material from the print magazine will be available for free on our new website.
How do you decide what to print?
Many of our pieces are unsolicited. We make an effort to include pieces by women, underrepresented racial/ethnic people, young adults and other writers from across the United States. Send your submissions to editor@themennonite.org or annag@themennonite.org.
What kind of articles are you looking for?
We wish to publish articles that help our readers glorify God, grow in faith and become agents of healing and hope in the world. We are especially interested in personal stories of Mennonites exercising their faith. Writing should be concise, accessible to the general reader and with strong lead paragraphs. In March, someone wrote on our Facebook page that The Mennonite is “doctrinally confusing” on the sexuality issue, citing that we ran an article by a gay man who is committed to abstinence as well as an article calling for LGBT inclusion in Mennonite Church USA. A variety of perspectives on this issue and other issues is precisely what we seek to publish, as The Mennonite is intended to serve as a “forum for the voices within the denomination.”
Why do you use “LGBT” instead of “homosexual,” “gay” or “LGBTQ”?
The initialism LGBT, in use since the 1990s, refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The Associated Press, whose stylebook is widely used by many news organizations, including The Mennonite, restricts the use of “homosexual.” At this point, we do not use the Q, which stands for “queer” or “questioning,” as LGBT is most frequently seen in current usage.
Who do I call with a question about my subscription or about advertising in The Mennonite?
Please call 800-790-2498.—ag
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