The Mennonite and Mennonite World Review are announcing the name of the independent, multiplatform journalistic ministry they are creating: Anabaptist World.

The new ministry’s platforms will include a new print magazine and website, to launch in September, building on the successful legacies of their predecessors.

Anabaptist World will use the tagline “Mennonite news, inspiring stories.” It will seek to reach members of all Mennonite groups, especially Mennonite Church USA, the largest constituency of both predecessors. More broadly, it will appeal to anyone interested in Anabaptism, both within and outside Anabaptist denominations.

For longtime readers of The Mennonite and Mennonite World Review, the launch of Anabaptist World will bring a fresh look and feel (in both print and online versions), an increased emphasis on timely news and commentary, a renewed focus on outstanding imagery and visual design in the print periodical, and an updated, easy-to-use digital reading experience.

Anabaptist World magazine will be published every three weeks, 16 times per year. It will include a mix of news, features and commentary. Paid circulation is estimated to be nearly 9,000 at launch.

Subscribers of The Mennonite and Mennonite World Review will have the time left on their subscriptions added to their subscription of Anabaptist World.

Anabaptistworld.org will be the digital home for timely articles, podcasts and other multimedia. Digital readership will build on the predecessor platforms’ reach, which stretches into the tens of thousands monthly.

The merger of The Mennonite Inc. and Mennonite World Review Inc. will create a new nonprofit, Anabaptist World Inc. Its purpose statement says, “Anabaptist World Inc. is an independent journalistic ministry serving the global Anabaptist movement. We seek to inform, inspire and provide a forum where Mennonites and anyone interested in Anabaptism can explore faith and culture.”

Everence, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mennonite Disaster Service and The Schowalter Foundation of North Newton, Kansas, have contributed financially toward development of Anabaptist World. Likewise, readers of The Mennonite and Mennonite World Review have contributed significant gifts in recent months.

Hannah Gerig Meyer of Goshen, Indiana, is leading multiplatform branding and magazine design efforts.

“The visual identity for the Anabaptist World platforms is simple, timeless, newsy and prestigious, with both a modern and historic feel,” says Sheldon C. Good, TMI executive director. “The color palette is bold, eye-catching and urgent. These features amplify the nature of the compelling content that is to come from Anabaptist World.”

Paul Schrag, MWR editor and MWR Inc. publisher, says, “Exciting progress is happening as we prepare to launch a new era in Mennonite publishing. I believe readers will appreciate the merging of these legacy publications. We’re adapting to the challenges of a changing media world while expanding our vision to serve the widest possible Anabaptist audience with high-quality independent journalism.”