Presbyterian Mission Agency seeks public input on new flagship publication

You have until May to share your ideas via a survey

by Layton Williams Berkes | Presbyterian News Service

For many years, Presbyterians Today has been the flagship publication of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. Now, PMA staff are taking a “Sacred Pause” to step back, listen for the leading of the Holy Spirit and dream up what a new publication might look like. During this reimagining process, they’re looking for input from former Presbyterians Today readers and potential new readers too.

The new publication will likely focus on the same core values and initiatives as the PMA’s growing Matthew 25 movement. These foci include building congregational vitality, dismantling racism and eradicating systemic poverty. Other emphases may include addressing climate change, militarism, and heteropatriarchy. Beyond these subject areas, staff are hoping input from the public will inform the shape that this “new thing” publication takes.

“Presbyterian’s Today is not our magazine. It’s the readers’ magazine. We want to honor our audience by ensuring we are providing the content and stories that matter to them,” said DeEtte Decker, the PMA’s Director of Communications.

Decker also wants current loyal readers of Presbyterians Today to know that they continue to be valued and are being considered as this new publication takes shape.

“While it’s true we are dreaming and discerning what might be next for Presbyterians Today, we also want to ensure we expand our existing audience — we don’t want to leave our longtime supporters behind on this journey,” Decker said. “Hearing from them ensures we won’t. This is of the upmost importance to me, that we bring everyone along on this new adventure.”

PMA Communications staff have designed a survey to collect insights from both current Presbyterians Today readers and potential future readers about what kind of publication they would like to read. The survey includes questions about the survey taker’s religious identity, their connection (or lack thereof) to Presbyterians Today, what they would be interested in from a faith-based publication, and their own level of interest in the values espoused by Matthew 25:31-46.

Anyone interested in offering feedback can do so by filling out this survey. People are also encouraged to share the survey with their networks and to follow Presbyterians Today on social media and sign up for the newsletter in order to receive updates about future publication plans.

The March/April 2023 issue of Presbyterians Today was the final issue of the magazine printed prior to this time of pause, and features many of the best and most loved previously published pieces. The Communications Ministry currently plans to spend the rest of 2023 designing a new flagship publication for the agency, with hopes to launch in early 2024.

In an earlier issue of Presbyterians Today, former PMA communications strategist Paul Seebeck explained the thought process and theology behind the decision to take a “sacred pause.”

“While the term ‘sacred pause’ may not be familiar to Presbyterians — or oftentimes embraced, as our default when daring to enter into the new thing God is doing is to form committees and get to work — pausing has been expressed in many cultures and faith traditions for thousands of years…

“This idea of intentionally pausing is built into the Daily Prayer section in the PC(USA) Book of Common Worship and in the PC(USA) Daily Prayer app. The prayers focus on morning and evening — the hinges of the day when light becomes dark and dark becomes light. There are also prayers for noon and at night before one goes to sleep. These pauses are meant to remind us that God is an ever-present reality, always with us, rather than just an idea out there.”

Seebeck also reminded readers that part and parcel with such a pause for reflection is a commitment to continue the work. For the Presbyterian Mission Agency staff tasked with designing this new publication, that work will include analyzing reader feedback, doing deep research into current and projected trends in magazine publishing and digital engagement and working with both internal and outside experts on publishing and design.

The survey will remain open for new submissions through May.