A task force is recommending that Presbyterians Today, a magazine the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) publishes, be considered an “appropriate mission expense” and that it continue operation under the control of the General Assembly Council.
The future of Presbyterians Today has been somewhat uncertain — as it was on the list of possible budget cuts during a major downsizing of the denomination’s national staff and programs in the spring of 2006.
At that time, however, the council voted to allocate funding for the “short-term continuation” of Presbyterians Today — providing $500,000 from reserves, half in 2007 and half in 2008, to continue publishing the denominational magazine while the council was crafting a broader communications strategy.
Now a task force is unanimously recommending that the council, which meets in Louisville Sept. 18-21, keep control of the magazine and keep it alive. Allison Seed, the council’s chair, appointed the task force last winter to consider the possibility of the Presbyterian Publishing Corp. taking over the magazine, and instructed it to report back at this meeting.
But “the task force concluded that the Presbyterians Today brand is too valuable to hand off at this time to another entity, especially an entity over which the GAC has no direct control,” its report states.
While the task force said it was not able to define a clear role or purpose for the magazine, “the task force believes Presbyterians Today could be a major communication tool for the GAC as it fulfills its role as a connector for the entire denomination,” the report states. “It could be the publication that provides the common language throughout the denomination, telling the stories from all levels of the church that create a fabric of community and a sense of excitement . . . “
It also described the magazine as being a “key tool” for increasing support for the PC(USA), including both prayer and financial support.
It suggests that Presbyterians Today be “maintained and supported” until the denomination’s communications strategy is fully developed.
It recommends that a “broad-based, high-profile editorial board” be appointed to guide the magazine.
And the task force recommends that the council “seriously consider” Presbyterians Today as an appropriate mission expense and not require it to turn a profit or break even.
The task force’s report does not specify the cost involved for implementing its recommendations, although it does commend the magazine’s staff for the quality of their work and for “recent strong financial showings.”
The council is expected to discuss the task force’s report Sept. 19.
