Tag Archives: Anglican Journal

Anglican Journal to be editorless, left wafting hither and thither on a miasma of politically correct religiosity

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The current Anglican Journal editor, Kristin Jenkins – whom I met briefly in 2010 and rather liked in spite of our radically different perspectives – is abandoning the Anglican Journal to the tender mercies of Paul Feheley.

In the face of certain cuts for Anglican Journal staff, one can hardly blame her.

As the article below notes, the budget for the Journal will be more conservative; what is left unsaid is that the content will undoubtedly be less conservative – you may think that an impossibility, but with a herculean effort from the stragglers still employed by the paper, I am certain a way will be found.

From here:

Following the resignation of Editor Kristin Jenkins, the Anglican Journal will adopt an interim management structure and not hire a new editor until late 2013 at the earliest. Sam Carriere, director of Communications and Information Resources and Resources for Mission, shared this news with General Synod staff on Dec. 13.

Editor since 2009, Ms. Jenkins will leave the Anglican Journal on Jan. 7, 2013 to become director of advancement at Albert College in Belleville, Ont.

“It is my feeling, supported by advice I have sought and received, that I should not engage in a formal search and hiring process for an editor of the Anglican Journal until next year’s restructuring work is behind us, at the earliest,” said Mr. Carriere in an email to staff.

In November, the Council of General Synod passed a transitional budget for 2013 and agreed to establish a more conservative budget for 2014 in response to declining revenues. Throughout the next year, General Synod leadership will consider ways to restructure the national office, including the Anglican Journal.

 

A History of the Anglican Journal

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Can be found here.

Some interesting tidbits:

1959
A new distribution concept benefitting dioceses and the national church is forged. All identifiable givers to the church receive the newspaper along with their diocesan publication. Circulation skyrockets to more than 200,000.

Since I still receive the Journal, I must be viewed as an “identifiable giver”: believe it or not, I don’t actually give the Anglican Church of Canada any money, so my identifiable giving must be all  the free publicity the ACoC receives on this blog. It’s gratifying to be appreciated.

Come to think of it, though, the Journal receives a yearly subsidy of $596,627 from Canadian Heritage, so, as a taxpayer, I am still contributing to the Anglican Church of Canada. Very reluctantly.

1968-1975
Hugh McCullum, a well-respected journalist and activist, is the first editor to hire professional reporters rather than clergy to produce stories on poverty, aboriginal land claims, pollution, abortion law reform and apartheid. A fierce advocate of editorial independence, he believes that an open, transparent church is a stronger church.

And now, 40 years later, the ACoC is such an “open, transparent” church that its membership has strengthened from around 1.36 million to 320,000, many of whom are septuagenarians.

1977
The newspaper’s editorial policy is revised. While the Canadian Churchman remains the national newspaper of the Anglican Church of Canada, its’ [sic] position as an independent voice rather than the official voice of the church, is made clear.

The supposed editorial independence of the Journal is frequently reiterated, largely to avoid losing its substantial grant from Heritage Canada. In reality, it has about the same amount of independence as Pravda had from the U.S.S.R.

Even with the yearly grant, the Journal has been shrinking – it must be getting stronger – and has had to appeal to members for money:

1994
With funding from General Synod slashed by 38 per cent, the Journal seeks donations from readers for the first time. Proceeds from the Anglican Journal Appeal are shared 50/50 with the diocesan newspapers.

Rest assured, though, that it has not abandoned its liberal blinkers: instead it now oozes reader friendliness:

2010
A re-design of the Anglican Journal, the first in a decade, is launched with the April issue, offering a bold new reader-friendly look.

 

IDAHOT

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No marks for thinking that this means Ida is hot, that it is an exclamation of pain from someone who has a mouthful of superheated baked potato, or that it should simply say “Idaho”.

No, in this day of LGBTQIA, this is an acronym for a contemporary Anglican sexual obsession that people used to think of as aberrant, but are no longer allowed to.

From the Anglican Journal – where else?

The rainbow flag flew proudly over many of the world’s  town squares on May 17, the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT). But just a few days later, Australian supporters of same-sex marriage are locking horns with Sydney’s St. Andrew’s Anglican Cathedral.

Community activists are asking supporters to rally on May 21 in Sydney Square near the town hall and the cathedral to celebrate the eighth marking of IDAHOT. May 17 is the date on which the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its International Classification of Diseases some 21 years ago.

Anglican Journal reports “sombre reactions to Bin Laden's death from religious leaders”

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A lot more here:

Christian leaders cautioned against applauding a death while acknowledging bin Laden’s role in killing others. “Nobody should wish to rejoice at the death of a man, but the world w ill rejoice if recent events prove to be a vehicle to reduce the level of violence and hatred in the world,” a Vatican Council of Bishops official who asked to remain anonymous told ENInews. “We pray for the soul of Osama bin Laden and for the souls of all those killed in violence, and ask God for the blessing of peace.”

It’s odd that the Anglican Church of Canada is obsessed with “doing justice”, yet it doesn’t seem to be too keen on rejoicing at this particular spot of well-deserved justice.

Surely the august organ of the Anglican Church of Canada is not biased in favour of its own parochial, culturally blinkered version of justice?