Special offer on Church & Society back issues

Fellow Presbyterians:

Some of the best reading I did this past summer was of old issues of Church and Society magazine. I had never known of the Presbyterian publication until recently when I began categorizing issues dating back to the early 1970s. I was disappointed to discover in my discussions with fellow members that few within the denomination had access to this journal. Church & Society, “C&S” was actually 98 years old and had existed in several formats. For this college student, reading about the history of the Presbyterian Church’s involvement in social justice was very enlightening. It is for this reason that I want to share this publication with others so that they too can learn more about our socially active church. 

Over the decades Church and Society magazines have addressed pressing issues facing society such as war, racism, immigration, poverty, globalization and energy. Human Rrights have been a big focus, with recent issues on Israel Palestine, previous ones on Central America, South Africa, and before that Vietnam and Eastern Europe. Each magazine contains articles written by Presbyterians who have expertise or experience in the particular issues being discussed.  Many writers provide ways the church can respond to issues while some give testimony to their experience. The combination of these different writing approaches has proven effective in helping me in my quest to promote a more just society based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. It turns out, in fact, that about half of the magazine issues were always purchased as adult education resources.

Due to reorganization and the shift to the Web, the church is moving now to newer forms of communication and educational materials that led to a halt in the publication of Church and Society. However, there are many copies of recent back issues sitting in a warehouse just waiting to be distributed and read by those who are interested. The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) is offering back issues of this publication for free (a shipping and handling charge will be added).

Many of the older issues are limited in quantity and therefore not widely available. However, there are still ways to obtain the older material if you contact the ACSWP office with your interest at bonnie.hoff@pcusa.org or (800) 728-7228 x5823. Even though some issues available date back to the early 1970s, these publications remain relevant in today’s society and can be valuable resources for Presbyterians.

Blessings,
Erica Arave
ACSWP 2008 Summer Assistant

P.S. ACSWP is still considering new forms for sharing and strengthening Presbyterian Social Witness with possible print and cyber options understood to complement each other. Funding remains an issue.  Some have recommended a vehicle that would be supported by a board drawn from Louisville, congregations and our colleges/seminaries.

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