Each year Regent College in Vancouver welcomes two or three visiting scholars or Christian professionals to join the Regent community. These "in-residence" professionals get to take courses and share experiences and skills with students and faculty at the well-known graduate school of Christian studies. In just a few months, I’m happy to report, the fortunate person will be me.
The term "writer-in-residence" rings sweetly in my ears. This opportunity to spend four months (January to April 2005) as part of a mature Christian community resonates like the welcome toll of a church bell when my heart yearns for worship. It beckons. It chimes forth the promise of spiritual refreshing and a sweet season away from the ordinary concerns of life.
How will I use this time? I have a confession to make. Although for years I’ve worked primarily as an editor (i.e. a channel for other people’s writing), I am a writer at heart. This may or may not be what I do best, but writing is the work I find most satisfying. A term as "writer-in-residence" enables people like me to attend to long-neglected research and writing projects.
These currently include a proposal to produce descriptive literature about evangelicals in Canada as a resource for journalists in mainstream media, and a desire to read and reflect on the mysterious ways that Christian truth can permeate artistic endeavour of all types. Freelance articles and creative writing ambitions also beckon.
Is that all? Not by a long shot. Meetings, teaching opportunities and a host of events are already beginning to crowd the calendar. When the Regent College position winds down, I expect to be participating in the Evangelical Press Association’s annual gathering (in Chicago in 2005) and at the Faith and the Media conference in Ottawa in late May. My wife, Margaret, will be with me in Vancouver and we expect to do some personal traveling and visiting as well.
Who will do my work? Some are wondering who will look after my work with ChristianWeek and ChristianCurrent when I’m away. Count me as one of them. I do expect to stay in regular contact with the editors of our publications and will not be surprised if I continue to write the editorials. We are already working ahead to ensure that regular columnists are secured and a steady flow of major features and other important articles will arrive in due course. I’m in the process of finding an interim deputy editor to help out in a few areas.
Can ChristianWeek readers do anything to help? The short answer is yes. At the moment, finding sufficient funds to ensure this happens without putting ChristianWeek into a difficult financial situation is the most pressing matter. We can issue receipts eligible for tax deductions for donations designated "professional development." Please give me a call (1-800-263-6695) and I’d be delighted to speak with you about any aspect of this.
Professional development leave is a gift of time. I intend to use it well-to do a lot of listening, reading and writing and to take full advantage of the unforeseen opportunities a season as writer-in-residence will undoubtedly provide.
