The Manitoba capital was the place to be in early May. Canadian and U.S. military forces were playing war games in the streets and an international wine festival was fueling convivial citizens. Hundreds of Manitoba’s best and brightest huddled at Mayor Sam Katz’s “City Summit” to discuss the spirit of the city and spur economic activity.
Meanwhile, flooded river waters were receding, tulips were blooming, sunshine was abundant and the landscape bright and green. The odd snowflake fluttered about, but shirtsleeves were more the order of the day. Not a mosquito was in sight and the canker worms were two weeks away. The circus was in town.
It was also a great time for nearly 100 reporters, editors and others associated with religious publications throughout the country to gather for the annual convention of the Canadian Church Press association. ChristianWeek and our sister publication, ChristianCurrent, were deeply involved in the proceedings.
For starters, ChristianWeek managing editor Kelly Rempel served as co-chair of a planning committee that did a stellar job organizing this year’s event. How good was it? Hint: the welcome pack included a copy of Steve Bell’s Solace CD, and door prizes included copies of The Rest of God, by Mark Buchanan.
On the opening evening, ChristianWeek founder Harold Jantz gave a lively, 10-minute talk highlighting a few key lessons he picked up during nearly four decades in Christian journalism. Very early in his editing career he determined to use ideas for articles at the earliest opportunity rather than hold a few back for lean times. “I never ran out of ideas,” he says. “There is always something more to write about, another story to tell.”
Jantz also highlighted his decision to be personally committed to the church he served as editor, to function as wholeheartedly as an insider. This posture, he maintains, provides the freedom to be critical when necessary. People can receive a harder word from someone who clearly loves them.
Gus Konkel, president of Providence College and Seminary, gave a short but substantive devotional message at all of the main plenary sessions. Each plenary speaker worked with an aspect of the theme, “Nurturing Communion: Hope in a Fracturing World.”
On the opening evening, GodTalk radio show host David Balzer talked about the need (and opportunities and methods) for Christians to engage in authentic conversations with people who don’t have a faith commitment.
The next day, Roman Catholic Archbishop James Weisgerber and I explored the internal communications of Christian communities. Marie-Louise Ternier-Gommers concluded the series with a deep reflection on communing with God.
And if all that sounds a bit heady, suffice it to say that the workshop sessions provided technical expertise in a range of design, planning and other publishing topics. The event finale was a 90-minute session with Brian Morgan, deputy designer at Maclean’s magazine who detailed the process of a massive design overhaul now happening at Canada’s national newsweekly.
All told, it was a good week to be in Winnipeg. ChristianWeek was especially pleased that all of our regional correspondents were able to attend the event. They return to their regions with a much better understanding of our operation and of the astounding breadth of Canada’s Christian periodical publishing industry.
