After much discussion and a tie vote that was decided by the chairperson, the Board of Trustees of the Christian Reformed Church dropped the requirement that The Banner’s editor in chief must have a master’s degree in divinity or theological studies and eight years of ministry experience in the CRC. The Banner is the official publication of the CRC.
The board made clear that those requirements are still preferred, but it did not want to preclude otherwise qualified candidates from applying. The job posting will also note that the position is “half time or greater,” leaving room for applicants who may be seeking full-time employment. Currently, The Banner’s editor in chief currently works 60 percent of full time while also working half time as pastor in a congregation.
The board decided in February to combine the July and August issues into one summer issue for 2015 as part of budget cuts. Last week the board received a recommendation from the Banner Advisory Council (a subcommittee of the board) to make the change to 11 print issues per year permanent. The decision will be made by senior denominational personnel. Content on The Banner’s website will continue to be updated year-round.
About the Author
Gayla Postma retired as news editor for The Banner in 2020.