New ministry magazine debuts for USA/Canada Region

Lenexa, Kansas
Thursday, May 27, 2010

The USA/Canada Regional Office is pleased to introduce Grace and Peace: Ministry in a Connected Culture, a new resource magazine aimed at clergy and ministry leaders in the USA/Canada Region. The first quarterly print issue has just been mailed and will go to all Nazarene clergy with a district ministerial license or above. The magazine's web site, graceandpeacemagazine.org, will include videos, forums, and other resources. Additional articles and information will be added to the web site regularly.

Grace and Peace is the result of a significant clergy research survey held at the end of 2009. Clergy responded that they wanted resources sensitive to cultural trends and issues while reinforcing Nazarene identity.

"Models and thinking about how churches grow, mature, and proliferate have become more dynamic and diverse," states Bryon McLaughlin, the magazine's executive editor. "Changes in denominational structures and attitudes, the recognition of the U.S. as a mission field, the rise of social media, and significant cultural change has prompted the need to reassess how to think and talk about church development and ministerial practice. Grace and Peace was developed with these things in mind."

The name "Grace and Peace" is intended to function at different levels.

"We want clergy to know we value their contribution to God's kingdom and we want to do all we can to enable them to extend grace and peace to their congregations, neighborhoods, and communities as they lead efforts to reach others for Christ's sake," says Bob Broadbooks, USA/Canada regional director.. "We hope Grace and Peace can be a place where pastors and church leaders share ideas, resources, and methods that are working for them with other churches and leaders across our region."

Many of the articles in Grace and Peace will be offered in Spanish. The editor will have a blog on the web site that will solicit ideas for future articles and writers. Questions about Grace and Peace may be directed to Bryon McLaughlin via E-mail at gpeditor@nazarene.org.
 

--USA/Canada Regional Office