Karen Stiller, one of two senior editors at Faith Today, has news to share. An advance peek at the Behind the Scenes column from our Jan/Feb 2025 issue.
It has been such a pleasure. Helping bring Faith Today to you every two months for the last 20 or so years has been one of the privileges of my working life.
This kind of Christian-based journalism is increasingly rare and increasingly important. To tell stories from and about the Church, with a posture of respect and love for the Church, is a gift to the Church. I really believe that. Faith Today is a great magazine, and you are a lively, interactive and thoughtful group of readers. Thank you.
A few months ago I met with our publisher David Guretzki, and with tears in my eyes, but a solid sense of right direction in my gut, I submitted my resignation effective this month.
After the loss of my husband two years ago, I followed the advice of “No sudden moves.” When I returned to work I discovered work could be a solace. It was good to be back to assigning and editing stories, leading creative people, being busy all day doing good work well.
And yet . . . I knew a change was coming. I felt a growing shift inside me from editor back to writer, my most central life calling after wife and mother. I enrolled in a doctor of ministry program in the sacred art of writing at Western Seminary, which takes me there twice a year to study the craft I love so much.
I plan to teach and coach emerging writers and seasoned writers. I’m excited about that. I want to live in a more focused way, helping to bring good work into the world – mine and others.
Working with Bill Fledderus has been such a privilege. Faith Today is in good, solid hands. He has been my work brother. I will miss that. I will be cheering him on as he shapes a new team and keeps bringing you stories of inspiration, analysis and sometimes calls for the Church to do and be better. I hope to contribute here again in future as one of the many enthusiastic writers adding to Canada’s Christian conversation.
We have enjoyed teaming up one last time to put together an upcoming issue for you. You will love the cover essay in the Jan/Feb issue by Julie Lane-Gay on the unexpected pleasures of writing obituaries. I also had the opportunity to write a piece about lessons from grief. There is a lot of good content to look forward to. The Jan/Feb issue will kick off another great year of Faith Today. That certainly won’t ever change.
Karen Stiller of Ottawa, Ont., and Bill Fledderus of Hamilton, Ont., are senior editors of Faith Today.