There’s no question that something will have to give. Recent articles in the Anglican Journal have made it clear that the Anglican Church, at its national level, is struggling just as much as we are on a more local level—struggling financially, to be precise. We need to make cuts, but where?
In my world of editing, we are particularly concerned about the seventh of the “Seven Hypotheses” that were published last summer in the article Commission asks: Time to axe General Synod, Journal? in the Anglican Journal (https://anglicanjournal.com/commission-asks-time-to-axe-general-synod-journal/). Hypothesis Seven states: “It is time to end independent editorial journalism funded by General Synod.” I’ve sat with this for a while now—for months—it nags at the back of my mind.
I’ll start with the 2019 campaign to get everyone to resubscribe to their diocesan papers. While there were issues with its execution, I understand the goal: to obtain a clean and accurate list of people who subscribe to the Anglican Journal and its diocesan sections. We went through that process, so now, as of January 2025, we know that the Anglican Journal has 29,839 subscribers, and Anglican Life has 3,206. We know that our papers are going to homes where they are wanted, read, and loved.
There are more papers than that, though. In addition to their presence in people’s homes, we must also acknowledge our Church papers’ role in more public spaces. I love our local public library, and I know that in the newspaper section, current copies of both the Anglican Journal and Anglican Life are available to anyone interested in seeing what the Anglican Church is doing—an important witness and ministry. They’re also available at our cathedral and in other parish churches, where tourists and other visitors can gain insight into the Anglican Church. The total circulation for the Anglican Journal is 34,494, and it’s 5,510 for Anglican Life; these numbers include these other, non-household subscriptions.
While talking about cuts to journalism at the national level, it’s worth noting that Anglican Life has an excellent, professional website hosted on Anglican News Canada, a platform managed by General Synod. The web designer, who handles technical aspects for all diocesan papers, is employed by the ACC, and this service is currently provided at no cost to Anglican Life (and other diocesan newspapers too). Would changes that “end independent editorial journalism funded by General Synod” jeopardize this?
Anglican Life’s website, though expressly not a replacement for print, is crucial. It provides instant access to current news and preserves past issues in a searchable archive, catering to those seeking timely updates and those revisiting stories. In modern journalism, a website is essential for relevance and adaptability. Should Hypothesis Seven end General Synod’s support for diocesan websites, it would be another significant loss.
So, I’m asking General Synod to step back from this—the loss is too great for the average Anglican in the pew. We are not just numbers on a spreadsheet—we are your people. People who, quite recently, chose to continue this relationship with their Church and with the good news of the Gospel shared through these publications. This is how we celebrate together, how we mourn together, how we share our faith journeys, and how we unite in these challenging times.
This is not the “something” that has to give. The 29,839 Anglicans who just asked to keep getting their papers aren’t wrong.
