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2010-06-01 issue:

Positive financial news for The Mennonite, Inc.

Series of articles on sexuality is also scaled back after further review

by Everett J. Thomas

Print Article

The board of directors for The Mennonite got some good financial news at its board meeting April 24 in Goshen, Ind. The corporation ended its fiscal year on Jan. 31 with a $37,196 margin after expenses of $502,105. This is the first time in three years that The Mennonite, Inc., has had such a margin and boosts the corporation's equity to $114,243. This in spite of a decrease in advertising revenue. In 2008, The Mennonite had $147,423 in advertising revenue but only $118,706 in 2009.

Three factors compensated for the decline in advertising income: a record level of contributions from readers, austerity measures initiated by staff in 2008 and 2009 and a reduction in the cost of printing the magazine. Readers contributed $89,718 during the last fiscal year, up from $79,993 the previous year. Printing costs, however, were $97,451 in the last fiscal year, compared with $123,106 the year before.

In response to the positive news, the board asked its executive committee to look at the austerity measures initiated in 2008 and 2009. These included reduction in FTE for several staff members, no cost-of-living increases, discontinuation of OurFaithDigest, no first fruits contribution to Mennonite Church USA and a decision to have the auditor examine selected accounting records rather than doing a full audit. The board will then consider restoring some of those cuts after the first quarter results for the new fiscal year.

Circulation trends: Since its March 2009 meeting with a publications consultant, board and staff members have begun keeping track of readers of all media produced by The Mennonite, Inc., not just readership for the print magazine. This includes the number of "absolutely unique visitors" to the Web site, the number of people who subscribe to the weekly English-language ezine TMail and the number of people who subscribe to the monthly Spanish-language ezine Meno Acontecer. While circulation for The Mennonite magazine continues to decline slightly, readership for other media continues to grow. Staff estimates that approximately 33,000 people read what is published in all media; this is up from an estimated 25,000 five years ago.

Moratorium: Each meeting of the board for The Mennonite includes a discussion of the 2000 moratorium on letters and articles that address Mennonite Church USA's teaching position on human sexuality. At its September 2009 meeting, the board suggested a series of articles that would assist the church in its ongoing debate around sexuality issues. That series was later revised and supported by the  Executive Board in its Feb.

18-20 meeting. However, the Constituency Leaders Council asked for more information about the series when it met March 17-19. According to CLC moderator Dick Thomas, 30 members voted against The Mennonite publishing the series, 10 voted for it and the remaining 35-40 members indicated no preference. In response to this counsel, The Mennonite will not publish the entire series; the editorial staff is now developing a proposal to publish three or four articles beginning next fall.

Yutzy recommendation: During a closed session, Mennonite Church USA staff members Ervin Stutzman and Marty Lehman discussed the recommendation made to the Executive Board by LaVern Yutzy that "The Mennonite become (sic) the official publication of Mennonite Church USA and a part of the denominational office communications department." No decisions were made.

In other matters, the board supported in principle the relocation of its Goshen Ind., office to the new office building planned by Mennonite Church USA in Elkhart, Ind., near  Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. The office will move if it is economically feasible.

The board for The Mennonite will meet next at the Leaders Forum Sept. 23-25 in Pittsburgh.

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