The Last Word

Rev Geoff van Schie. Trowel and Sword editor. December 2010

Preamble: It can be no easy thing as the editor of a magazine that has been the lifeblood of the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia and New Zealand for the past 56 years, to write its obituary. This task fell to Geoff van Schie and the words that poured out of him were filled with the emotions of the occasion. No doubt a large factor in the decision to cease production was economic, at a time when all and sundry were predicting the demise of magazines and newspapers with the coming of the digital age. Ironically, the demand for magazines in general is as strong now as it has ever been. Towards the end of his article Geoff asks the question whether we have gone in the wrong direction in stopping production. It took only three years from the beginning of the Reformed Churches in Australia to the beginning of T&S. With Geoff we pray that after thirteen years a new editor and team may be found to lead T&S to a new chapter in its history under the grace of God. It may require a leap of faith, but surely that is the business that we are in! (Bert & Pieter)

Editor’s Notes – (The Last Word)

How does one start? That has been a question facing me for a while. This is especially so when these notes will not only be my last as editor of T&S but also the last after 56 years of the printed version of the magazine itself. What does one say in such a piece in such a time?

As I look back over almost nine years of being editor if T&S, I realise that the Lord has grown me in the process and in this way T&S has been a blessing to me despite the drain on time and energy it has represented as to its relentless call for attention. As I mentioned in an email to a colleague this morning, I see that the Lord has used T&S in particular to develop within me the fruits of the Spirit.

How so you may ask? As other editors of denominational magazines would know, to be the director of such a publication means that much pressure is placed upon you to print only what one particular segment of the denomination believes to be ‘right’ for the ‘flagship’ of the CRCA. I give thanks to the Lord that in managing such pressure from all sides of the CRCA, and even from some outside the denomination, He has driven me to consciously endeavour to maintain those fruits; “… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”. (Galatians 5:22-23).

It is my belief being the editor has taught me to be more patient and gentle with others than ever before. It certainly has powerfully developed within me the fruit of self control! Many rewrites of Ed’s notes and even total discarding of some and beginning all over again, are testimony to that particular fruit. Editors are human and if we are not careful we can sinfully return in harsher measure what we have received, in the process abusing our position as editor. Yet our task is as servants of Christ to be like Him in such a significant role.

My role over the past years has also taught me what striving for peace is all about. Over the time I have been editor there have been quite a number of controversial issues at work within the CRCA, some threatening to rip the church apart, with some ministers and church councils speaking of entertaining the thought of leaving the CRCA. At this very time, this is again the case. Over the years I have sought to objectively allow the differing sides to share their concerns, always applying the policy that what was said had to address the issue and not the ‘man’. There have been times when I have not allowed items to be published because of what I perceived to be their inflammatory and unedifying tone or potential to be divisive.

In spite of the challenges that by grace God uses to grow an editor, I cannot but acknowledge the joy and love that I have experienced in the task. It has been an honour and privilege to work with a wonderful team of very positive and committed people without T&S would not be what it is today. The current team members have written their own personal farewell (see pages 34-35). Those who have served with me over the years worked hard seeking the best for the CRCA and T&S. It has been a blessing to personally have had such a committed group around me – truly a gift of God. I thank them for their service in love for their Lord and the CRCA.

With love and joy this team has endeavoured to bring to the CRCA the best magazine we could produce, visually and as to its content. The team has endeavoured to fulfil the original vision of the founders of T&S, that T&S should be a ‘popular’ magazine with something in it for all the family. Indeed we have worked hard to steer away from T&S being again perceived as a publication written by ministers for ministers. We pray that we have achieved this if even in some small measure; we seek our reader’s (sic) forgiveness where we have failed.

In an email just received from one of the staff of Matthias Media (publishers of ‘The Briefing’), we are encouraged that some believe our efforts have hit the mark. That email in part reads as follows:

I just wanted to say that I am sorry to hear this (discontinuation of printed version of T&S), although I suppose I understand better than most the economic realities print publications are facing. T&S has been one of the publications that sits on our lunchroom table, and is often browsed and read by Matthias Media staff. Its look and feel has certainly become first rate, and the content was always biblical and edifying.

Warm regards Ian Carmichael, Matthias Media.”

As I sign off I must confess that I am afraid that we will discover we have moved in the wrong direction in ceasing a printed version of T&S – a matter of not knowing what we have till it is gone. The prayer of the outgoing team is that T&S will live on and remain a blessing to the CRCA and its wider readership. We pray the synodical interim committee will soon find a new editor and team to lead T&S to a new chapter in its history under the grace of God.

Thank you to all those who have T&S alive through their subscriptions, especially those few churches that bulk ordered for every family and single unit. Those churches were indeed the backbone of T&S’ (sic) financial sustainability. May the Lord bless and keep you all as we again take time to be in wonder of God’s grace as this Christmas we remember the arrival of Immanuel – God with us!

T&S also would never be what it is without the many volunteers who over the years have done an outstanding service to the CRCA in the provision of a wide variety of items. These volunteers have come from every state, and some also from New Zealand. Lately we also have had many items sent and published from those submitting items from outside the CRCA in Australia and also overseas, all given as a gift for no payment. Those contributing to the content have come from a wide variety of walks of life using their God given gifts to seek to be a blessing to our readers. From the WA team we extend our heartfelt thanks to them all.

Rev Geoff van Schie. Trowel and Sword editor. December 2010