Peter W. Marty, an ELCA pastor, has been named publisher of The Christian Century, a major journal of Protestant thinking in America.
His role will be to advance the vision and financial strength of the publication, expand its digital reach, and continue its delivery of religious news, commentary and scholarship, according to a news release. He assumes the post Feb. 1.
John Buchanan, a Presbyterian pastor who led magazine since 1999, retired at the end of 2015. David Heim, also an ELCA pastor, continues as executive editor.
“I am thrilled to be joining the community of gifted writers and curiosity-filled readers known as The Christian Century,” Marty said. “While navigating the rapidly changing worlds of print and digital media is an industry-wide challenge, the opportunities in this publishing niche are many. I look forward to helping shape America’s conversation about religion and faith in public life.”
Marty is pastor of St. Paul Lutheran, a 3,500-member congregation in Davenport, Iowa. He will continue to serve St. Paul while leading the magazine, based in Chicago. The lead columnist for The Lutheran for the past six years, Marty’s column will conclude with the June issue.
He is a graduate of Colorado College, Colorado Springs, and Yale Divinity School, New Haven, Conn. Marty speaks and preaches at churches and conferences across the country, and writes for a variety of journals and publications.
The Christian Century, a biweekly publication, covers theological, moral and cultural issues of the day through feature articles, news, blogs, poetry, book/film/music reviews, and editorials.
