The New Pulpit & Pews
March 29, 2009
Someone suggested that the art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order. As I put pen to paper, I can’t help but reflect on the changes during my time with the production of Pulpit & Pews. One of my first responsibilities at the church was to serve as the editor of the paper. In those days, that meant setting up a table next to the secretary as we worked to paste together (literally) each issue. In one sense it was simpler because of the limitations placed on our authors. Every article needed to hit a specific word count and the contrast of every picture in the paper had to be at the same setting. There were only two type fonts and nothing in the header could change since it had to be put together one paste on letter at a time or hand drawn by an artist. Typewriters, a light table (actually the window) and x-acto knives were the tools of our trade.
Today, many of our readers wouldn’t know what to do with those antiques. Like the rotary landline, they’re relegated to the past. Today we have a lot more flexibility. For a decade, we’ve been progressing to an entirely digital production. The only thing paper about our paper is the final printing and mailing. That is about to change. Part of the reason for this transition is to get a better product into your hands. What you hold in your hand isn’t what we see on our screen in the office. The digital version is clearer and in color. To remedy that, Pulpit & Pews is going completely digital. The copy you hold in your hands will likely be the last paper edition we produce. Besides saving a great deal of money, this adjustment will allow us to better serve the bulk of our readers. In the future, we will not have to wait until a sufficient amount of news is accumulated to justify the time and expense of putting out another edition. Photos will be more clear and in color. And for those of you living at a distance, delivery will be instant instead of taking weeks.
To make this happen, the format will undergo few changes and the “paper” will be hosted on our website. As each edition (actually “addition” would be closer to it) is placed online you’ll receive an e-mail containing a link to take you directly to the article. In order to accomplish this, we need your e-mail address. Please take a moment now to be sure that the church office has your e-mail address. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to office@biblepres.org and include “P&P” in the subject line. You can do this more than once; everybody who has an e-mail address in your house should sign up.
We look forward to being able to serve you more effectively beginning with our next edition so please be sure we have your e-mail address. We don’t want to lose any of our readers.
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