Welcome

“Whilst a band of loyal readers still want to read and buy Life and Work, either in print or digital, the pool for growth is rapidly diminishing.

BY the time you read this article, the fate of this magazine will be sealed.

A joint report was approved by this General Assembly in May recommending the cessation of publication of this title in its current form as the central Church of Scotland grapples with an ever-deepening financial crisis.

It would have been easy to argue and present an alternative possibility for the future of this proud publication, but in 12 months’ time, it is likely the same debate would be taking place.

Life and Work has endured for over 140 years – weathering the storms and successes of the Church of Scotland in equal measure.

Founded by the Rev Professor Archibald Charteris, Professor of Biblical Criticism at the University of Edinburgh, the purpose of the magazine was to bridge the gap between congregations and centre and offer a publication which united the people of the Church.

For over 125 years, the magazine did just that, bringing people together and shaping, resourcing and informing eager readers, and delivering much-needed surpluses which were spent elsewhere. The magazine was not entitled to build up reserves.

The dawn of the 21st century brought a dramatic change in consumer behaviour – not just restricted to Life and Work. The pace of technological change and its easy accessibility has impacted every publication. Newspapers which once commanded huge circulations now sell less than Life and Work’s current print run. Whilst a band of loyal readers still want to read and buy Life and Work, either in print or digital, the pool for growth is rapidly diminishing.

Reports to this year’s General Assembly asserted that church ‘membership’ had fallen by 35 per cent over the last ten years. The reality is much starker. Only 68,160 of the ‘membership’ are active and present in the pews each week, meaning the target marketplace for any growth for this magazine is severely diminished. The biggest blow did not come with the Covid-19 pandemic, but rather with presbytery mission planning, which (predictably) slashed sales as buildings closed and attendance figures reduced, and the imposition of internal financial recharges.

But this is not an apology for the loss of this historic title, rather a plea for the future. This is the Church into which I was baptised and am a member. It matters. Whilst Life and Work cannot be saved, please do your very best to maintain our Church and ensure its broad vibrancy remains for future generations who will (though they do not yet know it) benefit from its love, support and community, remembering the motto of the Church of Scotland Guild (another great legacy of Charteris) ‘Whose we are and Whom we serve’.

Thank you all for sharing the journey (and thank you to all the people with whom I have had the privilege to serve and work with over the years). Wishing you all every blessing for the future.

Lynne McNeil Editor