Magazine Audience

The Christian Leader is a gathering place for the people, passions and mission of U.S Mennonite Brethren. The magazine seeks to inform, instruct and inspire dialogue so that adult readers in all life stages will aspire to be faithful disciples of Christ as understood in the evangelical/Anabaptist theological traditions.

Our readers attend Mennonite Brethren congregations in the United States or have a connection to our denomination. They are actively involved in a local congregation and share a common interest in family, church life and social issues.

The CL is a national magazine, published bimonthly and mailed to approximately 10,000 homes.

Writer’s Guidelines

• We publish a limited number of articles by writers with no connection to the evangelical Anabaptist community.
• Freelance writers most often contribute articles to our feature department. We recommend that freelance writers visit our Web site (www.usmb.org) or read a printed CL before submitting a query.
• We give preference to writers who are from North American Mennonite Brethren congregations, ministries and educational institutions. We welcome articles by writers from within the Anabaptist and Mennonite family of denominations.
• Articles by Mennonite Brethren and those from other Mennonite that focus on personal experiences are encouraged. Please do not submit personal testimonies or stories unless you are a Mennonite Brethren or Mennonite writer.
• Seasonal articles should be submitted at least three months prior to the holiday.
• We publish very few poems and fiction stories.
• We pay upon publication.
• We generally buy "first-time rights" to the original manuscripts, whether the article has been assigned or comes to us unsolicited, and this includes posting the article on our Web site.

What we look for

• Does this article offer a unique perspective on the topic?
• Does the article include elements of Anabaptist/evangelical theology?
• Does the article include Scripture references and biblical support for the material?
• What is the tone of the article? Is it too “preachy?” We’re looking for articles written in a conversational tone that apply the material to the writer while also including and inviting the reader to consider the content.
• Do the writing details need attention (i.e. spelling, grammar, transitional sentences, word use, etc.)?I
• s it relevant to our audience?
• Does the article contain good factual information and also challenge or motivate Christians in their faith?
• Does the author incorporate personal experiences, stories or illustrations? Do these references reflect the range of our audience in terms of age, marital status and life stage?
• Is the article is too long for our publication? The length of feature articles we publish will usually range from 1200 to 1500 words.

How to submit an article

We prefer that writers contact the editor prior to submission with a proposal for the article. Send your proposal to editor@usmb.org.

Please send

Along with your article proposal, please provide information about your self, including an e-mail and mailing address. We are interested in knowing which Mennonite Brethren church you attend; if you are not affiliated with a Mennonite Brethren church we would like to know the name of your home church. Please also include information about your experiences and qualifications as related to the article you are proposing.

 

The Christian Leader is a member of the Evangelical Press Association and follows the EPA professional code of ethics, including its writer's guidelines.

To contact the editor:

Connie Faber

editor@usmb.org

Box 155

Hillsboro, KS 67063