 |
|
 |
| Marcia Whitney-Schenck |
| |
|
| |
Nomination: For her role as Founder and Publisher of the magazine CHRISTIANITY AND THE ART
Marcia Whitney-Schenck, 54, started Christianity and the Arts, a quarterly magazine devoted to religious expression, in 1993.
“There were three hard things connected to this ministry: starting it with minimal financial support, sustaining it, and closing the magazine in 2001,” Ms. Whitney-Schenck said from her home in Chicago. “During those eight years, I had an incredible sense of a mission. I felt that I was called by God to encourage artistic expression that explored spirituality. It was especially gratifying to work with outstanding artists, writers, and musicians who were often overlooked by the secular media because their artwork, writing or music was Christian based.”
Each issue was devoted to a theme and guest edited by talented men and women from a variety of backgrounds.
“I gave each guest editor a great deal of freedom to take a theme and develop it as he or she saw fit.”
Sample themes included Arts by Catholic Nuns, Van Gogh and Spirituality, Reconciliation in Ireland, and the Resurrection.
“I was blessed with many talented volunteers. In the beginning, we even personally labeled the magazines. And eight years later, I was still personally sending out the renewal notices.”
The magazine reached its highest circulation in 1999 with 5,000 subscribers. But it was difficult to sustain the effort without additional funding or a wider audience base.
“By 2001, I was willing to let the magazine go, but it was not easy,” Ms. Whitney-Schenck said. “I was used to working 12 to 14 hours a day. I had to step back and reevaluate what God might want me to do. Suddenly, I had no clear answers.”
Ms. Whitney-Schenck is currently working on a novel, The Endgame, about a brilliant, young pianist who is falsely accused of murder.
“I don’t regret the eight years I spent on the magazine. I remember to this day waking up at 4 in the morning to begin working and regretting there weren’t more hours in the day,” Ms. Whitney-Schenck said. “It wasn’t just a magazine but a way for people to connect and create.”
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
