Adventist Today

Infobox Journal


discipline = Christian theology
abbreviation =
publisher = Adventist Today Foundation
country = United States
history = started 1993
website = http://www.atoday.com/index.php
ISSN = 1079-5499

"Adventist Today" is a bimonthly popular level Christian periodical representing a progressive Seventh-day Adventist perspective. First published in 1993, it is currently (as of 2008) edited by Andy Nash. Its office is located on the campus of La Sierra University. It has OCLC|28194459.

History

The idea of the magazine was conceived in 1992 by Raymond Cottrell, Keith Colburn, Richard Hammill ( [http://www.atoday.com/magazine/1997/03/tribute-dr-richard-hammill-0 tribute] ), Ervin Taylor and Jim Walters all of Loma Linda, California. They sought for "objective news and open discussion of issues in order to achieve the representative type of church governance that it claims".cite web
title = History of Adventist Today
publisher = Adventist Today
url = http://www.atoday.com/about/history.php
accessdate = 2006-10-18]

The first issue was May/June, 1993. By the following year there were 2500 subscribers. [cite journal
last = Walters
first = Jim
title = 1st Year of Publication
journal = Adventist Today
volume = 2
issue = 3
pages =
year = 1994
month = May/June
url = http://www.atoday.com/magazine/archive/1994/mayjun1994/departments/InsideAdventistToday.shtml
accessdate = 2006-10-18] In late 1998 the number of paid subscribers was also around 2500.

The creation of their website was announced in 1998. [ [http://www.atoday.com/magazine/1998/05/adventist-today-goes-online-0 Adventist Today Goes Online | Adventist Today ] ] A camp was first held in that same year. [ [http://www.atoday.com/magazine/1998/03/adventist-today-holds-campmeeting-0 Adventist Today Holds Campmeeting | Adventist Today ] ] Leadership changes occurred in 1999, in particular 3 women were elected to the board. [" [http://www.atoday.com/magazine/1998/03/changes-adventist-today Changes at Adventist Today] "]

Past editors

* 1993–? Raymond Cottrell, co-founding editor
* 1993–? James Walters, co-founding editor/publisher
* 1998–2007 John McLarty
* 2008— Andy Nash [cite web
title = New Editor for Adventist Today: Andy Nash
publisher = Adventist Today
url = http://www.atoday.com/email/2007/05/17/#1
accessdate = 2007-6-1]

The following people have also served in editorial roles:
* Duane Covrig
* Steve Daily
* Delwin Finch
* Cheri Lynn Gregory
* Gayle Saxby
* James Stirling
* Colleen Moore Tinker
* Susan Walters

See the [http://www.atoday.com/staff Staff] page on the magazine's website.

Perspective

According to its mission statement: "Adventist Today offers...
#Reliable, unfettered news reporting on events, people, institutions and theological movements associated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
#Literary reflection on Adventist culture through essays, narratives, interviews, poetry, sermons and book reviews.
#A sense of connection among people who treasure their Adventist heritage while rejecting some fundamentalist elements of historic Adventism.
#Creative conversation about how to preserve and promote the best of Adventism." [cite web
title = Adventist Today - About
publisher = Adventist Today
url = http://www.atoday.com/about/
accessdate = 2006-10-18]

The content of the magazine is predominantly a progressive Adventist perspective, although it features a broad spectrum of authors, also including, for example, articles by Herbert Douglass and interviews with Clifford Goldstein, William Johnsson and others. It covers a wide range of topics, claiming it:"advances the best in Adventist culture, thought, and ministry and serves the needs of the 21st Century Adventist church by offering inspiration, analysis, reviews, commentary, and narratives rooted in and relevant to the contemporary Adventist community." [cite web
title = Adventist Today: Home
publisher = Adventist Today
url = http://www.atoday.com/index.php
accessdate = 2006-10-18]

"Adventist Today" has been considered the "Newsweek" or "Time" of Adventism, whereas "Spectrum" has been considered to play the role of "The Atlantic Monthly", [ [http://progressiveadventism.com/2007/02/26/interlogue-20-ervin-taylor/ Interview of Ervin Taylor] , executive editor of "Adventist Today" as of 2007, by Julius Nam, assistant professor of religion at Loma Linda University] in that "Adventist Today" focuses on news reporting and "Spectrum" is more focused on analysis and commentary of issues.

According to a [http://www.atoday.com/magazine/2000/03/adventist-today-readers-respond-survey survey] in 2000 by "Adventist Today" of its subscribers, 8% felt they related best to "Conservative" Adventists, 56% to "Middle of the Road", and 36% to "Liberal". [ [http://www.atoday.com/magazine/2000/03/adventist-today-readers-respond-survey Adventist Today readers respond to survey] ]

Alden Thompson wrote in 19??,:"AT is critically loyal, representing the Adventist left. It is similar to "Spectrum" in perspective, but quicker to publish the 'news' and often more careless. In the past it has too easily succumbed to the temptation to publish ad hominem attacks." [cite web
last = Thompson
first = Alden
authorlink = Alden Thompson
title = The Future of Adventism: Where's The Church Headed?
work = AldenThompson.com
publisher =
date =
url = http://people.wwc.edu/staff/thomal/unpub/futur_adventism.htm
doi =
accessdate = 2007-10-31]

See also

* "Spectrum" (magazine), another progressive Adventist publication
* Progressive Adventism
* List of Seventh-day Adventist periodicals
* Seventh-day Adventist Church

References

External links

* " [http://www.atoday.com/index.php Adventist Today] " official website.
** " [http://www.atoday.com/magazine/archive/1993/mayjun1993/departments/InsideAdventistToday.shtml Welcome to "Adventist Today"] " article by Raymond Cottrell.
* [http://progressiveadventism.com/2007/02/26/interlogue-20-ervin-taylor/ Interview] of executive editor Ervin Taylor by Julius Nam, assistant professor of religion at Loma Linda University