About the Herald
Mennonite Brethren Herald is a periodical of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, with a total circulation of approximately 16,000. The conference purchases subscriptions for every member in our constituency. Our readers are a diverse group of people across the country, spanning generations, ethnic backgrounds, worship styles, and socio-economic levels.
Mennonite Brethren Herald is published monthly by the conference, primarily for the use of its members, to build a Canadian MB community of faith. We seek to 1) share the life and story of the church by nurturing relationships among members and engaging in dialogue and reflection; 2) teach and equip for ministry by reflecting MB theology, values, and heritage, and by sharing the good news; 3) enable communication by serving conference ministries and informing our members about the church and the world.
However, the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the MB church as a whole. Advertising and inserts should not be considered to carry editorial endorsement.
While the Herald welcomes and publishes freelance articles from a variety of sources, primary consideration is given to Mennonite Brethren writers, specifically Canadian Mennonite Brethren writers.
Article Specifications
Feature articles. We will accept articles between 250 and 2,000 words. A normal two-page spread is 1,300–1,500 words. Upcoming publication themes are available online or upon request. We look for detail and life application, rather than vague generalities, in lead articles. Our features are often assigned; queries, however, are welcome.
Testimonies. These are personal stories or tributes, highlighting God’s activity in an individual’s life or in the life of a congregation. Word count is usually 500–750 words.
Crosscurrents. Reviews are usually assigned; please query re. specific books, movies, or CDs. Word count for articles of reflection on aspects of culture, such as music, books, technology, television, and other media, is 500 words. News stories. We welcome reports from regional writers covering conventions, events, and achievements that would be of interest to our national audience. Word count is usually 300–500 words.Letters to the editor. The Herald welcomes letters on issues relevant to the MB church, especially in response to material published in the Herald. Please include name, address, phone number. We will not publish letters sent anonymously, although we may withhold names from publication at the request of the letter writer and at our discretion. Keep letters courteous, brief, and about one subject only. We will edit letters for length and clarity. Publication is also subject to space limitations. Maximum length is approximately 200 words.
Columns. Recurring columns (such as Viewpoint) express Christian opinions on a current topic in church or society. We publish articles that will stimulate conversation and creativity in readers. Word count is about 500–700 words.
Devotionals. During seasonal church celebrations, such as Christmas or Easter, we may carry short devotional thoughts or biblical expositions. Word count is usually 500–750 words. Our Text Message column is generally assigned.
Poetry. We occasionally carry poetry. There is no official word limit, but we are unlikely to publish anything longer than about 25 lines. Preference will be given to free verse poetry.
Obituaries. The Herald publishes obituaries at no cost to families as a service to its members. Obituaries are usually edited for style and length, based on space restrictions. Photos may be submitted in hard copy or electronically as a separate high-resolution .jpeg, .pdf, or .tiff file.
We look for articles with clear and engaging style, contemporary language, thoughtful analysis, real-life examples, and fresh ideas. Our audience is diverse, representing different geographical regions, generations, worship practices, ethnic backgrounds, and socio-economic levels, so we encourage writers to consider this when submitting work. Writers should avoid religious clichés, biblical prooftexting, or an overly didactic style. Please cite references where appropriate, including online sources. Use gender-inclusive language.
Manuscripts should be submitted by email to mbherald@mbconf.ca. They may also be submitted as typed and double-spaced hard copy. Articles that pertain to a specific theme will have a better chance of acceptance if submitted several months in advance of that issue. Query letters are welcome but not required. Every submission is considered, and the editor tries to reply within six months.
Submission of a manuscript constitutes permission to publish. All submissions are subject to editing.
Please include a sentence of author identification at the end of the article (e.g. Jan Smith is a member of
Address correspondence to:
MB Herald
1310 Taylor Avenue
Ph. 204.669.6575
Fax 204.654.1865
Toll free 888.669.6575
Modified September 2009
