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Direction journal was begun in 1972 as a partnership among four Mennonite Brethren educational institutions in Canada and the U.S. Eventually two additional schools joined the group, and the U.S. and Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conferences also provide support. Delbert Wiens, editor, offered the first issue of Direction to laypersons and church leaders with an invitation “to listen to each other and to think prayerfully together.” Challenges cited by Wiens for the journal to address included theological issues, the church in theory and practice, sociological problems, and discipleship matters. Neither a purely academic journal nor a denominational magazine, Direction highlights the interdependence of Christian reflection and mission. di•rec•tion (n.)1: a guiding, governing, or motivating purposeDirection provides resources for personal and corporate growth, including exegetical and topical articles, international perspectives on Christian mission, recommended reading lists, and book reviews of important new works. In all things, Direction seeks to equip the church for maturity and for well-considered, relevant witness to Christ and his kingdom. 2: assistance in pointing out the proper routeThe compass which appears on each Direction cover speaks of journeying and of the necessity of navigating by a faithful and true standard. Alternately colored triangles face one another on each arm of the compass, opposed yet unified in a coherent center before reaching outward through a series of concentric circles. It is a fitting emblem for a journal that celebrates spirited, sometimes controversial dialogue within a circle of common purpose, while pursuing dynamic engagement with a world in search of spiritual orientation. 3: the course on which something is movingDirection has often shed light on the unfolding story of the Mennonite Brethren, a story characterized by hardship, adaptation within adversity, and faithful mission “unto the ends of the earth.” While honoring the past, the journal also models a forward-looking, theologically literate conversation with the broad spectrum of contemporary thought. Direction creatively addresses subjects of urgency to both church and culture: science and technology, postmodernism, the arts, ecology, work, and social action. 4: a channel of thought or actionThe intellectual resources of the church are a powerful stimulus to faithful action. In turn, changing patterns in church and culture call for thoughtful, biblically sound frameworks for practice. Direction promotes a mutually beneficial interchange among scholars, educators, church workers, and laypersons on topics such as cultural diversity, evangelism and outreach, marriage and family life, worship, and pastoral care. For additional information about the Mennonite Brethren, you may wish to consult the Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conference and the U.S. Mennonite Brethren Conference web sites, including the Confession of Faith found on both of those sites. A brief history of Direction journalIn 1972, Direction replaced two publications: The Voice (Canadian, since 1952) and the Journal of Church and Society (U.S., since 1965). It began as a quarterly publication but changed to semiannual in 1985. Five editors, apart from guest editors, have served during the journal’s life: Delbert Wiens (1972-75), Allen Guenther (1981-89), Elmer Martens (1976-81; 1989-95), Douglas Miller (1997-2007), and Victor Froese (2007 to the present). Kindred Productions began producing the journal with the 1996 issues. An overview of themes addressed by the journal may be obtained on the Back Issues page of this site. Direction’s original cover design lasted only one year (1972). The second design ran from 1973 to 1984, and the third from 1985 to 1996. The current design (along with some internal layout modifications) began with the Spring 1997 issue. The idea of a Direction Web site began in the late 1990s and was developed in the winter of 2000-2001. With the journal on the Web as well as in print, its articles now become much more accessible to interested readers. Instructions for authors© 2010 Direction (Winnipeg, MB)
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