Just outside my office, Marty White and Sue Mole were laughing. When I asked what was funny, they said they had never expected J. I. Packer to have such a sense of humor. It seems they were keyboarding the senior editor’s column for November 8.
I responded that it was consistent with his humor at meetings. “He has a strong interest in literature as well as theology,” I said. “Ever read his introduction to Elisabeth Elliot’s No Graven Image? He beautifully integrates the two. Humor is a natural outgrowth of that.”
In Search of Excellence—a best seller that deserves to be—sees humor as a mark of health in well-run companies. I am personally delighted when I hear laughter among our colleagues. It relieves tensions, adjusts perspective, and builds camaraderie.
At a recent CTi executive committee meeting, John Akers was called to the phone. As he talked, Steve Brown or someone—they were all getting off bits of humor—created an outburst of laughter. John, after hanging up the phone, complained that his image of grueling work was being ruined. His lament became more dry humor for more laughter.
At an earlier meeting, board members Dennis Kinlaw and Wayte Fulton were discussing Eutychus and the high value of humor. Wayte then told a marvelous southern story, laced with lots of humor, and said, “Maybe the fact that we still have Eutychus in the magazine after all these years says something about us.”
We hope so. In fact, we believe we need more humor in CT. When we launched LEADERSHIP in 1980 we were determined to include lots of cartoons. Now they are a hallmark of that journal and in no way detract from its serious purpose. Remember the mock classified ads in CT a few years ago? Someone suggested we revive them. We have also talked about a section of cartoon panels with theological insights. Have you any ideas for humor in CT? Send them to us!
Another senior editor with a sense of humor is George Brushaber. Part of getting to know him is getting a bead on his humor—it’s wry and subtle. For instance, I don’t know quite what he meant when he sent me a copy of an old woodcut titled “The Publisher.” Anyway, it made me laugh. My small contribution to humor is to place the woodcut next to Terry Muck and Harold Smith. These two men deserve it. Why? Though serious and thoughtful, they have both lightened the atmosphere here with their own brands of levity. Terry has sent announcements on, say, a staff promotion, that were so subtly humorous that I would find people chuckling in the halls. His touch is deft, dry, deadpan serious.
Harold Smith, on the other hand, uses a frontal approach of finding absurdities within the obvious, and starts a group laughing with his own utterly unique laughter.
Actually, the real reason they are pictured here is this: In addition to his responsibilities as editor of LEADERSHIP, Terry has been appointed executive director of the Christianity Today Institute. A graduate of Bethel Seminary, he holds the Ph.D. in comparative religions from Northwestern University. Kenneth Kantzer continues as dean of the institute, and the forum on redaction criticism (Oct. 18) and the 32-page special report on church trends to be published next month are largely their combined efforts with the institute scholars. Terry will also interact with senior editors—Beers, Brushaber, Kantzer, Kinlaw, Packer—integrating the work of the institute with the magazine.
Harold Smith, formerly editor of NAE’s Action magazine, is now CT’s managing editor, and he directs the editorial staff in day-to-day operations. Harold has a B.A. in history from the University of Michigan and did his master’s work in journalism at Michigan State University.
These promotions are part of what we view as exciting days at CTi. In 1977, when we moved here to Carol Stream from Washington, D.C., we used only about 35 percent of the 12,500 square feet in our building. With the addition of LEADERSHIP, CAMPUS LIFE, PARTNERSHIP, and related products, we need more space. In October, we broke ground for a 14,000-square-foot addition to accommodate growth that includes the CT Institute and the acquisition this past July of TODAY’S CHRISTIAN WOMAN magazine.
In this growth, we pray we will—to use Thielicke’s phrase—“live by God’s surprises” rather than build an empire. We’re aware God’s adventure includes not only success, but pain and reversals. We also are deeply grateful—here at the end of 1985—for each other, for God’s work among us, and for you, our readers. We do pray for you and wish you God’s richest blessing.
And special joy to Walt Wangerin, our dear friend, who has provided us with such a marvelous Christmas story out of his own life. Reading the manuscript made me immediately send a note of heartfelt appreciation to him. Maybe you’ll be led to do the same.
Merry Christmas!
