1996: This year and the next saw significant changes. Marianne Meed Ward,
who had been trained as a journalist, became editor after many years as a staff
writer; she would stay three more years.
(To fill the writing shoes she was vacating, she hired Bill Fledderus, who in 2013
is a senior editor.) An issue on sexuality
raised controversy. Other covers treated
end-times prophecy, social justice, new
missionaries, Chinese Christians in Canada, and parachurch ministries. At the
EFC then-president Stiller was on loan to
help with serious financial challenges at
Ontario Bible College and Seminary (now
Tyndale University College & Seminary).
Bruce Clemenger moved to Ottawa to help
launch a new EFC office there called the
Centre for Faith and Public Life.
1997: The magazine’s appearance was
dramatically redesigned, starting with an
issue titled “The Quest for Spirituality”
featuring an image of John Travolta portraying an angel. Other covers examined
Promise Keepers, cell church, the arts (a
second cover appearance), the Internet
and attitudes to culture. At the EFC Stiller
left to become president of OBC-OTS.
Gary Walsh, bishop of the Free Methodist
Church, became EFC president, restructuring the organization and strengthening its
focus on facilitating ministry partnerships.
1998: Robert Latimer, who killed his
disabled daughter Tracy, appeared on a
euthanasia-related cover for a second time.
Other covers examined racism, burnout,
the Bible’s influence, servant leadership
and divorce.
1999: Larry Matthews became editor
for two years, first to cover a maternity
leave for Marianne Meed Ward and then
to replace her when she moved on. Covers examined ethical investing, political
power, science and faith, the near-future of
church and religious persecution overseas.
A cover on relations between Evangelicals and Roman Catholics generated some
controversy.
2000: Gail Reid became managing
editor of Faith Today and director of com-
munications of the EFC for the next 12
years, with Bill Fledderus taking on editing
duties for much of the magazine. Covers
examined eroding confidence in global
mission, healing, Christian teens, Native
Christians (a second or third cover appear-
ance), restorative justice and church choirs.
We settled on a concept
of a Canadian magazine,
unabashedly by and
for evangelicals.s
