Richard Bergenheim, CSB, (1948 – July 20, 2008) was the editor of ''

The Christian Science Monitor ''The Christian Science Monitor'' (''CSM''), commonly known as ''The Monitor'', is a nonprofit news organization that publishes daily articles in electronic format as well as a weekly print edition. It was founded in 1908 as a daily newspaper ...

'' and served

The First Church of Christ, Scientist The First Church of Christ, Scientist is the administrative headquarters and mother church of the Church of Christ, Scientist, also known as the Christian Science church. Christian Science was founded in the 19th century in Lynn, Massachusetts ...

in numerous other capacities including on the church's Board of Directors and as President of The Mother Church.

Biography

Bergenheim came from a publishing family. His father, Robert C. Bergenheim, founded the ''

Boston Business Journal The ''Boston Business Journal'' is a weekly, business-oriented newspaper published in Boston, Massachusetts. It is published by the American City Business Journals. The newspaper was founded by Robert Bergenheim and launched its first issue on ...

'' and was publisher of the ''

Boston Herald American The ''Boston Herald'' is an American daily newspaper whose primary market is Boston, Massachusetts, and its surrounding area. It was founded in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States. It has been awarded eight Pulit ...

''. His family were Christian Scientists, and his great-grandfather had attended the last class of

Mary Baker Eddy Mary Baker Eddy (July 16, 1821 – December 3, 1910) was an American religious leader and author who founded The Church of Christ, Scientist, in New England in 1879. She also founded ''The Christian Science Monitor'', a Pulitzer Prize-winning se ...

, the founder of

, and his great-grandmother had worked for Eddy at her residence in Pleasant View. Bergenheim graduated from

Principia College Principia College (Principia or Prin) is a private liberal arts college in Elsah, Illinois. It was founded in 1912 by Mary Kimball Morgan with the purpose of "serving the Cause of Christian Science." "Although the College is not affiliated wit ...

in 1970, and received a Master’s degree from the

Shakespeare Institute The Shakespeare Institute is a centre for postgraduate study dedicated to the study of William Shakespeare and the literature of the English Renaissance. It is part of the University of Birmingham, and is located in Stratford-upon-Avon. The Inst ...

at the

University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingha ...

in England."A Life on the Line: The Christian Science Monitor and Jill Carroll"
"Biography: Richard Bergenheim"
Columbia University. ''columbia.edu''. He then got a job teaching English at the

Daycroft School The Daycroft School was a co-educational private boarding school founded in 1928. Initially located at a private home in Darien, Connecticut, it relocated to Stamford in 1935, and in 1963, to the neighboring town of Greenwich, Connecticut. Reloca ...

, leaving after two years to become a

Christian Science practitioner A Christian Science practitioner is an individual who prays for others according to the teachings of Christian Science.Vitello, Paul"Christian Science Church Seeks Truce With Modern Medicine" ''The New York Times'', March 23, 2010. Treatment is non- ...

in 1974.Jeffrey Hildner
"From belief to believing: a conversation with Richard Bergenheim"
March 2005 issue of ''

The Christian Science Journal ''The Christian Science Journal'' is an official monthly publication of the Church of Christ, Scientist through the Christian Science Publishing Society, founded in 1883 by Mary Baker Eddy."Bergenheim, Former 'Christian Science Monitor' Editor, Dies in Kansas City"
''Editor & Publisher'' (July 23, 2008). Retrieved June 17, 2013 From 1988 to 1994, Bergenheim was a member of the Board of Directors of The Mother Church. He also served as Editor in Chief of the

Christian Science Publishing Society The Christian Science Publishing Society was established in 1898 by Mary Baker Eddy and is the publishing arm of The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts. Origin and purpose The Christian Science Publishing Society and ...

for two years. In May 2005, Bergenheim was named editor of ''

''. There was initially some skepticism as to the appointment because of his lack of journalism experience, but the skepticism was short lived according to the ''Monitor''s David Cook, as it "gave way to affection and respect." Bergenheim was serving as editor during the kidnapping of correspondent

Jill Carroll Jill Carroll (born October 6, 1977) is an American former journalist who worked for news organizations such as ''The Wall Street Journal'', MSNBC, and the ''Christian Science Monitor''. On January 7, 2006 while working for the ''Monitor'', she w ...

Baghdad Baghdad (; ar, بَغْدَاد , ) is the capital of Iraq and the second-largest city in the Arab world after Cairo. It is located on the Tigris near the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon and the Sassanid Persian capital of Ctesiphon. I ...

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...

by insurgents in January 2006. Bergenheim worked with

FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...

agents and other officials for Carroll's release. She was held for almost three months, and her Iraqi interpreter, Allan Enwiyah, was killed during her abduction. Carroll had been a freelancer at the time of her capture. Bergenheim immediately placed her on staff so she would be eligible for financial compensation for the kidnapping."Richard Bergenheim : Obituary"
This Is Announcements (July 20, 2008) Retrieved May 23, 2013 When Carroll returned to the United States in April 2006, Bergenheim was one of the first to greet her with a hug at Logan Airport.David Cook

''The Christian Science Monitor''. July 22, 2008. Bergenheim was highly praised for his handling of the situation. Also during Bergenheim tenure as editor of the ''Monitor'', he championed the development of the paper's web presence and helped support the installation of new technology in the newsroom. June 2008, he left his position as ''Monitor'' editor to become President of The Mother Church. However, he died before the end of his term.J.M. Lawrence
"Richard Bergenheim, former editor of Christian Science Monitor; at 60"
''Boston Globe'' (July 22, 2008). Retrieved May 23, 2013

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bergenheim, Richard 1948 births 2008 deaths American magazine editors The Christian Science Monitor people American Christian Scientists