The Progressive Christian was an independent online

magazine A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...

and social community providing news, commentary, commentary, resources, discussion forums and multimedia for and about the

Progressive Christian Progressive Christianity represents a post-modern theological approach, and is not necessarily synonymous with progressive politics. It developed out of the liberal Christianity of the modern era, which was rooted in the Enlightenment's think ...

movement. It was published by TPC Publications, Inc., a Massachusetts-based non-profit religious publishing organization, and edited by Cynthia B. Astle. It was founded as Zion's Herald in 1823. Following its inception, it went by several names before assuming its final title in 2006: *Zion's Herald (1823-1828), published in Boston, was the first weekly Methodist publication in America, though not an official publication of the church *Christian Advocate and Journal and Zion's Herald (1828-1833), published in New York after merging with the

Christian Advocate and Journal Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρισ ...

, which in 1828 was said to have the highest circulation of any paper in the world *Zion's Herald (1833-1840), after acquisition by the

Boston Wesleyan Association Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- most po ...

and replacing the

New England Christian Herald New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

*Zion's Herald and Wesleyan Journal (1842-1867) *Zion's Herald (1868-''c.'' 2003-6) *The Progressive Christian (''c.'' 2006 to 2011) As Zion's Herald, it was published as an insert in the

Southern New England Reporter Southern may refer to: Businesses * China Southern Airlines, airline based in Guangzhou, China * Southern Airways, defunct US airline * Southern Air, air cargo transportation company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US * Southern Airways Express, M ...

from 1979-1992. It returned to being published on its own from 1992-1996, with the

United Methodist Review United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two fi ...

included as an insert. From 1997-1998, it was published as a section of the Cross Currents news magazine before resuming publication in 2000 as an independent magazine and changing its name in 2006 to The Progressive Christian. The name change was suggested by a marketing consultant in order to attract more readers and

subscriber The subscription business model is a business model in which a customer must pay a recurring price at regular intervals for access to a product or service. The model was pioneered by publishers of books and periodicals in the 17th century, and ...

ship grew 50% in the following year. The ''Zion's Herald'' was founded by a group of lay Methodists to be a journal "devoted to religion and moral subjects". After it was acquired by the Boston Wesleyan Association its editorial stance was one of "boldness and outspokenness on questions which agitate the public mind." When in 1844 the

Methodist Episcopal Church The Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC) was the oldest and largest Methodist denomination in the United States from its founding in 1784 until 1939. It was also the first religious denomination in the US to organize itself on a national basis. In ...

separated into northern and southern conferences, the Zion's Herald was the only northern Methodist paper that did not condemn

abolitionism Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the movement to end slavery. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historic movement that sought to end the Atlantic slave trade and liberate the enslaved people. The Britis ...

, having in 1836 opened its pages to discussion of slavery while not itself taking a stand. In 1851, the ''Zion's Herald'' was considered one of the leading papers of the Methodist church, and described by the ''Buffalo Christian Advocate'' as, along with another paper, "the radical organs of the church, ... ably conducted, and by sound and discriminating men." In April 2008, the

Associated Church Press Associated Church Press (aka "ACP", founded in 1916) is a professional membership organization brought together by a common commitment to excellence in journalism as a means to describe, reflect, and support the life of faith and the Christian commu ...

, North America's oldest religious journalism association, recognized ''The Progressive Christian'' print magazine with its Award of Excellence as the Best General Interest Magazine in its class (which includes, among other notable publications, Christian Century and Sojourners). In 2009 the ACP awarded it third place. The magazine closed on January 1, 2012.The Progressive Christian Suspends Publication
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Progressive Christian Christian magazines Publications established in 1823

See also

References