Christian Courier Turns 80, Blesses Retiring Editor

In a joint conference with the Institute of Christian Studies in Toronto, Ont., independent Canadian monthly newspaper Christian Courier celebrated its 80th year of redemptive journalism with workshops, art, and a panel of authors Oct. 18.

Having recently written publicly about her intention to step down as editor after 16 years at the helm of Christian Courier, Angela Reitsma Bick spoke a farewell to the gathered board and guests, and board chair Jim Dekker led the gathering in a litany of blessing prepared by Brian Walsh.

Current assistant editor Meghan Kort and art and development manager Maaike VanderMeer will co-edit the publication together after Reitsma Bick’s departure in December.

“Our board is sad to lose Angela, who will consult with Meghan and Maaike as needed. We are delighted and confident in our new editors. And how elegant it was to witness the transition of editors in a worshipful ceremony that brought lumps to more throats than mine among the 80-plus attendees at our anniversary,” Dekker said.

Reitsma Bick told The Banner that the three had worked out the timeline for this transition near the end of summer in 2024, just before the release of her book with Peter Schuurman, Blessed Are the Undone. Reitsma Bick said that it felt like an experiment that was received really well and it has opened up more opportunities in speaking and presenting and a hope for a second book. “The timing has worked really well to transition out of Christian Courier and give more time to that.”

Kort said, “As an editorial team, Angela, Maaike, and I have worked together closely for the last five or so years to plan issues, assign stories to writers, and put together each print issue.” Reistma Bick described, “We all wear all of the hats—it’s the only way to make it work as a small, independent publication.”

The paper’s impetus, a way to connect the expanding Dutch immigrant communities in Canada, which former editor Bert Witvoet described on the occasion of the paper’s 70th birthday as an inevitable creation of Dutch immigrant communities “used to having their own political expressions in papers,” evolved over the years. Reitsma Bick said she was the first Canadian-born editor. In a history of the periodical on Christian Courier’s website, Witvoet is quoted describing the paper’s slow graduation “in name and vision from Calvinist Contact to Christian Courier. ‘Look upon the name change as a way of recognizing that our paper is no longer an immigrant paper and no longer focuses on being a Christian Reformed paper,’” Witvoet wrote, announcing Christian Courier’s position among other Christian periodicals as one with a Reformed perspective.

The readership, contributors, and members of the board still include Christian Reformed Church members, those disaffiliating from the CRC, and those in other Christian traditions. Reitsma Bick and her family attend Hope Fellowship CRC in Courtice, Ont., where she plays bass guitar in a praise band; Kort is a member of Terrace (B.C.) CRC where she has until recently served as part-time church administrator; and VanderMeer, who has contributed news stories to The Banner since 2018, worships with an Anglican community. Shiao Chong, editor of The Banner for nine years before resigning this past June, recently joined Christian Courier's board, Reformed Faith Witness.