On the end of CURRENT

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Today the founders of Current sent an email to our members. Here is a taste of that email:

Dear Current Members,

We are writing today with some sad news. After much deliberation, we have decided to bring an end to Current. It was a tough and agonizing decision. We are proud of what we produced at the site, but we have to admit that it never quite resonated with the reading public in ways we had hoped. 

While the number of clicks on the site has remained steady, we are not garnering the financial support through subscriptions we need to take the journal to the next level. We have concluded that we can no longer do this work for free or ask others to take on additional responsibilities without paying them.…

The sun-setting process for Current will happen gradually but will not be drawn out. We plan April 4 to be our final date of publication…. 

Your faithful readership and generous financial support kept Current afloat for four years. In that span we learned a lot of lessons, made a lot of new friends, and got a lot of people thinking. We can’t thank you enough for believing in our small and fledgling efforts to build a journal of opinion.

Gratefully,

John Fea, Jay Green, and Eric Miller

Co-Founders, Current

In a letter to our writers, Eric Miller, our editor, wrote:

A journal is an exceedingly modest affair, after all, born of the hope that human beings, trailing one another from page to page, might just be listening, and listening keenly, to one another. Journals are quiet. But . . . if the renewal of civilization—or the academy, or even a single soul—certainly requires more than a journal, it’s hard to imagine the success of such a journey without it. Journaling together, day by day, we may just find ourselves nearer to that sacred place for which our fractured souls so palpably yearn.

We will be “journaling together” for several more weeks. There is still more to say. Stay tuned.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. It has always been a wonder to me how volunteers with demanding full-time jobs and lives elsewhere could somehow manage also to run a site that provided an original, high-quality essay every weekday. Reading it has been an enriching part of my morning routine. I am deeply grateful for these last four years with _Current_, and for John, Eric, Jay, Nadya, Robert, and everyone else who has given so freely of their time and effort to provide us all with this good thing.

  2. I was a recent member of the Current readership community. I’m so saddened to see it go. A huge “thank you” to all who put so much of themselves into this project.

  3. I am so sorry to see you go. I found the Current a welcome alternative to the other email “journals” I receive. Current provided important, reasoned connections with religion that is often lacking elsewhere. I have been following John since we attended a presentation he gave in Minneapolis, MN, many years ago related to his book Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? I used his book in a Sunday School class.

    Thanks to John, Eric, Jay, Nadia, Robert, and everyone who contributed to these fine efforts in Current.

  4. I’m sad to read this but completely understand. You have gone above and.beyind to bring truth and information to the Christian community. Wishing you peace and blessing during these tumultuous times. God help us all.

  5. I’m so sorry but understand about the issues of funding. I have been encouraged, challenged, made to laugh, cry, and most of all, to look up to Jesus with renewed trust in His ways and power. Thanks so much, John and staff.

  6. I have always looked forward to reading the contents of Current. It is helpful for understanding the times in which we live. Does this mean that The Way of Improvement will also end?

  10. Thanks, Barry. I remember that visit to Minneapolis well. I am also glad to see the Anselm House thriving.

  12. Thanks, Tim. We couldn’t have made this work for so long without writers and cheerleaders like you!

  13. I am sad to hear that Current is being shuddered. I learned of the journal because I am a fan of Christopher Lasch and followed the trail laid down by Eric Miller. You all carved out a needed literary niche during what we all hoped would be quickly dissipating period in American history. You sounded the warning. You took great career risks given your milieu. And now we enter dark ages America. Thank you for all your noble efforts. “Only a God can save us.” Adieu friends.

  14. I am so sorry to see Current “just fade away.” You all provided so much incisive writing on important subjects from a thoughtful Christian point of view. It was a labor of love and I know I speak for many others when I say that we feasted well.

    I am very much heartened to know that The Way of Improvement will continue. I don’t know how you do it John, but I consume and ruminate on what must take considerable time for you to put together. Your voice is essential in such dark times. Keep the Faith!

  15. Thanks, Ron. And thanks to you and Nathana for your continued support for our work. You’ve been with us from the start and we are greatly appreciative. Perhaps this will be the year when my Mets will take down your Dodgers!