Memorandum: Attached Paper
Diocesan Press Service. March 1, 1973 [73063]
As you know, The Seabury Press, the official publishing house of the Episcopal Church, has recently reorganized and Werner Mark Linz has become the new president, succeeding John C. Goodbody, who is now Communication Officer of the Executive Council. (See releases # 73006 and # 73040.) The attached paper, "Viewpoints on its Present Future," is background material on "The New Seabury Press," which is sent to you for your file and information.
The New Seabury Press
Viewpoints on its Present Future by Werner Mark Linz
A Commitment to Excellence
The new Seabury Press is a quality publishing house committed to a program of distinguished books for the religious, educational and general market. The arrival of Herder and Herder's backlist and future program will allow for an immediate realization of a major ecumenical publishing program for an audience of serious readers especially among the educated younger people.
As a growing publishing house, Seabury Press will continue and expand its list of religious books, Christian education materials, and books for young people. In its mission as the official publishing house of the Episcopal Church, Seabury will provide leadership and a forum for authors and ideas which help to shape the issues confronting the Church. In addition, Seabury Press will develop a challenging new program of books of general interest in the areas of social, behavioral, and educational concern.
In a publishing climate in which compromise and fadism too often predominate, the serious publishing house will adhere to the principles of free and open inquiry, a critical acceptance of the time, involvement in important social issues as well as optimism and good taste. The publisher and the editors of Seabury Press will make their stand at the touchstone of quality --seeking out established authors and developing new writers who share their view that the cultural tradition of the present can become through their common effort the heritage of the future.
Herder and Herder: Continuum Books
For over a decade a leading publisher of quality books in religion and theology, social philosophy and education, Herder and Herder has published some 100 new titles annually ranging from scholarly reference works to textbooks, paper- backs, and general trade books.
At Seabury Press, Herder and Herder will publish under the imprint Continuum Books since in accordance with a prior agreement between McGraw-Hill and Herder's European parent company, the name "Herder and Herder" can no longer be used for new publications. The new imprint Continuum Books has been chosen because it emphasizes the cross-disciplinary aspects of the publishing program and because it underlines the fact that the future work will be a direct outgrowth of Herder and Herder's past.
Continuum Books brings to Seabury Press its heritage of distinguished authors, a diversified and pioneering publishing program, a committed team of professionals, and excellent relations with the book trade, suppliers, agents, and the press, both religious and secular.
Continuum Books has already established the core of a serious general book program in the social and behavioral sciences guided by the principle that the publishing house that is of the future must publish ("make public") new and original thinking and that the long-term quality outlook will survive any short-term lack of opportunism.
Religious Considerations for Editorial Planning
Churches must preserve both a tradition of faith and the essentially reformist leaven in Christianity: this fidelity must animate any religious publishing program.
Very broadly speaking the conservative element will be to the fore in doctrinal areas, and the liberal element in the area of social morality where the church's vision must be brought into play upon an ever-changing body of public issues. The field of worship, religious education, pastoral theology, etc., maintains continuity with the past while it is open to experimentation in response to the ethos of the age.
The credibility of all the churches is at present in question: rightly or wrongly the feeling prevails that the churches have failed to execute the gospel mandate in social areas. As a result the moral teaching of the churches is often rejected, their doctrinal foundations are being assaulted, and their worship neglected.
For a publisher committed to making an impact, a primary focus will be on the social dimension of religion. Concerning the public aspect of that social dimension books will be sought that address the large moral crises of our time: poverty, plight of the aged and of minorities, problems in ecology, the life sciences, and public affairs. Concerning the private aspect of that social dimension, a publisher must address himself to the religious meaning of the new life styles and morality, new forms of the spiritual and psychic life.
Traditional doctrinal studies, Christology, ecclesiology, etc., must be supported, but only the most rigorously scientific and groundbreaking studies should be published. Popularization of doctrine should be undertaken for the traditional bible-literalist Christian. There is a vast-scale ferment and the respectable publisher that can make an impact on this audience (open it up to the 20th century) will be both doing a service and selling his books.
Given these guidelines, the traditional range of religious publishing must be expanded to embrace the concerned and enlightened book on social, educational, and behavioral problems even when the religious aspect or the religious inspiration is only implicit. In very many cases one will pursue purely secular scholars on the assumption that sponsorship by a religious house will be enough to define the work in question as "anonymously" Christian.
Publishing Opportunities for Seabury Press
Religious considerations are firmly in the American mainstream today, and there is growing interest in books that deal with religious questions broadly defined. Seabury's editorial acquisition efforts include the following plans and considerations: develop religious books for educated suburbanites and their parish community; de-emphasize publishing for the radical readership on the right and on the left; remain confident about certain books on devotional and religious life; remember that religious education has moved from curriculum teaching to experience sharing; recognize that theology is moving from the seminary to the university and is in dialogue with the social and behavioral sciences.
The center of religious thought collapsed during the last decade, and nothing may be more important in the long run than rebuilding it. The Episcopal Church has traditionally exercised a symbolic power in the center, and one of the essential tasks of its publishing activity, therefore, will be to provide leadership in the reconstruction of the center of religious thought. Since the Church's critical, prophetic mission is best received by basically secure persons, a supportive publishing program providing religious information and values for personal growth will be well received.
The publishing mandate of the Seabury Press and its relation to the mission of the Episcopal Church is dramatically emphasized through the results of the recent Diocesan priority studies. Such book related topics as Christian Education, Missionary Involvement ("Evangelism"), Spiritual Renewal, Social Responsibility and Communication far outrank all other program needs. Education constitutes the clear and urgent focus for all major concerns of the Church and a wide variety of books for an audience ranging from nursery schools to the clergy is required. Seabury's publishing opportunities in the face of non-existing future programs represent a potentially "breath-taking" challenge. (see also "Visitations" reports)
Prospect for a Successful Publishing Enterprise
Total national consumer spending for books is expected to triple within next 10 years (10 billion out of 140 billion for total education). Increased functional literacy as well as leisure time will generate more readers and more general books, especially in the growing market of well educated young people.
Before 1980 there will be 60,000,000 Americans between 20 and 35, half or more of this group will have had a substantial amount of college training. A longer life span will also increase the number of those in their fifties and over, but the generation in the late thirties and forties will remain steady. Since the young buy more books than the old; the well-to-do than the poor; the urban than the rural; the well educated than the poorly educated, the general consumer book market should increase very rapidly in the 1970's, probably doubling even apart from the effects of inflation.
As an education-oriented publishing house, Seabury Press should develop a future directed editorial program for the catalytic younger generation of American society. The rapidly growing younger market represents a continuum with people age 22 - 33 gradually transforming the critical and experimental life style of their early twenties into a stable condition in personal and .professional life. The values of freedom, personal fulfillment and political involvement will be translated into greater personal and social concerns.
While "older" age groups require more recreational and "self- help" reading, the overall thrust towards a more individualized and less institutionally oriented society demands books that personalize the entire spectrum of contemporary life. The new market's more serious and more flexible posture requires a fairly high level of literature exploring humane alternatives for the future.
Objectives and Organization for Seabury Press
The goals include a long-term commitment toward successful realization of distinguished publishing programs through editorial concentration, cost-effective production and service, and total marketing. Careful investments in balanced seasonal lists and rigid budget and result control will guard against the high risk factor in book publishing.
Seabury Press will make major editorial acquisition and development efforts among authors, agents, Church and education contacts, and foreign publishers to achieve its goal of uncompromising leadership in its editorial programs.
A new marketing strategy is designed to effect maximum distribution for all Seabury books, and re-organized Production and Service Departments will free budget allocations for priority promotion campaigns. The Seabury Press staff will function in a new spirit and motivated towards a common achievement.
Seabury Press offers opportunities for stimulating involvement and a challenge to achieve a lasting impact in the world of religion and education, and contribute to man's personal and social enlightenment.
In the long run - and quite possibly sooner - Seabury Press should also offer a promising return on capital investment.