Christian publishers tend to lean one of two ways: addressing politics head-on, or avoiding the subject. This season is no exception, with many publishers pursuing authors who can contribute to national debates—on topics including immigration, race relations and health care—amid changes in the White House.
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.—long a stronghold for scholarship and theology—has a number of books that address current hot-button issues born out of the Trump administration. Just Immigration: American Policy in Christian Perspective (May) by Mark Amstutz, professor of political science at Wheaton College, offers an overview and assessment of current immigration policy. It argues for an approach to the complex issue grounded in Christian political thought, which entails applying the Christian worldview and values to government and society. For example, Christians are called to love and care for refugees and the disadvantaged, while also caring about the nation’s integrity and rule of law in relation to its borders.
“While we were not predicting a Trump victory when we acquired Just Immigration, we were definitely aware of how divisive the issues of immigration had become, and how desperate the refugee crisis was becoming,” said Lil Copan, Eerdmans’ senior acquisitions editor.
Eerdmans is also publishing Migrants and Citizens: Justice and Responsibility in the Ethics of Immigration (Aug.) by Tisha M. Rajendra, asst. professor of theological ethics at Loyola University in Chicago. It reframes the confused and often heated debate surrounding immigration and develops a Christian ethic that can address questions about citizens’ responsibility to migrants. And two more books with strong political messages are planned for spring 2018 (working titles): Matthew Kaemingk’s Christian Politics and Muslim Immigration: Hospitality in an Age of Terror and David M. Crump’s I Pledge Allegiance: Kingdom Citizenship in a Fallen World.
“We’re actively seeking and acquiring books that speak to this time and political climate that we feel also stand the test of time,” said Copan.
InterVarsity Press (IVP) is delving into politics and culture with books such as The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege by Ken Wytsma (May) and White Awake: An Honest Look at What It Means to Be White by Daniel Hill (Sept.).
“It is never a wrong time to address issues of injustice and inequality, and doing so has always been part of our identity as a mission-driven publisher,” said Helen Lee, director of marketing for IVP.
Though IVP hasn’t yet contracted a book specifically about the new political realities, relevant topics are shaping books already in the pipeline, especially related to justice issues and local activism.
“Some of our authors were already writing about seeking the good of their communities or raising one’s voice on behalf of others,” said Al Hsu, senior editor, IVP Books. “Even without explicitly naming names, it’s implicitly clear why such issues might take on greater importance now.”
Other books from IVP include (working titles) Reading Scripture Through Mexican Eyes by Noel Castellanos, a community activist in Chicago, and Brown Church by UCLA professor Robert Chao Romero, which unpacks the Latino/Latina Christian heritage of social activism. Publication dates for both titles are to-be-determined.
Charisma House and its FrontLine imprint hasn’t shied away from political issues either, especially with the February release of Todd Starnes’ The Deplorables’ Guide to Making America Great Again and Fault Line: How a Seismic Shift in Culture is Threatening Free Speech and Shaping the Next Generation by Billy Hallowell, which was published in March with a foreword by Sean Hannity.
“Our corporate mission is to inspire people to radically change their world,” said Marcos Perez, publisher and executive v-p of Charisma House. “We believe our FrontLine imprint delivers in a culturally meaningful way by addressing the concerns that many Christians share and believe in, and by offering practical ways for them to make their own voices heard.”
In May, Multnomah will publish Break Open the Sky: Saving Our Faith from a Culture of Fear by Stephan Bauman, former president of the Christian relief organization World Relief, which speaks to fear related to terrorism, racism, refugees and political vitriol.
Also in May, Moody Publishers is releasing Strange Days: Life in the Spirit in a Time of Upheaval by Mark Sayers. The book encourages readers to follow God with wisdom in a world of terrorist attacks, refugee crises, tension with Russia, and an uncertain economy. Moody is also seeing renewed interest in its backlist title, Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis (2016) by Bauman, Matthew Soerens, and Dr. Issam Smeir—each a staff member at World Relief. The book offers a portrait of the plight of refugees and how readers can help.
“Seeking Refuge guides us to practice the compassion of Christ without getting sidelined by the politicization of this theme,” said Paul Santhouse, v-p and publisher at Moody. “Our goal is to encourage all of us to put our convictions into practice.”
Political and social issues are also breathing new life into other backlist titles. Tyndale recently updated 2015’s Counter Culture: Following Christ in an Anti-Christian Age by David Platt, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board, to reflect issues such as immigration and the refugee crisis. In spring 2018, Tyndale will address racial tension in the U.S. with the release of 13 Days in Ferguson, the memoir of Captain Ron Johnson of the Missouri Highway Patrol. In it, Johnson recalls how he bridged the racial divide between the African American community and the police force following fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by local police in August 2014.
“We are always looking for opportunities to publish books that lead national discussions on key issues,” said Tyndale’s Farrar,” said Jon Farrar, senior acquisitions editor at Tyndale.
Brazos Press, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is promoting the new paperback edition of America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America (Feb.) by Jim Wallis.
Jeremy Wells, director of marketing for Baker Academic and Brazos, addresses the role of publishing in this political climate. “I see publishing as a more nuanced and sustained form of discourse than the headline-driven, 24-hour news cycle. Unfortunately, during the past year and continuing on into the new administration, there seems to be little interest in nuance or discourse,” he said. “I think the nature of the ongoing public discourse around politics has hurt thoughtful and nuanced contributions in the form of books. We are trying to bring insight and reflection on contentious issues.”
Brazos will also give a second push to 2016’s Public Faith in Action: How to Think Carefully, Engage Wisely, and Vote with Integrity by Miroslav Volf and Ryan McAnnally-Linz when it releases in paperback in September.
“We intentionally timed [Public Faith in Action] for the election year,” said Wells. “Wallis was less intentionally timed, but it’s a topic has been especially—and unfortunately—relevant since its release.”
Although several houses are publishing books with a political bent, Bethany House, Kregel Publications, B&H Publishing are among those forgoing books that directly address political issues.
“We want to keep the focus on helping people grow deeper in their faith through the timeless truths of God’s word, and we feel that getting into the political fray could distract from that mission,” said Andy McGuire, senior acquisitions editor at Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
According to Dennis Hillman, publisher for Kregel, “We don’t see our books as partisan tools in the political debate. We focus on resources that equip and encourage individuals and faith communities to develop all aspects of human flourishing: physical, spiritual, and social wholeness.”
Nevertheless, the national mood puts all religion publishers in a unique position for potential growth. Whether it’s hard-hitting books on public policy or encouraging teachings from Scripture, there are several new publishing opportunities following the 2016 presidential election.
“We, as Christian publishers, can either retreat, resigning ourselves to pessimism about what’s happening in our nation and around the world, or we can take risks,” said Tyndale’s Farrar. “We believe taking risks for publishers means seizing opportunities.”
