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Instructions for writers

Articles

See “About Direction” for important information about the identity, mission, and target audience of the journal. The following guidelines describe important aspects of the journal’s content and style practices. Book review information is in a separate section at the end.

  • Contributors. Direction gives priority to Mennonite Brethren writers and faculty from supporting institutions but also welcomes contributions from other scholars and church leaders.
  • Compensation. Direction does not pay for articles. Authors of feature articles receive two complimentary copies of the issue in which their article appears. Contributors of smaller articles and book reviews receive one copy.
  • Subject matter. The journal particularly values submissions involving the following: theological and ethical issues, biblical studies, church concerns, and history (esp. those concerning Mennonite Brethren); the relationship between Christianity and various fields of study, such as literature, science, technology, medicine, education, the arts, and philosophy; the relationship of Christianity to cultural, social, political, and economic issues; and topics of ecclesiastical concern, such as cultural diversity, evangelism and outreach, marriage and family life, worship, pastoral care, work, and social action. Direction is open to controversial subjects that fit its mission. Poetry has been published occasionally.
  • Length and substance. Feature articles generally range from 3500 to 5000 words in length, Ministry Compass pieces from 1500 to 2000 words. Manuscripts are judged on suitability for Direction’s audience, significance and relevance of the subject, organization, style, and readability. Articles should show evidence of a solid grasp of the subject, reflection, and research where applicable. Dogmatic approaches or sermonizing, cliches, and hackneyed expressions should be avoided. A lively readable style is desired.
  • Style. The latest editions of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, The Chicago Manual of Style, and the MennoMedia Supplement (to CMS) are usually followed (re: CMS, authors may find more accessible Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers, University of Chicago). When giving Bible quotations, the version should be specified. Biblical spellings of books or other names should conform to the New Revised Standard Version unless there is a direct quote from another version (for parenthetical citations of Bible books, see "In-Text Citation" below). Writers are urged to employ gender-inclusive language in relation to human beings and to keep gender references in relation to the deity to a minimum.

    The author’s name, complete address (e-mail and/or regular mail), and proposed by-line (e.g., position, school) should appear at the beginning of the article. Authors should also provide a statement of self-description, including matters of motivation or qualification related to their topic, which can be posted in the journal on the article’s title page.

  • Foreign languages and ancient documents. Foreign words should be italicized. Biblical (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek) and related languages should be transliterated according to the current edition of The SBL Handbook of Style, SBL Press. See that source for other technical matters related to biblical studies, ancient documents, and ancient cultures.
  • Copyright. Direction maintains copyright privileges of published materials. Permission for publication of articles elsewhere should be secured from the General Editor (permission to reproduce an article is freely given for academic purposes).
  • Submission. Articles should be submitted as a Word (or compatible) document, attached to an email message to the editor (Douglas B. Miller). A printed copy is unnecessary.
  • Citation examples: Documentation should be complete. Direction authors may choose either (1) note format (endnote) or (2) in-text citation format. Use of the note format entails that no additional bibliography list is required. Reference materials of interest which are otherwise not cited may be included in a final note. If in-text citation is chosen, authors list their sources at the end of the article in either (2a) bibliography or (2b) works cited formats.

(1) Notes

  1. Robert M. Grant, A Short History of the Interpretation of the Bible, rev. ed. (New York: Macmillan, 1963), 122–24.
  2. Grant, 119. [Correct when the author has only one source.]
  3. Robert von Hallberg, ed., Canons (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press), 100–102. [This way of citing the page nos. is correct because the first page no. is an exact hundred, 100, 200, 300, etc.; cf. to note #6.]
  4. Elmer A. Martens, “Ezekiel’s Contribution to a Biblical Theology of Mission,” Direction 28 (Spring 1999): 75–77.
  5. Grant, Short History, 187. [Correct when the author has more than one source.]
  6. Timothy J. Geddert, Mark, Believers Church Bible Commentary (Scottdale, PA: Herald, 2001), 102–3.
  7. Martens, “Ezekiel’s Contribution,” 79.
  8. Robert S. Kreider and Rachel Waltner Goossen, When Good People Quarrel (Scottdale, PA: Herald, 1989), 89.
  9. Paul Toews, “Religious Idealism and Academic Vocation at Fresno Pacific College,” in Models for Christian Higher Education, ed. Richard T. Hughes (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997), 224.
  10. Doug Barkman, “Deliver Us from Evil: A Ministry of Demonic Deliverance,” Mennonite Brethren Herald, 26 June 1998, 4–6.
  11. Walter Unger, “Bible Colleges and Institutes,” in Mennonite Encyclopedia, vol. 5 (Scottdale, PA: Herald, 1990), 73–76.
  12. Friedrich Baumgärtel and Johannes Behm, “kardia,” in Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1965), 606–7.
  13. Michael Vertin, “Lonergan on Consciousness: Is There a Fifth Level?” Method: Journal of Lonergan Studies 12, no. 2 (1994): 36.
  14. William J. Mitchell, City of Bits: Space, Place, and the Infobahn [book online] (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1995), http://www-mitpress.mit.edu:80/City_of_Bits/Pulling_Glass/index.html.
  15. Gerhard von Rad, Wisdom in Israel, trans. James D. Martin (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1972), 9.
  16. Fred R. Belk, “The Great Trek of the Russian Mennonites to Central Asia, 1880–1884” (PhD diss., Oklahoma State University, 1973), 22.
  17. “A Statement of Position of the General Conference of the Mennonite Church of North America in Regard to Any Proposed Program of Universal Military Training” (Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, Hillsboro, Kansas, mimeographed, 1945), 1. [no author, mimeographed]
  18. Harold S. Bender, “A Historical Review of the Anabaptist/Mennonite Position and Practice from 1525 to the Present” (Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, Hillsboro, Kansas, mimeographed, n.d., call code MS), 1.
  19. John Pungente and Monty Williams, Finding God in the Dark: Taking the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius to the Movies (Ottawa, ON: Novalis; Boston, MA: Pauline, 2004), 32.
  20. A. Scott Moreau, ed., Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2000), s.v. ”Mission and Missions.”
  21. Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., s.v. ”Salvation.” [Well-known reference work]

(2) In-text citation

  • (Geddert, 34)
  • (von Rad, 9)
  • (Kreider and Goossen, 99)
  • (Waltke et al., 50)
  • (Moreau, s.v. "Mission and Missions")
  • (Vertin, 19; Mitchell, 47)

When using in-text citation with the bibliography format, a portion of a work’s title will need to be given if there is more than one work by the same author or authors; this is similar to the way subsequent references are given in the Notes format.

  • (Ladd, Presence, 65)
  • (Martens, “Ezekiel’s Contribution,” 79)

When the works cited format is used, include the work’s date only if there is more than one work by the same author. If two works by an author were published in the same year, distinguish by attaching letters to the date as in the second example below.

  • (Geddert 2001, 34)
  • (Ladd 1974a, 56)

Biblical citations should abbreviate the book name only when in parentheses or notes: Psalm 44:23-26, but (Ps 44:23-26). Do not add a period to the abbreviation. If a passage is quoted, the version should be indicated: (Eccl 4:7-8 NRSV). If quotations are from the same version throughout the article, indicate in the first citation as follows: (Jer 5:12 NIV, passim).

(2a) Bibliography

  • Barkman, Doug. “Deliver Us from Evil: A Ministry of Demonic Deliverance.” Mennonite Brethren Herald, 26 June 1998, 4–6.
  • Baumgärtel, Friedrich, and Johannes Behm. “kardia.” In Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, vol. 3, 605–14. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1965.
  • Belk, Fred R. “The Great Trek of the Russian Mennonites to Central Asia, 1880–1884.” Ph.D. diss., Oklahoma State University, 1973.
  • Board of Faith and Life. Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith: Commentary and Pastoral Application. Winnipeg, MB, and Hillsboro, KS: Kindred, 2000.
  • Geddert, Timothy J. Mark. Believers Church Bible Commentary. Scottdale, PA: Herald, 2001.
  • Hallberg, Robert von, ed. Canons. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1984.
  • Kreider, Robert S., and Rachel Waltner Goossen. When Good People Quarrel. Scottdale, PA: Herald, 1989.
  • Ladd, George E. The Presence of the Future. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1974.
  • ———. A Theology of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1974.
  • Martens, Elmer A. “Ezekiel’s Contribution to a Biblical Theology of Mission.” Direction 28 (Spring 1999): 75–87. [Season/month or issue no. (but not both) acceptable but not required when journal is paginated through a volume.]
  • Mitchell, William J. City of Bits: Space, Place, and the Infobahn. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1995, http://www-mitpress.mit.edu:80/City_of_Bits/Pulling_Glass/index.html.
  • Moreau, A. Scott, ed., Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2000.
  • Pungente, John, and Monty Williams. Finding God in the Dark: Taking the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius to the Movies. Ottawa, ON: Novalis; Boston, MA: Pauline, 2004.
  • Rad, Gerhard von. Wisdom in Israel. Translated by James D. Martin. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1972.
  • Toews, Paul. “Religious Idealism and Academic Vocation at Fresno Pacific College.” In Models for Christian Higher Education, edited by Richard T. Hughes, 222–42. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997.
  • Vertin, Michael. “Lonergan on Consciousness: Is There a Fifth Level?” Method: Journal of Lonergan Studies 12, no. 2 (1994): 1–36.
  • Unger, Walter. “Bible Colleges and Institutes.” In Mennonite Encyclopedia, vol. 5, 73–76. Scottdale, PA: Herald, 1990.

(2b) Works cited

  • Barkman, Doug. 1998. Deliver us from evil: A ministry of demonic deliverance. Mennonite Brethren Herald, 26 June, 4–6.
  • Baumgärtel, Friedrich, and Johannes Behm. 1965. kardia. In Theological dictionary of the New Testament, vol. 3, 605–14. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
  • Belk, Fred R. 1973. The great trek of the Russian Mennonites to central Asia, 1880–1884. Ph.D. diss., Oklahoma State University.
  • Eichrodt, Walther. 1956. Man in the Old Testament. Trans. K. and R. Gregor Smith. London: SCM.
  • Geddert, Timothy J. 2001. Mark. Believers Church Bible Commentary. Scottdale, PA: Herald.
  • Hallberg, Robert von, ed. 1984. Canons. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
  • Kreider, Robert S., and Rachel Waltner Goossen. 1989. When good people quarrel. Scottdale, PA: Herald.
  • Ladd, George E. 1974a. The presence of the future. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
  • ———. 1974b. A theology of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
  • Martens, Elmer A. 1999. Ezekiel’s contribution to a biblical theology of mission. Direction 28 (Spring): 75–87. [Season/month or issue no. (but not both) acceptable but not required when journal is paginated through a volume.]
  • Mitchell, William J. 1995. City of bits: Space, place, and the infobahn. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, http://www-mitpress.mit.edu:80/City_of_Bits/Pulling_Glass/index.html.
  • Moreau, A. Scott, ed. 2000. Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker.
  • Rad, Gerhard von. 1972. Wisdom in Israel. Trans. James D. Martin. Nashville, TN: Abingdon.
  • Toews, Paul. 1997. Religious idealism and academic vocation at Fresno Pacific College. In Models for Christian higher education, ed. Richard T. Hughes, 222–42. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
  • Vertin, Michael. 1994. Lonergan on consciousness: Is there a fifth level? Method: Journal of Lonergan Studies 12, no. 2: 1–36.
  • Unger, Walter. 1990. Bible colleges and institutes. In Mennonite encyclopedia, vol. 5, 73–76. Scottdale, PA: Herald.
  • Willow Creek Church. Membership principles; available from www.willowcreek.org/membership/principles.asp.

Book reviews

  • General Policy. Direction reviews scholarly and semi-scholarly books from a variety of disciplines. Within this interdisciplinary approach, the focus will be the following types of books: (1) books about the Mennonite Brethren; (2) books written by Mennonite Brethren authors that are of interest to Mennonite Brethren readers; (3) books about the wider Anabaptist/Mennonite community; and (4) books on issues that are of particular interest to a Mennonite Brethren audience.
  • Review Guidelines. Reviews should adhere to the following guidelines and total about 500 to 750 words. The Book Review Editor will usually specify a length limit for a particular book. Reviewers should confer with the Book Review Editor if they believe the book merits longer treatment.
    1. Describe the book’s content and the author’s credentials. Approximately three-fourths of the review should be devoted to a description of what the book is about. The review should not be a reviewer’s essay on the topic with occasional reference to the book itself. A one- or two-sentence description of the author’s credentials should appear early in the review, if they are known.
    2. Evaluate its contribution to knowledge. The review should discuss briefly the book’s most significant strengths or weaknesses and indicate whether it makes a substantial contribution to existing knowledge or understanding.
    3. Provide a comparison with similar works. If this information is known to the reviewer, he or she should indicate whether the book is one of the better works on the subject, whether it supplants an older work, or whether existing works provide a more effective treatment.
    4. Indicate the intended audience. Indicate whether the book is written for professional academicians, church workers, college students, or for the general adult reading public. A one-sentence description of the intended audience will be sufficient.
    5. List bibliographic information at the top of the review. Utilize the following format, changing the information as it pertains to the book being reviewed:

      Werner O. Packull, Mysticism and the Early South German–Austrian Movement, 1525–1531. Scottdale, PA: Herald, 1977. 252 pages.

    6. Reviewer’s name, position, and institution with its location should be at the end of the review:

      Richard Kyle

      Professor of History and Religion

      Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kansas

  • Submission. Reviews should be submitted as a Word (or compatible) document, attached to an email addressed to the Book Review Editor (Douglas B. Miller). Reviewers may keep the book(s) they review. They are not paid for the review but will receive a complimentary copy of the issue of Direction in which it appears.

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