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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.
  • Artificial Intelligence. Direction recognizes that large language models (LLMs) or GenAI offer opportunities for enhancing research and writing. We distinguish various uses for AI as follows: assistive (does not require disclosure), generative (better to avoid but if used requires disclosure), and prohibitive (must be avoided). See the details here.
  • 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. And yes! we use the Oxford comma.

    The author’s name, complete address (e-mail and postal mail), and proposed by-line (e.g., position, school, education) 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, that 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 endnote format entails that no additional bibliography list is required. We do not use Ibid. Reference materials of interest that 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) Endnotes

  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. Elmer A. Martens, God's Design, 4th ed. (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2015), 89.
  6. Timothy J. Geddert, Mark, Believers Church Bible Commentary (Scottdale, PA: Herald, 2001), 102–3.
  7. Martens, “Ezekiel’s Contribution,” 79. [correct when the author has more than one source]
  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. [access date for URLs not required]
  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]
  22. Joseph A. Fitzmyer, First Corinthians: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, Anchor Yale Bible 32 (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2008), 533.

(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 NRSVue). 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.” PhD 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]
  • ———, God's Design. 4th ed. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2015.
  • 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. PhD 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.
  • Artificial Intelligence. Direction recognizes that large language models (LLMs) or GenAI offer opportunities for enhancing research and writing. We distinguish various uses for AI as follows: assistive (does not require disclosure), generative (better to avoid but if used requires disclosure), and prohibitive (must be avoided). See the details here.
  • Review Guidelines. Reviews should adhere to the following guidelines and total about 700 to 800 words (longer reviews are sometimes permitted). The Book Review Editor will sometimes 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. Use 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.

Artificial Intelligence Policy

    Direction recognizes that large language models (LLMs) or GenAI offer opportunities for enhancing research and writing. We distinguish various uses for AI as follows: assistive (does not require disclosure), generative (better to avoid but if used requires disclosure), and prohibitive (must be avoided). For additional explanations of the following brief descriptions, see the Sage Publication Ethics Policies from which they were adapted here.

    Articles or book reviews suspected of violating this policy will be evaluated and possibly rejected for publication. Any questions or concerns about this policy may be directed to the appropriate submission editor.

  • AI Assistance (no disclosure required) Tools used to improve language, grammar, or structure, or to otherwise polish content already produced are considered assistive and do not require disclosure by authors or book reviewers. However, authors and reviewers are responsible for ensuring their submission is accurate.
  • AI Generated (disclosure required) The primary or partial use of AI tools and/or LLMs that produce content such as references, text, images, or any other content that directly impacts the research methodology, analysis, results and/or conclusions must be disclosed upon submission so the general or book review editor can evaluate the content generated. Authors should cite original sources rather than GenAI tools as primary sources within the references. Though Direction generally does not include images in its material, it may be appropriate to cite GenAI tools when they have been used to create images or visualization as representative contributions rather than original. Understanding that LLMs may have generated false content, including getting facts wrong or generating citations that don’t exist, authors must take steps to verify the accuracy of all outputs and check the original sources.   Authors should employ the following carefully as uses for GenAI in research publishing that require disclosure upon submission: 
    1. Assistance with literature review or compilation of relevant sources  
    2. Translation of materials as part of the research process 
    3. Using software or code generated by AI to undertake additional research 
    4. Assistance in research data visualization 
    5. Generation of representative illustrations or infographics 
    6. Code enhanced or checked for errors by AI assistance 
    7. Assistance with compilation of references
  • Prohibited Uses of AI While submissions will not be rejected solely because of the disclosed use of GenAI tools, if the editor becomes aware that GenAI was inappropriately used in the preparation of a submission without disclosure, the editor reserves the right to reject the submission at any time during the publishing process. Inappropriate use of GenAI includes: 
    1. Use of GenAI tools for editorial work, such as writing portions of a submission
    2. Generation of data or portions of a submission using a series of prompts
    3. Generation of incorrect text or content 
    4. Conducting interviews with GenAI tools in lieu of participants for qualitative research 
    5. Analysis of experiences and themes  
    6. Plagiarism or inappropriate attribution to prior sources 
    7. Generated images that are presented as unique or novel research images  
    8. Fabricated references or falsified claims