Congregational Editor

To its 8,000 subscribers this week went the first issue of the newly streamlined Congregational Christian Churches monthly, Advance. It was put to bed by its new editor, Dr. John R. Scotford. He succeeds the veteran religious editor, 67-year-old Dr. William E. Gilroy, who guided the 127-year-old magazine through a sixth of its existence.

Chicago-born Scotford went to Dartmouth and Manhattan's Union Theological Seminary, then put in 15 years' work in four pastorates. After half a year spent roaming South America on "a literary debauch," he traveled far & wide in the U.S. lecturing on his trip, then settled down to twelve years of directing his Church's home missions publicity.

Now, at 54, the tall, greying cleric has the sort of job he has always wanted. First he moved the editorial office from Boston to Manhattan ("We brought only a dictionary from Boston"), then devised a new format, eye-catching typography, weeded the first issue's articles of verbosity, which he feels chokes much of the religious press.

Editor Scotford has five signposts on his editorial road: 1) new developments in Christian thought; 2) the postwar world; 3) inter-racial understanding; 4) better architecture for churches; 5) union between his denomination and the Evangelical and Reformed Church.

Said Editor Scotford: "Religious journalism must forget the past. It must concentrate on helping the churches do a better job, give them a sense of purpose, a feeling of participation in a mighty movement."

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