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How long have you been at CHI and what is your role?

I’ve been involved with the magazine since 2003—over 18 years; as a writer at first when the magazine was at Christianity Today International, as well as when it moved back to Christian History Institute. From issue #108 (Charlemagne) on, I have been a contributing editor. I do a lot of brainstorming in collaboration with my wife, Jenn, I write articles, and sometimes I serve as an issue advisor. [We call him the Walking Encyclopedia.]

What is your favorite part of the job?

Probably writing. It’s often painful while I’m doing it, but I like the results.

What do you most wish readers knew?

I think it’s both difficult and wonderful to live the tension between scholarly engagement with Christian history and seeing it as a source of inspiration and enrichment for one’s own faith. People experience this as a conflict, and I experience it as the kind of creative tension that I couldn’t live without. To not ask the critical questions or to simply look at church history from a secular point of view feels so impoverished compared to wrestling with that tension. Looking at our past critically can—and does for me—come out of a place of deep faith.

What do you do in your spare time?

Read, watch movies, walk the dog, and garden. [Jenn adds: He just grew some really excellent broccoli.]

By Edwin Woodruff Tait and the editors

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