Editor Matthew Townsend and staff writer Joelle Kidd announced their departures from the Anglican Journal in June.
The Anglican Journal found itself editorless this summer with the resignation of Matthew Townsend June 11. The same month also saw the departure of staff writer Joelle Kidd, on June 10.
In a statement emailed to General Synod staff, director of communications and information resources Joe Vecsi said Townsend had “demonstrated compassion and a commitment to exceptional journalism” throughout his tenure, which among other things saw the launch of the electronic magazine Epiphanies.
“Matthew explored often difficult and challenging topics in his work, always through the lens of understanding and hope for the Church,” Vecsi said.
Townsend was hired as editorial supervisor of the Journal in March 2019, becoming editor in January 2020.
He had previously served organizations including the Episcopal diocese of Rochester, N.Y.; the Episcopal diocese of Central Florida; and The Living Church, a magazine covering Episcopalian affairs.
Vecsi said Kidd had “made a significant contribution to both the Journal and Epiphanies exploring such topics as assumptions during the pandemic, the paradox of poverty and the stories behind the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women.”
Kidd arrived at the Journal in September 2017 after serving as editor at Fanfare Magazine Group in Winnipeg.