About Pietisten
Founded in 1986 in Minneapolis, the journal Pietisten is published twice a year by Pietisten Inc., a Minnesota non-profit 501(c)(3). We are ecumenical and do not formally represent any institution, but we draw heavy inspiration from the collective heritage of Lutheran Pietism, as represented in a congenial flock of historically-related traditions: the Evangelical Covenant Church and Svenska Missionskyrkan (Mission Covenant Church of Sweden), the Augustana Lutheran heritage (ELCA), the Evangelical Free Church, and the Baptist General Conference, and epidemics of Pietism within the Congregationalist and Methodist folds. Pietisten is the spiritual heir of a Swedish devotional newspaper of the same name, published between 1842-1917 by George Scott, Carl Olof Rosenius, and Paul Peter Waldenström – a Methodist, a Lutheran and a Covenanter, respectively. Although participation by clergy and scholars is frequent, the journal is intended for lay people, and we write as lay people. The format of our journal is based on what were regular or frequent elements of the original Pietisten: commentaries on the lectionary texts by Luther, Rosenius, Waldenström, and others, ecclesiastical concerns, theological discussions, hymns, poetry, selected news items and a healthy dose of humor. We welcome your participation and responses to any and all articles, and refer you to our premises below as a guide in the philosophy of our journal.
Pietisten Premises
To intend blessing
To take people as they present themselves to us
To seek no other authority
To engage with friends in an open conversation and to expand our friendships
To keep alive a tradition of spontaneous voices in the congregational and democratic traditions
To bless all forms of human endeavor and ministry
To seek a thankful heart and to look for the gospel
To be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves–as understood and informed by Martin Luther King, Jr.’s sermon “Strong Mind, Tender Heart”
To enjoy the liberty to say and print anything we want and let it be subject to criticism by anyone who is interested
Pietisten Advisory Board
The Pietisten Advisory Board exists to serve as points of contact with our readership and guide our future development. Members in 2010 include:
Prof. Arvid Adell (retired, Millikin University)
Dr. Tommy Carlson, house doctor, Swedish translator, founding editor of Pietisten
Prof. Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom, North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago
Rev. Benjamin Ecker, Faith Covenant Church, Manistee, MI
Rev. Steven Elde, University Presbyterian Church, Seattle
Prof. David M. Gustafson, Houston Graduate School of Theology
David Hawkinson, Biblical scholar, founding editor of Pietisten
David Jessup, Historian, University of Washington, Seattle
Rev. Anders Johnson, Covenant Pastor, Chicago
Phil Johnson, Editor Emeritus, Pietisten, Minneapolis
Prof. Elder Lindahl (retired, North Park University), Golden Valley, MN
Art Mampel, poet, Seattle
Rev. Carolyn Poterek, First Covenant Church, Seattle
Donald Safstrom, CPA, Seattle
Peter Sandstrom, teacher, founding editor of Pietisten
Tom Tredway, President Emeritus, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
Rev. Glen Wiberg, Covenant Pastor, author
Staff (starting with volume XXV)
| Publisher | Karl Nelson |
| Chief Editor | Mark Safstrom |
| Editors | Steph Blomgren David Nelson Mark E. Swanson |
| Layout Editor | Sandy Nelson |
| Web Team | Hans-Erik Blomgren Chris Brown Sandy Nelson |
| Membership Team | Hans-Erik Blomgren Chris Brown Eric Nelson |
Staff (through volume XXIV)
| Managing Editor | Phil Johnson |
| Founding Editors | Tommy Carlson David Hawkinson Peter Sandstrom |
| Poetry Editor | Arthur Mampel |
| Navigation (& History) Editor | Thomas Tredway |
| Philosophy Editor | Arvid Adell |
| Sports Prophet | Eric Ecklund-Johnson |
| Copy Editor | Sandra Johnson |
| Online Editor | Karl Nelson |
| Associate Editor | Nels Elde |
| Associate Manager | David Swanson |
| Arts Reporter | Max Carlson |
| Layout Consultant | Matt Bergstrom |
| Printing | U of M Printing |
| Masthead Design | Peter Sandstrom |
Pietisten Online
Pietisten Online is an extension of the print version. The layout of this site is meant to reflect the print as much as possible. We also design with an eye towards simplicity, speed, and readability.
Copyright
The contents of Pietisten are copyright Pietisten, Inc. However, contents may be reproduced or photocopied without permission. Please give credit to the authors and to Pietisten.
Pietisten is published by Pietisten, Inc, Minneapolis. Pietisten, Inc. (Employer ID# 41-1694598) is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in section 501(c)(3).