Mennonite Publishing Network continues 'forward momentum'

Scottdale, Pa.

Reports of new marketing initiatives and progress on stabilizing finances highlighted the annual meeting of the Mennonite Publishing Network (MPN) Board, held in Scottdale, Pa., earlier this month.

"We have shifted from a survival mode to engaging the future," said board chair Phil Bontrager in observing that MPN has operated in the black for the last three years. A clean, unqualified audit showed a break-even year on a cash basis. Publishing revenue included $185,000 in donations, which helped to offset $250,000 in curriculum development costs. Total costs included $615,000 in debt payments for principal and interest-financed in large part from ongoing operations. Over the past four years, the long-term debt has been reduced from $5.1 to $3 million.

In the past year, MPN focused on building relationships with congregations in Mennonite Church Canada and MC USA. Marketing initiatives included researching curriculum use in congregations, appointing a resource advocate coordinator, holding a "train the trainers" event for the Gather 'Round curriculum, making follow-up phone calls to all congregations, and improving online access to MPN materials. Other efforts included exploring new markets for the Simply in Season cookbook and hosting a successful Anabaptist-focused bookstore at the church-wide assembly in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Herald Press published a total of 19 new books last year on themes such as basic beliefs, marriage and family, peace, and Anabaptism, but its Simply in Season cookbook topped the sales charts.

While celebrating the significant progress in debt reduction, the board focused on strategies to keep MPN relevant and viable for the future. The board approved an advancement plan to further strengthen the relationship of the publishing ministry with its constituency and to raise funds for curriculum development and other publishing priorities. The board also endorsed plans to increase publishing revenue with an improved title acquisition process and an additional marketing staff person who will work in advancement and fundraising.

Outsourcing quotes for order fulfillment and warehousing for the U.S. showed that the most cost-effective option for now is to provide these services from the MPN facility in Scottdale. The facility will continue as one of the operational centres for MPN, subject to review as circumstances change. The other two centres are in Waterloo, Ont., and Newton, Kan.

The board continues to review the performance of Provident Bookstores in a challenging retail environment. Two stores were transferred to local ownership in the last 12 months as resources were focused on strengthening the remaining six stores.

The board unanimously approved the appointment of Ron Rempel as executive director to an additional three-year term.

-Joint MPN/MC Canada release