CartInterVarsity Press and BridgeLeader Network Establish Publishing Partnership
For Immediate Release (February 2006)
InterVarsity Press, a leading publisher of thoughtful Christian books, and BridgeLeader Network (BLN) are partnering to publish BridgeLeader books, resources that contribute to a better understanding and practice of genuine racial reconciliation within the church and in the world. The partnership between BLN and InterVarsity Press supports the growing interest in racial reconciliation and multiethnicity and upholds each ministry's core founding values.
Angel M. Cartagena, Jr., Executive Director of BridgeLeader Network, says, "The marriage between BridgeLeader Network and InterVarsity Press feels so right because it is based on our shared passion for seeing God's church encourage, embrace, and exalt the diversity of his human creation."
InterVarsity Press has long been recognized as a leading publisher on the topic of racial reconciliation while its parent ministry, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, was recognized as a successful diverse organization by Christianity Today in its January 2004 issue.
BLN, a non-profit firm, was founded five years ago in response to requests from churches and ministries for assistance and advice in how to start or transition toward organizations that practice effective diversity. BLN now serves as a national and international consulting firm that helps ministries, organizations, and corporations achieve multicultural effectiveness.
BLN was birthed from the vision and passion of Dr. David Anderson, president and CEO of BLN. He says, "I am excited about how BridgeLeader Books will leverage the message of reconciliation and multicultural unity through the printed page with hopes that the body of Christ will reflect God's heart on earth as it is in heaven."
Anderson is the coauthor of several books on multicultural issues and hosts "Reconciliation Live," a weekly radio talk show airing nationwide on the Salem Radio Network and XM satellite radio. Anderson, also the founder and senior pastor of Bridgeway Community Church in Columbia, MD, was instrumental in building the relationship between the church and BLN.
"We are delighted to add BridgeLeader Books to the IVP publishing program," Jeff Crosby, IVP's director of sales and marketing, said. "A partnership like this, borne out of like-minded values, passion and synergistic gifts, will help BridgeLeader and IVP accomplish our respective missions in ways that neither of us could fully do alone."
Bob Fryling, Publisher of InterVarsity Press says, "Racial reconciliation is a long-standing core value and commitment for InterVarsity Press. Bridgeway Community Church is nationally recognized as one of the leading examples of how a church can have an effective, diverse, multicultural ministry. I'm glad that with this partnership we can help communicate their insights and experiences and make them available to the wider church at large."
The first book to emerge out of this partnership, scheduled to release in 2007, is tentatively titled The Seven Sayings of a Gracist by David Anderson. Al Hsu, associate editor of IVP Books and lead editor of this series says, "The author gives us a new paradigm for thinking about race—what he calls 'gracism.' Racism deals with race in a bad way. Gracism does not ignore race, but deals with race in a good way. My hope is that this book opens up new ways for readers to see race not as a problem, but an opportunity to extend grace to people of all racial and cultural backgrounds."
Founded in 1947 as an extension of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, InterVarsity Press serves those in the university, the church and the world by publishing thoughtful Christian books that equip and encourage people to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord in all of life.
For more information visit bridgeleader.com.