Loading...When I started the blog back in 2012, I had two main goals. The first was to take the historical study of the New Testament and early Christianity out of the academy and make it available to anyone who wanted to learn. The second was to do some good with it. From the very beginning, every membership fee has gone straight to charity. That’s now added up to more than $3 million for organizations fighting hunger, homelessness, and more.
But here’s the reality: because every membership fee is passed directly to charity, the blog itself doesn’t keep a penny to cover its own expenses. Running this site costs money (staff, technology, infrastructure, growth). Those costs have only ever been met by a handful of generous supporters working quietly behind the scenes. Without them, there would be no blog, no community, and no charitable giving.
Now we’re opening that small group of supporters more formally, and inviting you to become a Blog Steward. (You can proudly call yourself a BS’er!)
What It Is
A Blog Steward isn’t just a new membership tier with a bigger list of perks (though there are a few of those). It’s a way to support the blog directly if you feel called to do so, and also a way for me to connect more personally with those who make that possible.
Here’s what being part of the circle will involve:
- Quarterly Seminars: This is your chance to step into the classroom with me with a group of likeminded learners.. Each quarter I’ll assign a reading; sometimes a Gospel, sometimes another early Christian text, or something else entirely. I’ll send you a short framing note, and then we’ll meet. I’ll begin the meeting with a few thoughts of my own, but most of the time will be discussion and questions. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like being in the classroom with me, this is your chance to experience something close. Our first seminar will take place on Wednesday November 5th.
- Monthly Newsletter: Each month I’ll send you a personal behind-the-scenes update: what I’m working on, what I’m reading, what I’m thinking about. If I’m traveling, I may even send a snapshot or two. Sometimes Jen will send me a few questions and we’ll include my answers as a mini-interview. Once a quarter, you’ll also get a more formal update on the state of the blog and its impact.
- You’ll also receive a Platinum blog membership and everything that goes along with that.
Who It’s For
I realize this won’t be for everyone. And that’s fine. Most readers will be happy simply being part of the blog, reading the posts, and contributing to the charities through their membership. That’s already terrific.
This invitation is for those who want to do something more: to help keep the blog itself alive. By joining, you become part of an intentional group of members whose commitment ensures that the scholarship keeps flowing to thousands and that every membership fee continues to go straight to charity.
If that sounds like you, I’d love to have you join. If not, please know that your support of the blog in any form is already deeply valued.
How to Become a Blog Steward
You can become a Blog Steward for $1,000 per year. Payments can be made in one lump sum, or on a quarterly basis for $250.
If you’re interested, send Jen an email at [email protected].
Ahha! The suggested tier has finally arrived! I’ll join up, that’s more for the charities in the long run.
Retired. Better days I would have supported this. I can’t now, but what about something like $250 a year. I could do that Jen.
I’m in your camp, Dave of Alaska. I’m a 74-year-old Oxford M.A. with a looooongtime interest, nay, passion for Presbyterianism, Lutheranism, Theravada Buddhism, and the writings of A.N. Whitehead, Paul Tillich, Rudolph Bultmann and Pierre Theilhard de Chardin. My resources are stretched by inflation and I’d happily contribute $250 annually, but I simply can’t afford $1000 even for these worthy causes, not to mention for the privilege of supporting Bart’s Blog. How about a retired tier?