CR spoke with Editor Ruth Garvey-Williams

Ruth Garvey-Williams

Vox magazine is a new inter-denominational magazine from Ireland, pioneering a new focus for the church outside its walls into the nation and community. Rebecca Duffett spent some time chatting with Editor Ruth Garvey-Williams about launching a new publication during recession and how the church is responding to issues like unemployment.

Rebecca: How did Vox magazine come about?

Ruth: Vox magazine is the only inter-denominational Christian magazine in the Republic of Ireland. It launched from a vision of the Evangelical Alliance and a few other groups in Ireland wanting to help Christians here to engage with one another; to build unity but also to engage with society around them. We wanted to understand what was going on in the nation and how as Christians we should respond.

Rebecca: What is the state of the nation in Ireland?

Ruth: Ireland as you know, politically and economically is in massive crisis right now. We had a long period of economic growth and development called the Celtic Tiger, but that's been followed by a massive crash and bail out by the international monetary fund and all sorts of massive austerity measures. I know that you are facing the same in the UK.

In the same way spiritually, the country is in quite a lot of crisis. It's a traditionally Catholic country, but even the Catholic Church is facing major challenges because of various abuse scandals, and just a general drift away from the church. The Evangelical church is growing, which is quite exciting, but it's a very tiny minority of the country.

Rebecca: What can and is the church doing to help?

Ruth: Many churches are responding to the needs in their communities, which is quite exciting. I know some have been doing things like seminars on how to live on a tight budget and helping those who are unemployed, giving counselling and support. There's a tremendous project in Dublin, which is helping the unemployed called Jobcare. Many churches are trying to simply find ways in their community to care about those who are actually losing their jobs and facing redundancy.

Rebecca: Who is your magazine aimed at?

Ruth: The magazine is aimed at Christians of all denominations who really want to reach out and understand what's going on. I talk a lot about it - looking over the fence - so that we're not just focusing on our own needs and issues but looking beyond our borders and finding out what's going on around us and also seeking to understand one another. All too often Christians focus on the differences they have with one another, instead of the things that unite us. We need to be able to show respect towards one another even when we do differ.

Rebecca: What sort of things do you cover?

Ruth: It's quite varied. It's been an exciting roller-coaster for us of growing and finding new contributors. We have a range of things from interviews, features about missionary work around the world; a focus on local ministries; different things that people are doing all over the country. We have reviews; we have opinion articles; a whole range of stuff. Some very well loved columns by different Christians in the country. There is also Web Watch - we feature people's favourite websites and some quirky stuff as well. We enjoy a sense of humour over here. We like to have a laugh at things as well.

Rebecca: What's the response been like to the magazine?

Ruth: We've had a tremendous response. We probably launched at about the worse time possible in the economic climate and the lowest point of the recession just two years ago. Yet remarkably we've survived and we're starting to really thrive and see a greater take-up of the magazine and also more people getting interested in contributing as well.