The Church Mouse and others have already blogged about the break-up of the IBS-STL conglomerate, which includes the Wesley Owen bookshops, Authentic publishing, and STL distribution.
STL are based in Carlisle, where I was Archdeacon for seven years, and Authentic are my publishers, so I happen to know rather a large number of the people involved.
My wife was working for SPCK at the time of their meltdown so we know a bit of what it feels like – and the purpose of this post is simply to say how much I and many thousands of others value the work and ministry of the IBS-STL staff, and to assure them that many will be praying for them and doing what they can to ensure a smooth transition to successor companies in due course. We will all be the poorer if that can’t be achieved.
Filed under: books, Christianity, Current affairs
Having lost CLC, if WO goes too, greater Southampton will be without a Christian bookshop, though we’re blessed with small independents in Romsey and Lymington (the way ahead?). AM are my publishers too. Having suffered the raw end of losing a christian post, my praying heart is with the staff at STL, WO and AM, and I’m praying that the management act as Christians, and show Christlike care for their dumped employees. The emotional fallout lasts for years: God bless you guys with the knowledge of his rock solid presence.
Good to hear from you James. Hope all’s well with you and yours.
[...] STL: Bishop’s Blog, 19/11/2009 [...]
Like you, hoping and praying. I think it has to be down to local church communities to embrace their local branches of Wesley Owen. We saw that happen in several places — Cardiff, Leicester and Norwich spring immediately to mind — following the SPCK debacle.
I see Pete Broadbent has written to clergy in his area about the situation to see whether they can do something to keep the Harrow branch open. It would be fantastic if you and other Bishops were to do the same…