One of the nation's oldest religious periodicals gone

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The Disciple magazine, one of America's oldest religious periodicals, is going out of business, by action of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) publishing board. A special concluding issue in March will be the last.

Circulation is only 19,000 in a denomination with 831,000 members, though most clergy subscribe. That compares with 51,000 subscribers in 1987 and 85,000 in 1977.

The magazine is the heir of several Disciples of Christ periodicals issued from St. Louis since 1874.

Last month another Protestant denomination, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), halted publication of a 65-year-old periodical for clergy, but it continues a lay magazine and a new quarterly for church leaders.

HEAD:One of the nation's oldest religious periodicals gone

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The Disciple magazine, one of America's oldest religious periodicals, is going out of business, by action of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) publishing board. A special concluding issue in March will be the last.

Circulation is only 19,000 in a denomination with 831,000 members, though most clergy subscribe. That compares with 51,000 subscribers in 1987 and 85,000 in 1977.

The magazine is the heir of several Disciples of Christ periodicals issued from St. Louis since 1874.

Last month another Protestant denomination, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), halted publication of a 65-year-old periodical for clergy, but it continues a lay magazine and a new quarterly for church leaders.