In June of 2010, the Acton Institute acquired the Grand Rapids–based book imprint, Christian’s Library Press. CLP was founded in 1979 by Gerard Berghoef and Lester DeKoster as a publishing resource for Christian leadership, theology, and stewardship. Berghoef was president of the John Widdicomb Company of Grand Rapids and was an elder in the Christian Reformed Church for many years. DeKoster was a Calvin College professor and a former editor of The Banner, a publication of the Christian Reformed Church. With the death of DeKoster in 2009, Acton was given an opportunity to build upon their respected work.
Acton Institute is committed to publishing new books and building on the rich theological heritage that has characterized CLP. Acquiring CLP was a natural fit given all the work Acton has done to become a leading source in the area of Christian stewardship. Acton’s partnership with the Stewardship Council also strengthens our ability to take full advantage of this opportunity with Christian’s Library Press.
This is also an important endeavor for the Acton Institute in continuing to expand its outreach to evangelicals across the country and world. In June, CLP released Jordan Ballor’s new book Ecumenical Babel, a critical engagement of the ecumenical movement’s approach to ethical and economic issues, including important arguments for continued dialogue within the life of the Church. With the help of staff and interns, the Acton Institute has now published through Amazon’s Kindle device, a second digital edition of Work: The Meaning of your Life—A Christian Perspective, by Lester DeKoster. Ecumenical Babel is also available electronically for the Kindle.
With the resources the Acton Institute has at its disposal, new content will continue to be published under the CLP imprint electronically, including previous print editions and updated out-of-print books. Christian’s Library Press will only continue to add to the image of Acton as a trusted and leading voice in the area of stewardship, theology, Christian witness, and ecumenism. For more information on Christian’s Library Press, visit www.clpress.com.
