Christianity Today Reduced Staff and Editorial Roles

The media organization laid off 20 percent of its workforce as it pivots to a new content strategy.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Christianity

Isometric editorial illustration of a concrete archway, representing structural organizational changes and the shift toward new content strategies. — Christianity Today laid off 20 percent of its staff and 40 percent of its editorial team to centralize operations and reduce costs. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Christianity Today has laid off 20 percent of its total staff and 40 percent of its editorial team. These reductions follow earlier workforce cuts implemented in 2025 as the organization works to balance its budget for upcoming fiscal years.

Why it matters

The organization stated these personnel changes were necessary to align projected expenses with expected income for fiscal year 2027. The shift reflects a strategic move toward utilizing more freelance and non-journalistic contributors from the evangelical community.

The organization reported $22.9 million in total income versus $17.5 million in expenses for the 2024 tax year. The One Kingdom Campaign has secured $26.5 million in gifts toward its $32 million goal.

The players

Christianity Today

This is a prominent nonprofit media organization that produces magazines and digital content for the evangelical Christian community.

Bonnie Kristian

She previously served as the deputy editor for the organization before resigning from her position.

Erik Petrik

He was appointed as the chief content officer and is the incoming editor in chief for the organization.

The details

Christianity Today intends to centralize its various media platforms, including podcasts, under the leadership of a new chief content officer. The organization aims to replace some staff roles by sourcing content directly from the broader evangelical community.

The first round of staff reductions took place in March 2025.
A second round of layoffs occurred in September 2025.
The One Kingdom Campaign reached $26.5 million in gifts by March 2026.
Erik Petrik was officially appointed as chief content officer on October 2, 2026.
A report detailing the layoffs and staff departures was published on October 12, 2026.

Market Landscape

This reorganization follows a period of notable leadership flux characterized by the turnover of six editors in chief over seven years. The current strategy marks an attempt to stabilize operations by shifting to a lean, freelance-heavy model that aligns with contemporary niche media trends.

Readers may notice a shift in the style and frequency of content as the organization moves toward sourcing more work from non-journalistic writers. This organizational pivot could result in changes to the variety of voices presented in the magazine and its associated podcasts.

The takeaway

The move suggests a broader industry shift where established religious publications are leaning away from full-time editorial desks to remain financially viable. Organizations are increasingly relying on community contributors to maintain output while reducing core operational overhead.