Christianity Today Updates Editorial Policy Following Elisabeth Elliot Article Review

Christianity Today editor-in-chief Russell Moore recently addressed the temporary removal and subsequent reposting of an article concerning missionary Elisabeth Elliot. The piece, written by biographer Lucy Austen, was briefly taken down for review after a social media post regarding the content caused confusion among readers. Moore explained that the article was intended to respond to claims made by another publication about Elliot’s personal life and ministry.

The article was restored to the website within 24 hours without any changes to its original text. Moore stated that the publication does not erase its content, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a complete public record. He acknowledged that the situation highlighted a gap in the organization's existing editorial policies regarding the temporary suspension of content for internal review.

In response to the incident, Christianity Today is updating its policy to formalize a review process. Future instances requiring a temporary removal will include a public notice, and the publication commits to completing such reviews within one day. The updated policy will ensure that when content is returned to the site, readers receive a clear explanation regarding any modifications or the reasons for the review.