Mission Statement

Our mission, undertaken through publishing, is to retrieve, reclaim, and renew the Christian tradition of living radical and inclusive love.

Values statement

We are passionate about supporting and encouraging an emerging form of Christianity, which is rooted in ancient wisdom and attentive to the movement of spirit in our day.

This way is grounded in tradition and requires us to be dedicated to spiritual practice, and to living out our values in the world.

We are open and inclusive, and honour the perennial wisdom found in scripture and in all of the world’s enduring religions.

We affirm the equality of the sexes and the godliness of people of all ages, races, and nationalities.

We understand that humans do not stand apart from creation, but exist within a web of being that is sacred in all its aspects.

We emphasize a spirituality of transformation rather than adherence to doctrine or belief.

History
Wood Lake Publishing was founded in 1980 by Ralph and Beverly Milton, and Jim and Joan Taylor. Initially a small kitchen-table operation, the company has grown over the past 30 years to become one of Canada’s most respected independent, ecumenical Protestant publishers, with approximately 200 titles in print.

A number of projects have been key to Wood Lake Publishing’s success over the years, including the hymnbook supplement Songs for a Gospel People (1986), and the lectionary-based faith formation curricula The Whole People of God (1987-2002) and Seasons of the Spirit (2002-present). To this day, Seasons of the Spirit and The Best of Whole People of God Online continue on as two of our most popular products and publishing imprints.

In 1996, Wood Lake Publishing established its Northstone imprint as a way to broaden the scope of its content and extend its readership beyond its primarily church-based audience. The Northstone imprint celebrates the meeting of spirituality and “real life” with books about parenting and sexuality, stress and spirituality, health and well-being; and includes the outstanding Spirituality of… series.

In 2006, Wood Lake Publishing identified as an area of interest what has now become a core commitment of the company – the emerging Christian paradigm. To help give voice to the values and concerns of this emergent reality, Wood Lake established its CopperHouse imprint that same year.

Since 1980 when Wood Lake Publishing was first established, ownership of the company has changed twice: first, at the end of 1993, when the Milton and Taylor families sold Wood Lake to the employees of the company; and again in July of 2009, when the employees transferred their ownership of Wood Lake to a new not-for-profit society called Emerging Christian Way Media Society (ECW Media Society).

Today, as sole owner of Wood Lake Publishing, ECW Media Society is committed to continuing Wood Lake’s 30-year history of bringing readers and faith formation practitioners unique and accessible resources that nurture, inspire, and challenge – essential spirituality for our day.

Imprints
Seasons of the Spirit
Whole People of God Online
WoodLake | Northstone | CopperHouse