1. Thank you for agreeing to draft a guest column for the "Faiths and Beliefs" space in the Wednesday Kansas City Star or for providing me with your material to acknowledge and include in my column.

2. The column often runs about 400 words, depending on ad space and headline lay-out. Occasionally the column is severely cut, depending on ad space and placement. I have no control over the final edit, headlines, or cuts.

3. Please draft your material, including how you would like to be identified, about 400 words or more. I'm fairly good at editing down from a longer text. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions as you prepare your text.  DISCLAIMER: The column began in 1994 and runs each Wednesday, but budgetary or policy changes could end it at any time. I am not a member of The Star staff; I am a "repeat free-lance" writer.

4. Send your material to me. The best way is email:  vern@cres.org.

5. I am responsible for what is submitted to The Star, and I will prepare your material with the proper formatting. Don't count words too carefully; I'll help prune if necessary. If advisable, I will mark it up and send it back to you for your comments. Space is the demon that drives me to put words in your mouth, conflate, reduce, summarize, etc. But I will do this only with your cooperation.

6. Unless we've agreed on a deadline, there is no rush; but whenever you are ready, I will schedule the column. The deadline for the column is normally Friday morning at 9 am for publication the following Wednesday in The Star's FYI section. If I've asked for your consent for the edited version, please phone or email me before then.

7. For examples of past columns, visit http://www.cres.org/star  and browse from the index.

8. Again, thank you. Your contribution will help Kansas Citians understand the diversity and depth of religious life among us. I think this is important. 

Vern