Religion: Man of the Century

An outstanding career in U.S. Protestant journalism was drawing to a close. Dr. Charles Clayton Morrison, 72, editor of the Christian Century, decided that it was time to retire and turn the magazine over to his longtime managing editor, Dr. Paul Hutchinson. Last week, Dr. Hutchinson prepared to take over. Dr. Morrison will stay on the staff as contributing editor of the weekly magazine that he has made into Protestantism's most vigorous voice.

A slender, decorous man with old-world manners, Dr. Morrison wears gold-rimmed glasses that do not quite hide the fire in his...