I am writing to share my experience after a recent submission to the International Journal of Children's Spirituality (published by Taylor & Francis). I believe in transparent discourse about the publication process to help other researchers make informed decisions.

Timeline Summary:

• 2022: Original submission.
• Feb 2023: Received a "Reject and Resubmit" decision.
• May 2023: Submitted a fully revised manuscript.
• 2023-2025: Endured multiple long delays (6-12 months between rounds), with the editorial office citing perpetual difficulty in finding reviewers. I provided a list of potential reviewers in Dec 2023 to assist.
• Aug 2025: Received a request for minor revisions ("generally favourable" reviews).
• Sep 2025: Received a final rejection.

Assessment:

• Strength: The peer review itself, when it eventually happened, was thorough. The reviewers and editor were attentive to detail and their comments were valuable for strengthening the paper's evidence base.
• Critical Weakness: The editorial management was, in my experience, unacceptable. The three-year timeline, lack of proactive communication, and constant delays represent a significant failure in the journal's duty to its authors. The investment of time and effort required far exceeded what any author should reasonably expect.

Conclusion: While the goal of rigorous review is commendable, the process must be efficient and respectful of an author's time. This was not my experience. I share this not out of bitterness—the paper is much improved and will be submitted elsewhere—but as a data point for other researchers considering this journal. Please factor in potential handling times when choosing an outlet for your work.