August 19 was a special day for me. It marked my 50th anniversary of ministering through state Baptist papers.
No one is more surprised at the anniversary than I am. The pastorate was my first sense of calling and the focus of my preparation. But God had other plans. What I thought was an avocation, He intended for vocational ministry. So for 50 years I have been a full-time Christian journalist.
Prior to beginning in state Baptist papers, I served two years as news director for Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and, before that, as general news writer for Mississippi College public relations — both student positions.
It was that service that prompted the invitation to become associate editor of Western Recorder, the Kentucky state paper, in 1968. Six years later I was convinced my ministry would be as a career associate, never thinking I would be blessed to serve alongside the giants of Southern Baptist life who led state Baptist papers in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. Remember, Baptist historian Wayne Flynt called Alabama editors L.L. Gwaltney (1919–1950), Leon Macon (1950–1965) and Hudson Baggett (1966–1994) the leading Alabama Baptists of their respective eras.
God had other plans
In 1974 my late wife Eleanor and I bought a home where we planned to raise our two children with the anticipation that I would continue as associate editor of Western Recorder and continue serving as interim pastor of churches. At the time I had gone five years with no more than two Sundays between interim pastorates of churches large and small.
Again God had other plans. To everyone’s surprise, including mine, I was invited to become editor of Word & Way, the Missouri Baptist publication, in 1975. At 32, I became the youngest editor of a state Baptist paper.
For 43 years now I have been editor of a state paper. Since Aug. 1, 1995, I have been blessed to serve as editor of The Alabama Baptist here in my home state. It has been a great privilege to serve in this important ministry and serving in Alabama has been a dream come true.
That is not to say the ministry has been easy. A state paper editor lives at the intersection of commitment and passion. That means an editor never pleases everyone. Every principal of a story believes his or her understanding is right. If what is reported does not reflect that person’s understanding, then the paper is accused of being biased and unfair, no matter how much research the writer does to make sure the story is fair, accurate and balanced.
The commitment to “tell the truth and trust the people” brings its own peril. Occasionally a story has been sad for a person, a church, an institution or the denomination at large. Many are the calls urging the paper not to print a particular story. Sometimes callers have not been above threatening to withdraw support, cancel subscriptions or get the editor fired if the caller’s wishes were not followed.
But manipulating readers by withholding information has no place in a denomination committed to the priesthood of all believers. The trustworthiness of Baptists’ information is proven by sharing the difficult story. If one does not trust readers enough to share bad news with them, readers will eventually reject the good news as well.
It has been a turbulent 50 years too. The 1970s featured what became known as the “Battle for the Bible,” which morphed into the “Conservative Resurgence” in 1979. As soon as the shift in denominational leadership was complete, Southern Baptists reorganized the denomination through what was called “Covenant for a New Century.” That was followed by the “Great Commission Resurgence.” Now tension between Calvinistic Baptists, who frequently refer to themselves as Reformed Baptists, and non-Calvinistic Baptists is in the news.
Downward trend
Unfortunately all the changes and reorganizations have not worked as well as intended. Today many of the indicators of Baptist vitality are trending downward.
And all of this has played out on the pages of state Baptist papers. Trying to tell the Baptist story in a trustworthy manner has been a dangerous undertaking at times.
As a Christian journalist for the past 50 years, my calling has been to be a resource for Baptists by preparing news and information that provided perspective and understanding, inspiration to stimulate worship and Christian discipleship, and to connect Baptists with a common worldview that results in missions and ministry.
The medium has been the printed word — news stories, feature articles, analyses, opinion, Bible studies, theological reflections, interviews and personal experiences. Editorially I have tried to speak clearly while maintaining relationships for future conversations.
It has been an honor to stand in the train of great servants of God like those who previously led this state Baptist paper. It has been humbling to help equip Baptists to live out their commitment to Jesus Christ individually and collectively in their churches and denomination.
A gift from God has been my coworkers. They became my teachers as well as close friends. Their abilities helped make me a better editor. Gratefully, they also allowed me to invest in them. When Jennifer Rash becomes editor of The Alabama Baptist on Jan. 1, this will become the fifth state Baptist paper served by someone I had the privilege of bringing into this ministry.
The most important gift has been the trust of readers like you. Ultimately, you allowed me the privilege of serving in state Baptist papers. You shared your time and your attention. You trusted your state Baptist paper enough to take its messages seriously, even if you disagreed. You allowed The Alabama Baptist to be a companion on your walk with the Lord. Thank you.
Serving as a state paper editor is different today than 50 years ago. Today The Alabama Baptist is still a weekly publication, but it is also a website, a breaking news network and a social media presence. For five years The Alabama Baptist was also a TV show. Now it is a radio program as well as a newly initiated podcast.
Delivery methods change, but state Baptist papers still tell what God is doing through Baptists at home and around the world. They still help equip Baptists to live out their Christian discipleship at home, in the church and in the public square. They still provide the foundation of trusted information that allows Baptists to work together.
For me, the state Baptist paper has always been an opportunity to serve. It has never been a platform for personal gain. Thank you and other readers over the past five decades for allowing me to be a part of your Christian pilgrimage through state Baptist papers. I am in your debt.
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