The circumstances surrounding the Arizona Baptist Foundation are a monumental tragedy. More than 13,000 investors stand to lose more than $500 million. A proposed restructuring plan that would have paid investors 20 cents on the dollar was resoundingly rejected. Now the foundation is liquidating its holdings in another attempt to salvage as much as possible for its patrons.
The personal tragedies are many. Individuals trusted their life’s savings to the foundation. Now they find themselves unable to access their money and face the possibility that their savings may be lost. Churches deposited building fund accounts with the foundation. Agencies placed endowments and missions money in what they believed to be a safe place. Now all of that is changed.
The Baptist name has been harmed by the Arizona situation and so has the Baptist witness. Since Newsweek magazine reported the Arizona story in December, numerous other news stories have moved on electric wires describing Baptists as nothing short of charlatans. It is a sad time for Arizona Baptists. Many lessons will be learned by Baptists of future generations from this tragedy. Hopefully, one of the lessons learned will be the important role of the state Baptist paper.
Arizona Baptists do not have a state Baptist paper. About two years ago, leaders of that convention decided they did not need nor want a state Baptist paper. Accordingly, the Baptist Beacon, Arizona’s Baptist paper since 1933, was closed.
When the Arizona Baptist Foundation debacle occurred, the state convention found itself with no way to communicate with members of Arizona Baptist churches. A committee of the Arizona foundation communicates regularly with the 13,000 investors, and periodic reports are sent to Arizona Baptist pastors. But the convention has no way of communicating with lay members of churches.
When Arizona Baptists closed their state Baptist paper, they initiated a new publication called Portraits. It is a monthly magazine designed to publish feature stories about the good things happening among Arizona Baptists. The foundation story has not been printed because it lies outside the purpose of the new features magazine.
Members of Arizona Baptist church have been forced to rely on stories in daily newspapers, hearsay information or whatever their pastors choose to report from the periodic mailings they receive.
Such a development does not model a commitment to priesthood of believers, a bedrock theological position for Baptists.
Baptists believe everyone stands on level ground at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. Each individual is responsible to hear and respond to the gospel. Each individual is responsible for living out the implications of that gospel. It is part of the birthright of God’s children. That birthright cannot be given away for a bowl of porridge. Neither can it be taken from a believer by some zealous leader.
The state Baptist paper has been a visible symbol of commitment to the doctrine of priesthood of believers for almost two centuries. The first Baptist paper in this country was founded in 1822, only one year after the first state Baptist convention was organized. The Baptist paper has been a vital part of the movement of Baptists across America. Frequently, the Baptist paper ministered among Baptists of a state before a state convention was formed.
One of the roles of the paper has been to “tell the truth and trust the people.” Baptists have never held to the hierarchical notion that it is OK for some Baptists in high positions to have access to information but not all Baptists. We have understood that access to information is power. We have seen attempts of manipulation by some who would withhold information in order to accomplish some private agenda.
The state Baptist papers have been there to report the news – the good news and the bad. The news has been reported because Baptists – the Baptists who worship each Sunday morning, who tithe, who pray for all that Baptists do – have a right to know the good news and the bad. How else can those Baptists pray with knowledge or make informed decisions as part of Baptist corporate life?
Baptist theology and Baptist polity require that members have access to information about the cooperative efforts of Baptists in our churches, our associations, our state and national conventions and all the related entities. To remove that access is a violation of historical Baptist belief. It violates personal priesthood, and it speaks of a hierarchical structure contrary to Baptist life.
Periodically there arise those who do not want to “tell the truth and trust the people.” Sometimes they are administrators who want to share only the upbeat, encouraging stories. Sometimes they are pastors who want to control the information to which their members have access. Sometimes they are editors who are afraid that publishing a seemingly negative story will hurt circulation.
In such times, it would be helpful if those involved remembered that the core issue involved is theological. Does one really believe in the priesthood of believers? If so, conventions will help state Baptist papers gather important news for reporting.
Pastors will include the state Baptist paper as part of the Christian literature furnished to active members through the church budget. Editors will fairly report important stories. Church members will take time to be informed about successes and the challenges to Baptist cooperative efforts.
It is all a part of the historical Baptist system where we “tell the truth and trust the people.” It is all part of our theological commitment.
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