The simmering political differences among Alabama Baptists became a front burner issue during April. “For the Record,” an Alabama Public Television program, devoted two episodes to the two-decade-old struggle.
In part, the program resulted from Paul Pressler’s speech before a group known at the time as Southern Baptist Conservatives of Alabama (SBCOA). Pressler is publicly acknowledged as a primary architect of what came to be known as “the conservative resurgence.” His speech was reported in the April 18, 2002 edition of The Alabama Baptist.
The first program featured Pressler and Mel Deason, state leader of a group known as Mainstream Southern Baptists of Alabama, which opposes the SBC changes. The second show highlighted Alabama pastors John Killian, former SBCOA moderator, and Nick Foster, a supporter of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
The TV program aired on the heels of weeks of discussion among Baptists — sometimes heated discussion. Baptists disagree over the propriety of the International Mission Board requiring all its missionaries to sign a statement affirming the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message statement of faith. The statement has been a point of tension since it was first proposed. The overwhelming adoption of the new statement in Atlanta did little to ease the debate.
Baptists also have debated the appropriateness of the North American Mission Board’s March decision to stop endorsing as chaplains women who have been ordained by local churches. Without denominational endorsement, one cannot serve in most state and federal chaplaincy positions.
The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message says women should not be pastors. SBC leaders said that meant senior pastors of local churches and that all other positions were open to women. The NAMB decision called that interpretation into question.
At the same time, relationships between the SBC and Baptists in Texas, Missouri and Washington, D.C., made national news.
Some Alabama Baptists have been concerned about how The Alabama Baptist reported these and other stories. Some contend the state paper should not print any article critical of the SBC. Others condemn the paper for “keeping Alabama Baptists in the dark by not fully reporting the raging debates.”
Obviously, one cannot please both extremes at the same time. Yet, whenever debate heats up among Baptists, such charges are leveled at Baptists’ primary source of news and information — the state Baptist paper.
One reason for the criticism is the news role that Alabama Baptists have assigned to their state paper. That means the paper must report developments in Baptist life which qualify as news. Reactions to and results of those developments must also be shared.
Reporting is done with as much objectivity and accuracy as possible. Yet, it is almost impossible to report news to the satisfaction of persons committed to one position or another. Unless news stories reflect the position of that participant, the stories are frequently called biased.
Decisions about what to print and how much to print about issues do reflect decisions by the editor. However, the decisions are guided by guidelines adopted by the paper’s board of directors. For example, the directors agreed that certain types of information would be reported as news. This is done to inform readers about newsworthy developments, not to promote a particular cause.
At the same time, it is not necessary to report every detail or pronouncement related to these stories. For example, the wire services have carried scores of stories about the International Mission Board’s decision regarding affirmation of the Baptist Faith and Message. The Alabama Baptist reported only two stories about the issue. North American Mission Board’s decision about appointing ordained women also was the topic of only two news stories in the state Baptist paper.
These stories attempted to inform Alabama Baptists. That is the paper’s role. The paper did not become embroiled as champion of any side on either issue.
Letters to the editor are also a sore point for some Baptists. Frequently letter writers are very straightforward in their positions — sometimes even offensively so. Yet, the decision of the board of directors is that letters to the editor are a vital part of the paper. Letters allow a variety of viewpoints to be aired. The section is open to all Baptists from cooperating churches. By reading the letters section over a period of time, one can understand the variety of opinions held by Alabama Baptists.
Not all letters submitted for publication are printed. The goal is to represent the varying opinions and positions shared by letter writers. The paper does not solicit letters nor is agreement with the editor a criterion in determining which letters are printed.
The editor does attempt to make sure letters are about issues and not attacks on personalities.
The commitment of the paper is to the Baptists of Alabama. Our goal is to provide a common base of reliable information from which Baptists can make required decisions. Those decisions range from prayer support to pocketbook support to personal support through participation. A common base of reliable information is a necessity for any voluntary group to function healthily. Without it, the group becomes vulnerable to power plays and manipulation by those with information.
As a state paper staff, we do our best to serve all cooperating Alabama Baptists. We never want the state Baptist paper to become “politicized” in any way. We only want to be faithful to our Lord and to the tasks assigned us by Alabama Baptists.
Please pray for us as we labor together with God and with you to provide information and inspiration to the Baptists of the state. Please pray that the state Baptist paper will encourage cooperation among all Alabama Baptists and not contribute to divisiveness in any way.
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