August 25, 1999
EDITORIALS:
Publication doesn't equal promotion
___A common theme of letters to the editor and private mail received in the Baptist Standard office says something like, "I can't believe you're promoting ... ." Then, the letters mention articles or quotes that recently appeared in the paper.
___This is not surprising. Baptists are a diverse lot. Any paper that tries to cover the breadth and scope of Baptist faith and practice surely will rankle other Baptists. We have a hard time agreeing what color to paint the fellowship hall, much less a host of more important issues about which we feel faithfully passionate.
___As you are aware, letters are welcome. Letters intended for publication are vital, for they reflect the thinking of our readers on the variety of topics covered in the pages of this paper, and much more. Moreover, private correspondence is appreciated, because it provides the staff with food for thought.
___But letters that say, "I can't believe you're promoting ..." are a bit troubling. They reflect a basic misunderstanding of the journalistic process. Apparently, people who write these letters work from a basic assumption that (a) the editor does not include anything in the paper with which he disagrees and (b) the editor endorses, or promotes, every notion or concept presented.
___This is wrong on both counts.
___First, a person would have to be schizophrenic to agree with every idea and every quote in the Standard. The stories represent the diversity of Baptists. No Baptist can affirm all that, although many Baptists can affirm others' rights to their contrary opinions and even practices.
___Second, an editor's job is not to include only the items with which he or she agrees and thereby promote every notion in the paper. The editor's job is to present the readers with a full range of Baptist ideas and practices, as well as windows onto developments elsewhere in Christendom and currents within culture and society that impact God's kingdom-- particularly, in our case, Baptist Christians and their churches and families.
___So, you'll see a broad range of diversity on the pages of the Standard. That's because there's a wideness in God's mercy. God has seen fit to embrace as Christians and Baptists and Texas Baptists a whole host of folks who don't look alike, sound alike and see things alike. And even though they may not be just like you, you need to know about them.
___To quote the Apostle Paul, "I would not have you ignorant, brethren."
___ --Marv Knox
You can help write Texas Baptist history
___Who are the 10 most influential Texas Baptists of the 20th century?
___You can help determine that distinction by participating in the Baptist Standard's poll of the most influential brothers and sisters who have walked among us these past 100 years. Details--including an annotated list of 54 nominees--are printed in week's Standard.
___You won't "like" every name on the list. Nominees reflect the political, theological, geographical, chronologial and sociological diversity of Texas Baptists for the past 10 decades. In other words, you're likely to find your heroes on the list, as well as some people you wish never claimed the name "Baptist."
___That's beside the point. We're asking you to vote on the 10 people who exerted the greatest influence--for good or ill--upon the Baptist General Convention of Texas during this century.
___Choose from the nominees listed . (We know--you can think of others who deserve to be on the list. So can we. But we had to draw the line somewhere.) Vote by Sept. 8. Send your ballot to Baptist Standard, The Texas 10, P.O. Box 660267, Dallas 75266-0267, or vote at our website.
___We'll tally the votes and announce the winners in a series of historical articles that will be featured at the end of the year.
___ --Marv Knox
Email the editor at marvknox@flash.net.
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