June 10, 2002

Illinois panel ponders paper's purpose
___By Lacy Elwood
___Associated Baptist Press
___SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (ABP)--Is the Baptist state paper a newspaper, or is it primarily a tool for promotion?
___That's the question before an ad hoc panel studying the future of the Illinois Baptist, journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association.
___The committee, consisting of five pastors, was formed after the newspaper reported in January that a former Southern Illinois pastor had been charged with two counts of criminal sexual assault involving teenage girls.
___The pastor had been used in churches across the state as a speaker at youth events and was well-known, sources inside the state convention confirmed. He also was considered a leading advocate of an effort to get the IBSA to adopt the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message as its own doctrinal position.
___The article about the charges against the pastor, carried on page 1, prompted numerous letters to the editor both criticizing the paper for running the story and defending the editor's decision.
___Calling the article a "very sensitive issue," panel Chairman Richard VanCleave said the committee's goal is to "set up guidelines so it doesn't happen again."
___"We are trying to decide on what the Illinois Baptist is supposed to be; a strict, free press where the editor has free rein, or a newspaper that deals more with IBSA's missions and goals," said VanCleave, pastor of Lynwood Baptist Church in Oswego, Ill.
___Larry Richmond, IBSA president, said he believes the paper needs to become more of a communication tool for the state association. "It would be great if the newspaper could handle both substantive news of the IBSA and articles that would encourage churches and promote our mission. In the past year or two, it seems the paper has gotten away from that."
___The IBSA constitution contains a statement that says, "The Illinois Baptist shall be the official newspaper of the association and as such, shall never be construed as the exclusive instrument of any special group, individual, body or committee within the association."
___The study committee has completed a tentative mission statement for the newspaper and is currently working to create guidelines for the paper.
___VanCleave said the committee does not want to "micromanage" the paper but does want to set up rules for the editor, who works under the IBSA's executive director.
___Michael Leathers, editor of the Illinois Baptist, declined to comment.

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