You may not expect this from a bunch of journalists, but this new website reflects our Baptist theology.
We believe in the twin doctrines of soul competency and the priesthood of all believers. Soul competency is the idea that God has created all people—every individual—with the capacity to relate directly to God. We’re all “competent” to approach God directly, of our own free will, and to have a loving, abiding relationship with God. And the priesthood of all believers means we don’t need any pope, priest, pastor, rabbi, imam or other spiritual intermediary to stand between us and God, to be our intermediary with God.
This is why, for 399 years, Baptists have practiced democracy in our churches, associations and conventions. Since we believe God has made each believer a free priest with direct access to God, then each individual should be free to participate in and give direction to our corporate life together. So, we’re big voters. Every so often, we gather together to do business, and each vote is both a practical matter of making decisions and a theological assertion of our belief in soul competency and the priesthood of all believers.
Theology of news
That’s why communication always has been important to Baptists. If we expect Baptists to make good decisions, then we all need access to accurate information about the issues and challenges before us. For generations, Baptists have published newspapers to help participants in their societies and conventions understand their common concerns so they can make good decisions and rise to their opportunities. As a newspaper, the Baptist Standard has been facilitating this kind of communication for 120 years.
For about a decade or so, the Standard has placed everything that goes in the print edition on the Internet, too. In fact, for most of that time, we’ve actually published more online than in print—like Bible study lessons, extra letters to the editor, even news and feature stories that just didn’t fit in the print edition.
But with this new website, we’ve laid the foundation to do much more.
This is where you come in
One of the most significant components of our new site is the comment feature. We’re giving you the opportunity to add your comments to our blogs, editorials, news stories and just about everything we post online. We’re not just giving you that opportunity; we want you to comment. One of the main reasons is because we actually believe all that soul competency/priesthood of all believers stuff. When you read something, have an idea and share it, we’re all enriched.
I’ll tell you the first time I realized I wanted to add comments to the Standard website. It was May 25, 2007, the day Herbert Reynolds died. Dr. Reynolds was president emeritus of Baylor University and had been a gracious friend and mentor to me. Instinctively, I clicked on the Waco Tribune-Herald website to see if I could find more details. The Trib already had added a comment feature to its news stories, and throughout the day, friends and former students added their tributes to a life well-lived. Their beautiful stories provided a poignant dimension to the reporter’s article, and I wanted the Baptist Standard to give our readers that opportunity to inform and inspire each other.
So, all of us here hope you’ll participate. Of course, you still can send letters to the editor. But we also want you to feel free to comment when you’re inspired by an article, editorial, letter, blog or other item. Your “voice” is important.
OK, here’s the catch
In order to comment, you have to register. It’s easy. Even I can do it. Right now, we’ve placed a couple of registration links on our homepage. One is a button on the top of the left column. The other is a link in the bottom-left corner of my blog box. Either link will take you to a confidential form where you can sign up, get your password and get started.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Next time
One more blog about what we hope to do with this site. Then we’ll move on. (I promise.)
We believe in the twin doctrines of soul competency and the priesthood of all believers. Soul competency is the idea that God has created all people—every individual—with the capacity to relate directly to God. We’re all “competent” to approach God directly, of our own free will, and to have a loving, abiding relationship with God. And the priesthood of all believers means we don’t need any pope, priest, pastor, rabbi, imam or other spiritual intermediary to stand between us and God, to be our intermediary with God.
This is why, for 399 years, Baptists have practiced democracy in our churches, associations and conventions. Since we believe God has made each believer a free priest with direct access to God, then each individual should be free to participate in and give direction to our corporate life together. So, we’re big voters. Every so often, we gather together to do business, and each vote is both a practical matter of making decisions and a theological assertion of our belief in soul competency and the priesthood of all believers.
Theology of news
That’s why communication always has been important to Baptists. If we expect Baptists to make good decisions, then we all need access to accurate information about the issues and challenges before us. For generations, Baptists have published newspapers to help participants in their societies and conventions understand their common concerns so they can make good decisions and rise to their opportunities. As a newspaper, the Baptist Standard has been facilitating this kind of communication for 120 years.
For about a decade or so, the Standard has placed everything that goes in the print edition on the Internet, too. In fact, for most of that time, we’ve actually published more online than in print—like Bible study lessons, extra letters to the editor, even news and feature stories that just didn’t fit in the print edition.
But with this new website, we’ve laid the foundation to do much more.
This is where you come in
One of the most significant components of our new site is the comment feature. We’re giving you the opportunity to add your comments to our blogs, editorials, news stories and just about everything we post online. We’re not just giving you that opportunity; we want you to comment. One of the main reasons is because we actually believe all that soul competency/priesthood of all believers stuff. When you read something, have an idea and share it, we’re all enriched.
I’ll tell you the first time I realized I wanted to add comments to the Standard website. It was May 25, 2007, the day Herbert Reynolds died. Dr. Reynolds was president emeritus of Baylor University and had been a gracious friend and mentor to me. Instinctively, I clicked on the Waco Tribune-Herald website to see if I could find more details. The Trib already had added a comment feature to its news stories, and throughout the day, friends and former students added their tributes to a life well-lived. Their beautiful stories provided a poignant dimension to the reporter’s article, and I wanted the Baptist Standard to give our readers that opportunity to inform and inspire each other.
So, all of us here hope you’ll participate. Of course, you still can send letters to the editor. But we also want you to feel free to comment when you’re inspired by an article, editorial, letter, blog or other item. Your “voice” is important.
OK, here’s the catch
In order to comment, you have to register. It’s easy. Even I can do it. Right now, we’ve placed a couple of registration links on our homepage. One is a button on the top of the left column. The other is a link in the bottom-left corner of my blog box. Either link will take you to a confidential form where you can sign up, get your password and get started.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Next time
One more blog about what we hope to do with this site. Then we’ll move on. (I promise.)
Comments (3)
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written by Tim Dahl, May 28, 2008
written by Tim Dahl, May 28, 2008
We're better journalists than salespeople
written by Marv Knox, May 29, 2008
written by Marv Knox, May 29, 2008
Tim,
Right now, you have full access to the website for free, plus we'll send you the FirstLook newsletter for free each week. Obviously, both of them contain more information than fits in the print edition.
We're thinking about/researching the possibility of adding premium content, products and services that would be available online. They definitely would require registration; they might require a subscription. We just don't know yet.
But we're committed to offering a high volume of free news, information, opinion and other materials online.
We'd be happy to keep everybody as print subscribers, too. But our mission is to inform, inspire, educate and empower people to follow Christ and build his kingdom. So, our main goal is to communicate, and we'll leave it to you to decide whether you want to read us online or on paper.
Right now, you have full access to the website for free, plus we'll send you the FirstLook newsletter for free each week. Obviously, both of them contain more information than fits in the print edition.
We're thinking about/researching the possibility of adding premium content, products and services that would be available online. They definitely would require registration; they might require a subscription. We just don't know yet.
But we're committed to offering a high volume of free news, information, opinion and other materials online.
We'd be happy to keep everybody as print subscribers, too. But our mission is to inform, inspire, educate and empower people to follow Christ and build his kingdom. So, our main goal is to communicate, and we'll leave it to you to decide whether you want to read us online or on paper.
Paying for Service...
written by Tim Dahl, May 30, 2008
written by Tim Dahl, May 30, 2008
Marv,
Free content is a wonderful thing, no doubt. You'll never hear anyone complain about good free content, especially me. However, if there was an internet only option; then I would probably sign up for it. Sure, I could make up reasons like: less use of paper means a more eco-friendly planet. I could make excuse about how it might save you money in the long run, but I really don't have any clue as to that. But, in reality, the truth is I think papers are messy and a little clumsy. So, I throw the print version away (sorry), and read the internet site. :)
Just sayin'...
Tim
Free content is a wonderful thing, no doubt. You'll never hear anyone complain about good free content, especially me. However, if there was an internet only option; then I would probably sign up for it. Sure, I could make up reasons like: less use of paper means a more eco-friendly planet. I could make excuse about how it might save you money in the long run, but I really don't have any clue as to that. But, in reality, the truth is I think papers are messy and a little clumsy. So, I throw the print version away (sorry), and read the internet site. :)
Just sayin'...
Tim
Please read our Comments Covenant. Readers alone are responsible for the content of the comments they post here. The comments are subject to the site’s terms and conditions of use and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or approval of the Baptist Standard. Readers whose comments violate the terms of use may have their comments removed or all of their content blocked from viewing by other users without notification.
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Is there ever going to be a subscription where we have some kind of special access to the website, but don't have to worry about getting the print version in the mail? I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I never read the print version, but I hit the website a few times a week.
Thanks,
Tim