Posted: 12/19/03
Veteran journalist Ken Camp
elected managing editor of Baptist Standard
DALLAS–Veteran Texas Baptist journalist Ken Camp has been named managing editor of the Baptist Standard.
Camp, 43, has worked in the Baptist General Convention of Texas news office since 1984. For the past seven years, he has been director of news and information.
His byline has been a regular feature in the Standard for two decades, as he has reported on the ministries of Texas Baptist churches and missions endeavors such as Texas Baptist Men's disaster-relief work.
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Camp recently wrote a book about the history of Texas Baptist Men, “Anyway, Anytime, Anywhere.”
His writing has won numerous awards from the Baptist Communicators Association and the Religion Communicators Council. He twice has won BCA's top writing honor, the Frank Burkhalter Award–once for coverage of healing found in Texas communities after hate crimes and again for combined coverage in the Standard of the 1999 shooting at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth. He won RCC's top writing honor for a story about the Texas death chamber in Huntsville.
For the BGCT, he has covered the Texas Legislature and has served as Dallas bureau chief for Associated Baptist Press. He has coordinated annual coverage related to the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas missions. He also has coordinated the newsroom for BGCT annual sessions.
Through all of 2000 and part of 2001, Camp served as interim director of the BGCT communications office.
At the Standard, he will succeed Mark Wingfield, who has resigned to become associate pastor at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas.
Camp was elected to the new role by the Standard's board of directors Dec. 11. He will begin work Jan. 1.
“Baptist Standard readers are blessed that Ken Camp will succeed Mark Wingfield. They're not only two of the top Baptist journalists; they're among the best journalists anywhere,” Editor Marv Knox said.
“Ken will be a tremendous asset to the Standard. After covering the BGCT for two decades, he knows Texas Baptists' heartbeat better than anyone. Ken will continue to help us understand the issues and challenges that face our churches, associations and convention. And in his new role, he will be a wonderful interpreter of all the missions and ministry possibilities before us.
“Ken's commitment to Christ and his church, love and devotion to his family, and personal integrity are unsurpassed. I'm excited about working with him, and I know Baptist Standard readers will appreciate their new relationship with him as well.”
BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade expressed regret for the Executive Board's loss but delight for the Standard's gain.
“Ken Camp represents the very best in Texas Baptist life,” Wade said. “No one knows us better. He cares deeply about missions and evangelism and the work God has given the BGCT and the churches to do in advancing all the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom. His integrity is a mile deep and wide. What he writes, Baptists can put in the bank.”
Wade called Camp “one of the finest Christian laymen I have ever met. His love for his family and his church encourages all who know him. I am proud that our convention staff could provide for the Baptist Standard such a gifted and committed man to take this incredibly important role in Baptist life.”
Becky Bridges, coordinator of the BGCT Communications Center, echoed Wade's praise: “Ken Camp's great writing skills will help keep the Baptist Standard at the top tier of all religious newspapers. He is a world-class reporter whose heart for missions and evangelism is apparent in everything he does.”
A native of Greenville, Camp earned a bachelor of arts degree in English and journalism from East Texas State University in Commerce and a master of arts in communication degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.
He and his wife, Diane, have three sons, Daniel, Matthew and Nathan. The Camps are members of South Garland Baptist Church in Garland.
In other action, the Standard board elected new officers.
Jim Nelson, an Austin attorney and member of Hyde Park Baptist Church, was elected chairman of the board.
He will work with Vice Chairman Charles Walton, pastor of First Baptist Church of Conroe, and Secretary Charles Risinger, an engineer and lay leader at First Baptist Church of Longview.
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