Chuck's Column - 02/17/08

Robert Parham, reporting in EthicsDaily.com (the web page for the Baptist Center of Ethics) notes how some reporters are clueless when it comes to Baptists. He references the number of errors Sally Quinn from the Washington Post and Naomi Schaefer Riley, "the deputy taste editor" from the Wall Street Journal, made in their reporting of the New Baptist Covenant (NBC). That's right! The Wall Street Journal sent their "deputy taste editor" to cover the event. I don't remember seeing any "wine tasting" or "gourmet food preparing" workshops.

I encourage you to go to EthicsDaily.com and read Parham's articles and see how really clueless these reporters are when it comes to knowing something about Baptists. One interesting error of fact that both reporters made is that they both assumed this was a gathering of Southern Baptists. Of course, the NBC had nothing to do with Southern Baptists. As Parham states, "The purpose was to unite goodwill Baptists in North America through worship and workshops, prayer meetings and plenary sessions, across racial, ethnic, and geographic lines." Over 30 different Baptist conventions and organization were represented. But the SBC was not one of them; they declined the invitation to participate.

This confusion of Baptists with Southern Baptists illustrates why, says Parham, so many progressive Baptists supported the gathering: "to correct the misperception within the media that Southern Baptists represent all Baptists."

Even after the "deputy taste editor" of the Wall Street Journal made this connection with Southern Baptists she went on to label the gathering as representing the "religious left." Can you imagine connecting Southern Baptists with the "religious left"? Parham observes that it is typical for reporters to see religious life in a bi-polar way: "Everything is either/or, left or right, liberal or conservative. Fortunately, reality has a richer texture than such misleading simplicity."

And don't believe clueless reporters that tell you that it was a partisan gathering. If talking about caring for the poor, breaking cycles of poverty, religious liberty and separation of church and state, prison ministry, taking care of the earth, helping the marginalized, interfaith dialogue, welcoming the stranger, responding to natural disasters, evangelical and prophetic preaching, sexual exploitation, engaging the criminal justice system, and helping young people deal with consumerism is political, then it was political, but it certainly wasn't partisan.

This was a significant event - "a moment that could be become a movement" as Program Chair Jimmy Allen said. I am glad to be part of it.

Servants together,
Chuck