[1]INDIANAPOLIS (BP)–An Indiana pastor has submitted a proposed resolution to the Resolutions Committee expressing concern over the 2011 New International Version (NIV) Bible and its usage of gender neutral language.
That doesn’t mean it will make it to the floor of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. According to SBC Bylaw 20, only resolutions recommended by the committee may be considered by messengers.
The proposed resolution by pastor Tim Overton of Halteman Village Baptist Church in Muncie, Ind., says the newest NIV “alters the meaning of hundreds of verses, most significantly by erasing gender-specific details which appear in the original language.” The resolution, dated May 25, further asserts that “seventy-five percent of the inaccurate gender language found in the TNIV is retained in the 2011 NIV.” The TNIV was a 2005 translation criticized by many evangelical leaders for its gender neutral language.
Overton gave a copy of his proposed resolution to Baptist Press after submitting it to the committee.
The proposed resolution would have messengers “respectfully request” that LifeWay Christian Stores not carry the Bible. It also would have messengers go on record as stating “we cannot commend the 2011 NIV to Southern Baptists or the larger Christian community.”
Neither the subject nor the language of any submitted resolution has standing until the Resolutions Committee presents its report at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting on Wednesday, June 15. The Resolutions Committee could accept the resolution, modify it or decline it.
[2]For a June 3 Baptist Press story on the new NIV, visit http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=35458 [3].
NEW HOPE PUBLISHERS LAUNCHES WEB VENTURE — New Hope Publishers announced June 6 the official launch of NewHopeDigital.com. As book publishing rapidly enters a new era of connectivity, NewHopeDigital.com will provide readers and retailers with fresh content in multiple digital formats.
NewHopeDigital.com will offer regularly updated magazine-style content including articles, columns, feature stories, podcasts and videos from New Hope authors and other contributors.
Each month the site will have a specific theme, such as orphan care, human exploitation, the persecuted church, prayer and making disciples, in order to foster focused thought and interaction on major issues facing Christians today. New book releases on a variety of topics will be prominently featured as well.
“We have anticipated this day for many months,” publisher Andrea Mullins said. “We believe NewHopeDigital.com is just the beginning of a new era of digital publishing that will touch lives around the world where people need to know who God is, what He is doing and what He offers in Christ. “NewHopeDigital.com will enhance the mission of New Hope Publishers, expand the ministries of our authors and provide resources that speak to a variety of issues that need the active engagement of God’s people,” she said.
The New Hope fold of authors has enthusiastically embraced the concept. “NewHopeDigital.com provides me an opportunity to go deeper and connect with readers and retailers in an exciting new venue,” said top-selling New Hope author Jennifer Kennedy Dean, best known for her Live a Praying Life resources.
“Since most of us live a cyberlife, NewHopeDigital.com fits right into the flow of information that I value and look forward to.”
New Hope author Mark Russell said, “The church needs a place to explore complex human issues, discover the comprehensive vision of God’s mission and how these two realities can come together. I’m excited about New Hope Digital because it gives us a conversation space to learn from one another in our God-given mandate to love Him and our global neighbor.”
New Hope Publishers, the general trade publishing imprint for Woman’s Missionary Union, represents more than 80 authors and more than 130 individual works.
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Compiled by Michael Foust, associate editor of Baptist Press, and Art Toalston, editor of Baptist Press.