Biblical Recorder to become monthly magazine
By Seth Brown/Biblical Recorder
Beginning in January, the Biblical Recorder’s historic print edition will transition to a monthly magazine. The new format will put additional tools in the hands of our staff to keep you informed and inspired. The move also falls in line with a slate of cost-saving innovations that our staff began implementing last year. All in all, we think it’s the right move at the right time to ensure our staff is serving North Carolina Baptists faithfully and efficiently.
As executive editor, I look for solutions that add value to our organization without swelling our expenses. That strategy is important in any era, but it has been especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic consequences of the virus on advertising revenue and Cooperative Program giving spurred us to act strategically and decisively.
Through the years, many people have suggested that the Recorder consider a magazine format. The higher quality paper and image quality of a magazine will benefit our readers and advertisers. Magazine layout and design also tends to be more dynamic and visually engaging. Our staff is excited about how that will enhance our storytelling abilities.
“A magazine format allows us to expand our creativity in telling the stories of Southern Baptists,” said Liz Tablazon, assistant editor at the Recorder. “We’ll keep sharing the ways God is working through and in His people – in greater depth and on more visually compelling pages.”
The first issue featuring the new magazine style should arrive in mailboxes mid-January. We will debut the new format with an emphasis on a topic close to our hearts: the sanctity of life.
Baptist Message changes 2021 print schedule to offset costs
By Baptist Message staff
Starting in January 2021, the Baptist Message will change its annual production run from 24 editions to 14. The new printing schedule is basically a monthly plan, plus two additional editions in October and January to provide coverage of Louisiana Baptist cooperative missions and ministries as well as key organizational events, including the fall annual meeting as well as winter evangelistic meetings.
Yearly subscription rates will remain the same: $14 for an individual subscription and $9.25 for a church group discount.
Will Hall, executive editor of the Baptist Message, said the $14 individual subscription rate went into effect January 1, 2003, and since then has lost about 31 percent of its buying power.
“We need to do something to make up the shortfall that has taken place during that long haul,” he said. “However, the economy in the state and the financial pressure it is placing on our households and our churches, means instead of raising rates for subscribers, we will cut costs, moving from 24 to 14 printed editions each year. Taking this step will reduce our costs an estimated 35-40 percent, which essentially makes up for the loss of buying power incurred during the 17 years the subscription rate has remained the same.”
Mohler elected ETS president
By Jeff Robinson/SBTS
Southern Seminary President Albert Mohler was elected president of the Evangelical Theological Society Thursday (Nov. 19) during the organization’s 72nd annual meeting. Due to the pandemic, the meeting of evangelical scholars met virtually. The meeting was originally scheduled to be in Providence, RI.
Previously, Mohler had served as vice president of ETS, having been elected to that office during the 2018 annual meeting in Denver.
“I am deeply honored to serve as president of the Evangelical Theological Society,” Mohler said. “As a young evangelical, I came to respect and admire this society for its identity as a society of evangelical theologians that would demonstrate the highest quality of theological and biblical scholarship.
“Formed by men of the stature of Carl F. H. Henry and others, this has been the central point of scholarly conversation for evangelicals in the United States for well over half a century. I’ve been pleased to serve as an officer of the society and I’m now very honored to be its president.”
Mohler is the third member of the Southern Seminary faculty to serve as ETS president in the past 11 years. Bruce Ware, T. Rupert and Lucille Coleman Professor of Christian Theology, served in the role in 2009, and Tom Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament, was elected in 2014. Gregg Allison, professor of Christian Theology, is the current secretary of ETS.
