Lifeway Stores Pull Christian Magazine from Shelves
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Mon, September 29, 2008
- Viewed 162
- (17) comments so far
A spokesman for LifeWay Christian Resources based in Nashville, Tenn., said the magazine story was contrary to the Southern Baptist denomination’s statement of faith and therefore stores were asked not to promote it. Customers may ask for a copy of it at the counter, said spokesman Rob Phillips.
You can read the full story here...
What do you think… should Lifeway have pulled this magazine?
According to InsideBayArea.com, What was supposed to be an honor — a cover story about a group of successful women pastors — has instead been tarnished for a Durham non-denominational church leader.
Sheryl Brady, the 48-year-old pastor of The River Church, was featured among four other women pastors on the cover of Gospel Today, a Christian lifestyle publication based in Atlanta. The article, titled "Women Pastors: Breaking the Glass Ceiling," was pulled from the shelves of LifeWay Christian stores because it upset the owner — the Southern Baptist Convention.
The convention believes the position of pastor is reserved for men. "I respect the theological debate about women in leadership and the Southern Baptist Convention's decision to disagree, but to deny Gospel Today the right to freedom of the press to cover it and discuss it is alarming," said Brady, who preaches in the Pentecostal tradition of prophesy, healing and speaking in tongues.
Comments
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Lori on Mon, September 29, 2008
As a former 30 year Southern Baptist I have three questions.
How long has Lifeway been selling Gospel Today in its stores?
Is this the first time any part of Gospel Today had content contrary to the Baptist Faith and Message? (doubtful)
If no, then was it pulled at those times as well?
If the answer to these questions are “a long time”, “no” and “no” then I am saddened. It appears to me that there has been a shift towards fundamentalism in the SBC as a knee jerk reaction to what it perceives in society - particularly on the issue of women in ministry.
If the answer to the third question is “yes” then they have a right to pull material that is inconsistent with the Baptist Faith and Message as long as it is consistently applied.
However, all the way around it seems petty since people will make up their own minds on this issue and other “non-essentials” whether the reading material is readily available or not. Jesus gives us the freedom read, think, pray and follow Him.
Steve on Mon, September 29, 2008
I’m very troubled by this. All this does is help to re-enforce the closed-minded, misogynistic opinions people have of Christianity.
I’m trying hard to remember where Jesus said “Women shouldn’t be leaders” but I’m having trouble locating it. Anyone?
Pastor Dan on Mon, September 29, 2008
If they don’t want to sell it or promote it that is their right - if you disagree shop elsewhere and move on… we are facing much bigger issues!
Peter on Mon, September 29, 2008
I tend to agree with Dan here. You can buy the magazine elsewhere and as a business, they have the right _not_ to sell items. I can’t comment too much on what they do sell because I know they stock other items that would go against the BFM, but it’s still their choice as a business. Of course, this will probably get blown out of all proportion just because it involves Baptists and their view on the roles of women. I still remember when they quoted scripture about the woman’s place in a home - that went all over the mainstream news just to bash those bigoted Baptists. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/raspberry.gif
I have to admit that I do agree with Lori to an extent as well. This should be applied consistently, not just because of the cover story on one magazine.
Rev. Kelli on Mon, September 29, 2008
I am a female, and I am an ordained Baptist senior pastor in Texas. Obviously I am very disappointed in the decision made by Lifeway. For many years Lifeway has serviced all Baptists. Clearly they are now confining themselves to only ministering to Southern Baptists. Once again the fundamentalist SBC leadership has stepped away from 400 years of Baptist history, autonomy, and priesthood of the beleiver to enforce its narrowing doctrine.
I understand Pastor Dan’s comment that reflects everyone’s weariness with debates such as this; but, for many of us Lifeway has long been the most prominent and faithful local resource for our ministries. Unfortunately, walking away, which I will do, has just made my job much more difficult, and Lifeway’s customer base much more limited.
Peter Hamm on Mon, September 29, 2008
They totally have the right to make this decision.
I totally have the right to shop somewhere else, and to love my neighbor better, love God better, and just be part of His Kingdom instead of the infighting and petty squabbles that are nowhere near it.
Tom on Mon, September 29, 2008
1 Timothy Chapter 3 shows us clearly that the qualifications for an overseer, deacon, and other “designated” church leaders, are called male. I do not wish to get involved with a debate on the question of ancient terminology regarding male and female designations in this venue, it is still being hotly debated as we speak. However, that being said, where do we draw the line and contradict The Word Of God? If one wants to be associated with Christianity, and then, does a turn around and say’s that they “then” disagree with The Word Of God, which saves them from the world of sin, can this be called backsliding? I dunno! However, following the, “1 Tim 3 chapter”, is “1 Tim 4” which starts out with, (1 Tim 4:1 NIV) The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
(1 Tim 4:2 NIV) Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
Personally I believe that everything we need to know about the church is in The Bible, and I believe in the inerrancy of the scripture. Are some being deceived by deceiving spirits? We could have a very long debate about this, however, why? Lifeway is owned by the SBC, and as such they cannot be anything else than what they are. If they chose to “not” interpret the scriptures, in any way as to change the meaning of it, it is their right to do so. If you on the other hand have another interpretation that you wish to follow, that is also your right. In light of the scriptures, which is the safest path? I will leave it up to God. Amen?
Jim on Mon, September 29, 2008
Privately owned, or Denominationally owned stores have the right to promote or oppose those articles (or in this case magazines) they desire to sell. In addition, if the consumer doesn’t like the materials sold, or those articles not sold, she or he needs to just limit or stop doing business with the store or business. I’m sure that a good magazine is being sold in other stores, so go and buy it elsewhere. Besides, I’m sure the new business will appreciate the new customer base.
Jared on Mon, September 29, 2008
Ms. Brady said: “I respect the theological debate about women in leadership and the Southern Baptist Convention’s decision to disagree, but to deny Gospel Today the right to freedom of the press to cover it and discuss it is alarming.”
I find that quote alarming.
While I think LifeWay’s decision was an overreaction—having a book or magazine featuring news ABOUT something is not the same as endorsing that thing—not selling a particular copy of a magazine is not denying anyone’s freedom of the press.
The idol of entitlement is so entrenched in America.
Eric on Mon, September 29, 2008
Jared, Thanks for making one of my two points. No freedoms have been violated. But the freedom to filter what a business sells has certainly been applied.
My second point is the irony I see about this story… Gospel Today has done a cover story called: “Women Pastors: Breaking the Glass Ceiling.” This magazine gets pulled from the shelves by a Christian institution designed, in part, to service those in ministry.
I think this very action supports the fact that women still face challenges to be heard from the pulpit and respected in leadership. Many of those challenges come from the church itself.
DanielR on Mon, September 29, 2008
This is NOT the first time Gospel Today has had articles about female pastors, even articles that could be read as endorsing or promoting the idea. This is apparently the first time Lifeway has pulled the magazine from its shelves.
This is however this first time Gospel Today has prominently featured a group of female pastors on the cover, but conversely Lifeway says the cover picture is not the reason they pulled it.
They are apparently willing to make a profit by selling books and magazines that go against the SBC statement of faith as long as they can say they don’t proofread everything they sell and claim ignorance of the contents, but when it’s right there in-your-face on the cover they apparently felt the need to take action.
I think Lifeway has the right to do what they did, but I would hope they could be honest about their reasons for doing so.
Stewart on Mon, September 29, 2008
While Lifeway obviously has done nothing illegal (the store as a private enterprise has every right to discriminate according to it’s beliefs), this is not really a question of legality.
By choosing to name the stores “lifeway” rather than “SBC Books” or something like that, the operators are intentionally going for an audience broader than just Southern Baptists.
Lifeway positions itself as servicing the entire Christian community. In fact, in many southern US cities, it is the only Christian bookshop. I know when lifeway opened in my hometown it put two other Christian booksellers out of business. They couldn’t compete.
As a result, I believe the store ought to consider it’s responsibility to the broader Christian community as well as its role as an SBC bookshop. We all know that not everything it carries gets the SBC stamp of approval. I think I once purchased a Brian McLaren book in a Lifeway. I’m pretty sure he is on the outs with the SBC.
JHPW on Tue, September 30, 2008
I wholeheartedly agree with Stewart. I bought ‘The Shack’ at Lifeway and it had a little shelf tag advising me to read with ‘extra discernment’. They could have taken the same approach with this magazine. Lifeway is the only Christian bookstore in my county. The next closest one is 50 miles away. I guess there’s always online shopping!
Shawn Gierling on Tue, September 30, 2008
I am a Southern Baptist Pastor. I have personally been disappointed in the material that Lifeway carries that do not line up with our statement of faith, but due to the autonomous nature of our churches. I have agreed to disagree with those whose non-essential positions differ from my own.
As a business I believe the decision was wise. This is a hot topic that has caused a lot of “fundamentalist” slurs to be aimed at Southern Baptists, as if that is supposed to hurt. Had they carried the magazine, which is not reporting on women in Pastoral roles, but endorsing the practice; they would be labeled hypocrites by those who choose to interpret scripture to fit their own lives.
Women in SB churches play an important role. They just don’t serve as pastors.
Shawn Gierling on Tue, September 30, 2008
BTW there are plenty of non-denominational book stores who carry whatever will turn a profit, regardless of content. They all have online stores.
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