wfn.org | American Baptists In Mission to Become Quarterly

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

American Baptist News Service (5/28/02)--American Baptists In Mission, the
bimonthly feature magazine of American Baptist Churches USA, will become a
quarterly publication with the Fall 2002 issue, it was announced today by
Richard Schramm, deputy general secretary for Communication and editor of
the magazine.

Schramm noted that such a change had been under consideration for some time,
in the light of increasing Web communication opportunities and the ongoing
challenges of cost-effectiveness within traditional print media.

"I believe it is important to revise the magazine's schedule at this point,"
Schramm said.  "Because of our expanding electronic media vehicles for
immediate news dissemination, American Baptists In Mission has become much
more of a feature magazine than a news publication.  The content generally
isn't as time-bound as in the past when there were no other corporate means
of dissemination.  We have an informative, inspirational, colorful and
well-received publication, and to maintain the current schedule but cut back
on the quality of each issue would be a mistake.  A quarterly feature
magazine can capture the effectiveness, the flavor and the diversity of
American Baptist mission efforts in the name of Christ."

"Despite the challenges, this is an exciting age for communication," he
added.  "It's impressive how quickly and widely American Baptists have
become electronic communicators.  We now have more than 800 churches which
have linked their Web sites to the American Baptist Churches USA Web site.
Increasing numbers are joining our American Baptist News Service list serve
or pulling news and other resources off our Web site.  We are using well the
gifts for communication that God has given us at the turn of this
millennium."

"It follows that if we're to be good stewards and effective communicators
our media efforts need to be based increasingly in the immediate and
cost-effective channels of Web and other electronic communication.  Even as
we move in that direction, however, we can't lose sight of the importance of
traditional communication.  Maintaining the quality and integrity of
American Baptists In Mission will remain a priority."

American Baptists In Mission, which currently has a circulation of about
37,000, is the successor to The American Baptist and predecessor
publications dating back to 1803.

02ABN73

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (610)768-2077; fax:
(610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org; richard.schramm@abc-usa.org