EPA Pulls Out of NIV, World Dispute

After confessing deficiencies and missteps, the Evangelical Press Association (EPA) has closed out its inquiry into the allegation that World magazine was journalistically unethical in reporting about changes in the New International Version of the Bible.

“Our current Code of Ethics and our process for dealing with complaints are inadequate,” the EPA said in an October 26 statement. “Therefore we have decided to conclude EPA’s involvement in this case without rendering judgment.”

Zondervan Publishers and the International Bible Society (IBS) filed an ethics complaint with the EPA regarding World ‘s reports on moves to revise the New International Version using “inclusive language” (CT, June 16, 1997, p. 52). The magazine began with a March 29 cover story, “Femme Fatale: The Feminist Seduction of the Evangelical Church.”

A three-member ad hoc panel appointed by the EPA scolded the magazine for falling “seriously short of upholding the EPA code” for journalistic accuracy (CT, Aug. 11, 1997, p. 58). But the EPA later admitted to “major errors” in its handling of the dispute and vowed to start afresh (CT, Sept. 1, 1997, p. 98).

In the October 26 statement, EPA again admitted violating its own bylaws by choosing ad hoc committee members who did not belong to the EPA and for releasing the report before it had been reviewed by the board. “As a result of these errors, the EPA board of directors determined that the report of its original ad hoc committee had no standing,” the EPA said.

“At this point, a judgment of right or wrong by EPA will accomplish no good thing,” the statement continued.

IBS publisher Dean Merrill expressed disappointment. “It’s quite a switcheroo,” he said. “The first panel said one thing, and now the board says, ‘Well, we’d rather not deal with this.’ “

World publisher Joel Belz says the magazine is grateful that EPA will not pursue the matter further. “World accepts the EPA board’s exhortation that we conduct our journalistic task with charity.”

The EPA says it will focus on revising bylaws to handle such complaints better in the future.

Copyright © 1997 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

December 8, 1997 Vol. 41, No. 14, Page 62

Also in this issue

Mary Rejoicing, Rachel Weeping: How shall we reconcile the glorious birth of the Savior with the bloody deaths of the boys of Bethlehem?

Our Latest

Is This Heaven? No, It’s Banana Ball

What baseball’s most amusing team gets right about joy in sports.

The Pastor Who Rescues People from Japan’s ‘Suicide Cliff’

Yoichi Fujiyabu has spent three decades sharing God’s love to people who want to end their lives.

An Ode to the Long Season

Why fans love a game designed to break their hearts.

News

Black Clergy and Christians Grapple with Charlie Kirk’s Legacy

Many say the activist’s inflammatory statements on race should inform how we remember his life.

News

A Sudden Death: Voddie Baucham, Who Warned the Church of Fault Lines

Known for confronting critical theory, moral relativism, and secular ideologies, Baucham died a month into leading a new seminary in Florida.

Why Many Black Christians Reject the Evangelical and Mainline Labels

The history of a prominent church pastored by MLK in Alabama shows the reason African Americans often don’t embrace either term.

News

Pastor Abducted in Nigeria Amid Escalating Kidnapping Crisis

Armed gang continues to hold him after family paid the ransom.

Review

The Liturgy of American Charisma

Historian Molly Worthen studies dynamic leaders, eager followers, and their shared efforts to “consecrate a new reality.”

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube