Panel members wary over press coverage
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, December 12, 2001
DALLAS – One of the first items placed on the table during the opening meeting of the Theological Task Force was aimed at those who will cover the group’s deliberations: members of the press.
Dr. Elizabeth R. Achtemeier, a retired seminary professor, expressed concern that press coverage “will dampen the freedom of this discussion.”
But Gary Demarest, a California pastor who is co-moderator of the task force, emphasized that the panel would, as required, follow the open meetings policy of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
“We’re high visibility,” said Demarest. “I don’t think that we want in any way to direct the media, exclude the media or control the media.”
He related a story about a college football coach and the quarterback during a key timeout before the play that would determine who won and who lost. Fans could see the quarterback throw his head back in laughter.
Later, reporters asked the quarterback what was so funny about that moment. He said the coach told him, “If you want to be a quarterback, this is the time.”
In like manner, agreeing to serve on the task force – at a time of great contention in the denomination – requires members to accept the risk that goes with the job.
Achtenmeier was not the only member of the task force to express reservation about coverage by the press.
The Rev. Victoria G. Curtiss of Ames, Iowa, suggested that “we revisit the General Assembly’s open-meetings requirement” and that reporters covering the task force be asked to become “engaged” in a covenant proposed for members of the commission. That proposal was discussed by small group meetings. But the panel decided, by consensus, not to ask the press to sign the covenant.
It did, however, ask the press to uphold the ethical standards of media organizations it is affiliated with.