By Bob Allen
Associated Baptist Press directors voted Sept. 30 to merge with the Religious Herald, a Virginia Baptist newspaper published since 1828. Details of the merger plan, by mutual agreement marked confidential until acted upon by both governing boards, were discussed in executive session.
Both organizations agreed in principle to combine operations in April. Vote by the Religious Herald trustees on the merger plan is scheduled Oct. 7.
Task forces from both boards met in conference calls at various times since April and face-to-face in Dallas July 29-30. Senior staff members of both organizations were involved.
Associated Baptist Press was founded in 1990 as the nation’s first independent news service for Baptists. Since 2006 the Herald and ABP have shared content through New Voice Media, a partnership that also includes the Baptist Standard in Texas and Missouri’s Word & Way.