November 2, 2011

News Roundup: The Murdoch News Corp ZonderNelsonCollins Bombshell Edition

Posted by Phil Groom under Christian Publishers, News | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |
[6] Comments 

Update, 3.15pm, Nov 02, 2011: “It’s business as usual” – response & reflections from Paul Wilkinson, Christian Book Shop Talk, Canada: HarperCollins to Acquire Thomas Nelson

Update, 10.30am, Nov 02, 2011: Follow up report from Christian Retailing, posted 01/11/2011: Thomas Nelson buyout ‘a vote of confidence for the industry’

MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES: the words of an ancient curse; and we in the Christian book and retail trade are certainly living in interesting times today with the growing challenge of digitisation (or should that be digitization?), major realignments within both our own sector and the wider trade, and the ever-shifting sands of the global economy destabilising large and small concerns alike. And the Big News of the Moment is one of those realignments as Thomas Nelson, one the USA’s biggest Christian/Inspirational publishers, looks set to be swallowed up into the abyss of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp alongside HarperCollins and Zondervan:

News breaks via Christian Retailing USA

The news broke via the USA’s Christian Retailing:

HarperCollins to acquire Thomas Nelson
MONDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2011 04:26 PM EDT

HarperCollins Publishers today announced it is to take over Thomas Nelson.

A subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., HarperCollins said in a surprise statement that it had “entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Thomas Nelson Inc. for an undisclosed sum.” The acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of the calendar year, is “subject to regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions,” the company said.

No details of the terms were disclosed, nor was there any initial indication of how Thomas Nelson will fit under its new owner, also the parent company of Zondervan.

Eddie Olliffe tweets astonishment and concerns

The story was rapidly picked up by the ever-vigilant Eddie Olliffe, who tweeted his astonishment and concerns, kicked off a discussion in the Christian Authors, Booksellers and Publishers facebook group, and located the official HarperCollins Press Release:

The Bookseller fails to note Murdoch connection

Next came the Bookseller, with a brief summary of the official press release but, surprisingly, failing to note the Murdoch connection:

HC acquires Thomas Nelson
01.11.11 | Graeme Neill

HarperCollins has bought US religious publisher Thomas Nelson for an undisclosed sum.

The deal is expected to go through by the end of the year. Thomas Nelson currently publishes the US bestseller Heaven is for Real.

Brian Murray, c.e.o. and president of HarperCollins Worldwide, said: “Founded in 1798 in Edinburgh, Scotland, Thomas Nelson shares a long and rich heritage with both New York’s Harper Brothers and Scotland’s William Collins & Sons. It is thus with great pleasure that I look forward to welcoming Thomas Nelson to the HarperCollins family.”

Christian Marketplace speculates about possible job losses

Hot on the heels of the Bookseller’s report came a Christian Marketplace “Breaking News” ‘e-alert’ with speculation about possible job losses:

HarperCollins to acquire Thomas Nelson

It was announced on 31st October that HarperCollins Publishers has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Thomas Nelson, Inc. for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of 2011, is subject to regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions.

The impact of this impending acquisition on the world of Christian publishing is not yet clear but with both Zondervan and Thomas Nelson part of the HarperCollins/News Corp. family it is likely that some job losses will be inevitable.

Clearly one impact is that Rupert Murdoch now becomes the leading Christian publisher in the world, something which might not sit comforatbly [sic] with some ;people [sic] given News Corp’s. [sic] recent troubles following the ‘phone hacking’ scandal at the now defunct News of the World.

It also brings into the HarperCollins family such authors as Billy Graham, Max Lucado, Brian McLaren and also the current world bestseller ‘Heaven is for Real’ by Todd Burpo.

Eddie Olliffe asks tough questions: Is News Corp a ‘fit and proper’ entity to ‘own’ the Bible?

For the tough questions, however, we return to Eddie Olliffe, who — describing the announcement as “a bombshell” — asks whether News Corp is a ‘Fit and Proper’ entity to ‘own’ the Bible:

Book Trade – is News Corp a ‘Fit and Proper’ entity to ‘own’ the Bible?
November 1, 2011

Last evening, a bombshell exploded in the worldwide book trade with the announcement by HarperCollins in New York of their proposed purchase of Thomas Nelson USA (Publisher of Billy Graham, Max Lucado and the New King James Bible).

This is astonishing. News Corporation already owns Zondervan (the Publisher of the New International Version, on licence from Biblica USA) and HarperCollins (the Publisher of the Good News Bible).

I, for one, am not hugely keen on the news that an ethically discredited NewsCorp may shortly own two major USA Christian publishers; Zondervan & Thomas Nelson; thus – incredibly – making Rupert Murdoch the largest Christian publisher in the world, in control of many of the major English translations of the Bible!

I believe, in the light of the phone-hacking charges here in the UK, that NewsCorp is not a ‘fit and proper’ entity to control such a major percentage of English Bible translations. To me, this is extremely worrying.

As John Duncan said on Facebook today;

‘By my reckoning this now makes HC owners of the companies that produce the NKJV, a large percentage of the KJV (both Nelson and HC), the NCV, the NIV (US editions), the GNB, the ESV (UK editions), and some NRSV – rather a lot of bibles, really’.

Eddie makes a point of indicating his respect for the people he has worked with in the various companies concerned, but nonetheless the question and challenge remains: “this seems to be a really perilous and serious state of affairs.”

  • How should we as individuals — and as a trade — respond?

Reports Elsewhere (most recent first)

 

March 1, 2011

Bible Translation: Does getting it right matter?

Posted by Phil Groom under Book News, Christian Publishers | Tags: , , , , , , , , |
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Wycliffe Bible Translators

Wycliffe Bible Translators

IT’S HARD TO MISS THE FACT that this year, 2011, marks the 400th Anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible, the Bible translation that sparked a revolution in giving ordinary people access to the Bible in their own language — provided, of course, that their language was English; but around the world there are still millions of people who don’t have the Bible in their own language, so as we celebrate, let’s not forget those people: head on over to Wycliffe Bible Translators to find out how you can help put things right.

At the same time, however, let’s also remember that what we’re dealing with when we read the King James or any other Bible version is a translation; and every translation inevitably has its flaws. Do those flaws matter? Jacques More, author and publisher of Jarom Books, says they do, and his latest book, Serious Mistranslations of the Bible — published today, 1st March 2011 — highlights numerous instances where poor translation has led to distorted doctrines and teachings in the church. I invited him to tell us about it:

Serious Mistranslations of the Bible

Serious Mistranslations of the Bible

Serious Mistranslations of the Bible is an examination of up to 52 Bible passages as affected by various Greek words from the New Testament identified as incorrectly understood by their use in the Septuagint – the Bible Jesus and the apostles quoted (the Old Testament translated into the Greek of their day) – as well as other discoveries in research in the Greek language. The Septuagint as a source for the meaning of words in the Greek of the New Testament has largely been by-passed, but Jesus and the apostles’ quotes of this source shows the words used in it have the same meaning as the New Testament Greek.

When Pharaoh had a dream which Joseph interpreted he saw fat cows coming out of the Nile and these are called eklektos in the Septuagint. As are the plump kernels of wheat he dreamed of. And so is choice silver, pleasant land, highest branches, young men [warriors in their prime], rich apparel, and so on: quality is the prominent meaning for eklektos.

When Jesus says “Many are called, few eklektos” he is saying few are fit for the calling, few are quality. He is not saying “many are called, few are chosen”!

The early publication of research on eklektos in 2001 saw comment from the then Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, “You are to be congratulated for your painstaking thoroughness” (May 2001) and a number of copies were obtained by the Bible Society. But, where are the needed changes? 10 years on, it is time this research was available to all!

Years of Research and Study
The research in the book on the issue of women in leadership Leadership is Male? highlighted two texts as mistranslated: 1 Corinthians 11:3 in some versions and 1 Timothy 2:12 in most. Those 2 chapters are borrowed and in the new book.

The research that went into the book on predestination So You Think You’re Chosen? highlighted Romans 8:28 with an added word widely employed, but contradicting the flow of the text. That chapter is also borrowed.

The information in the book Will there be Non-Christians in Heaven? highlights the need for a note to be added to the translation of “believing in the name” in John 1:12 and all places where the phrase is used. Thus the chapter entitled “The meaning of born again” explaining how the righteous among non-Christians are already born again is borrowed and included in the new book.

The 3 Measures of Meal parable is wholly misunderstood by the New International Version and other translators so they omit to translate the word “three” – unlike the more literal versions: NKJV, KJV, Young and others – which is crucial in understanding the parable.

Bibliographic Details and Further Information

Serious Mistranslations of the Bible
Jarom Books, 1st March 2011
ISBN 9781898158219
B-format paperback
352 pages
£7.99

  • Trade Distributors: CLC Wholesale | Manna Christian Centre
  • Trade Info Page: jarom.net/trade.php
 

September 1, 2010

In the Beginning: Soul Survivor ‘Bible in One Year’ starts today

Posted by Phil Groom under Bookshop Ramblings | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
[17] Comments 
Bible in One Year

Soul Survivor Bible in One Year

Have you done it? Read the entire Bible within the space of one year?

If not then perhaps now is the time to start, joining in with the thousands of young people across the country who have committed themselves to the Soul Survivor Bible in One Year project.

Even if you don’t plan to join in yourself, at the very least you should think about stocking this Bible, available from STL UK (hardback | paperback) or, of course, direct from HodderFaith; and if you’re not sure what it’s all about, here’s Soul Survivor’s Andy Croft on a mission to persuade:

I confess that I have my reservations about the project, and I tweeted as much from the LST Bookshop:

Finding it difficult to get enthusiastic about the Soul Survivor ‘Bible in One Year’ scheme when it’s based on the NIV *sigh*

But back came a reply in very short order, from @bexp66:

be enthusiastic, my kids are talking bout readin the bible!! Tho they wanted The Message version! What wud you suggest?

Said I:

I just wish Soul Survivor had got together with a range of Bible publishers instead of going for something as flawed as the NIV

and

This could have been such a wonderful opportunity for Bible publishers to work together!

Said she:

agreed, esp. with the flawed comment. Inclusive should have been essential as well.

There’s no doubt about it: the NIV is, to quote Tom Wright, “a visibly and demonstrably flawed translation”, biased in its translation “to make sure that Paul should say what the broadly Protestant and evangelical tradition said he said” — not only on justification, the particular topic Bishop Tom is referring to here, but also in terms of reinforcing misogyny rather than encouraging equality and inclusivity. If it had to be NIV-based, why not at least get into the early 21st Century with the TNIV??

But setting those reservations aside momentarily, it can surely only be a good thing for these youngsters to get to grips with the whole Bible rather than the decontextualised snippets most daily devotionals tend to offer. One can only hope that rather than spoon-feed them pre-packaged evangelical perspectives, the organisers will encourage their young (and not-so-young) conversation partners to read Scripture critically and intelligently, with their eyes wide open to its human origins and foibles: to not blindly affirm, “This is the Word of God” but to ask, “Is this the Word of God?” — and if it is, to ask, “What does it mean for us today?”

Andy Croft’s comments on today’s readings have even got Emma Jane going, and that’s definitely no bad thing. Nice one Emma!

 

August 18, 2010

TEXTS OF TERROR: The World’s Most Frightening Bible?

Posted by Phil Groom under Bookshop Ramblings | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
[12] Comments 
American Patriot's Bible: The Word of God and the Shaping of America

American Patriot's Bible: The Word of God and the Shaping of America

I first came across this Bible courtesy of our cousins across the pond at STL USA (who themselves now face the indignity of being put up for sale by Biblica, with reassurances from Doug Lockhart that sound eerily reminiscent of Keith Danby’s reassurances about STL UK last year — but that’s another story…).

I hoped and prayed that it was some sort of sad joke — after all, who (apart from Israel) could truly lay claim to the Bible as part and parcel of their national heritage? But no, this aberration, complete with USA flag blended into the cover, is all too real; and now — according to a recent report in Christian Retailing — The American Patriot’s Bible has reached the terrifying position of being one of North America’s bestsellers, reaching No. 5 on amazon.com’s bestseller lists. Despite the title, there really is more than one American patriot.

In an age of global terror threats, when we should surely be seeking ways to bridge the gap between different cultures rather than to push them further apart, the last thing the world needs is a Bible branded with America’s — or any other country’s — identity. If the Bible is the Word of God, it is surely God’s Word for all people, for all nations. Is that not what scripture itself, what Jesus himself, teaches us? No doubt Thomas Nelson’s marketing people had only the best of intentions in mind in their shaping of this nightmare: to encourage the American people; but are their minds really so detached from reality that they can’t see the message that something like this conveys to the rest of the world?

If the “de-Christianisation” of Living Oasis means making a clean break from this sort of insanity, then I am so with Andy Twilley now; but if product such as this is the true face of Christianity in the 21st century then I am, indeed, ashamed of the Gospel. Becky Garrison is right: this must surely be one of those things that makes Jesus look at his Dad and go, “I died for this?”

I suppose we should be thankful for small mercies: they could have featured US Army tanks invading Iraq or Afghanistan on the cover…

Update 25/08/2010: Not US Army tanks, just a specially packaged pocket version for the troops, cunningly designed to match the uniforms. From the Nelson Newsroom:

A condensed pocket edition, bound in the new official MultiCam® fabric used on the U.S. Military’s uniforms and packs, minus the government’s infrared technology, is also available to inspire today’s modern-day patriots in the trenches.

— The American Patriot’s Bible Editor Joins Glenn Beck Events

 

February 27, 2009

The Lost Message of Eugene Peterson

Posted by Phil Groom under Bookshop Ramblings | Tags: , |
[2] Comments 

Received an enquiry today from another bookshop wondering if I knew why copies of Eugene Peterson’s The Message seem few and far between at the moment. Have to confess that I wasn’t aware of a problem: it’s not exactly a top seller at LST; but I decided to check availability of a few editions online at STL and there’s definitely a problem…

The Lost Message of Eugene Peterson

STL Screenshot, 27/2/2009 - The Lost Message of Eugene Peterson

Note the stock status before you all rush on over to order a few; haven’t quite decided whether to laugh or cry…

Perhaps someone at STL would like to enlighten us?

 

November 1, 2008

Which Bible?

Posted by Phil Groom under Enquiries | Tags: |
[3] Comments 

An enquiry received this week:

Hi

I have as many have heard that the Bible is a great story book to read.  I have no religious belief but would like to try reading it.  Could you please suggest the best version to read in this fashion?

Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated

Thanks

Which version would you suggest, and why?

 

August 27, 2008

Bibles and Bookmarks: Part 3

Posted by Phil Groom under Bookshop Ramblings | Tags: , , , , |
[2] Comments 

Delighted to report the safe arrival of a box of bookmarks from Wycliffe Bible Translators this morning: thank you to all concerned. This picture shows them occupying pride of place alongside our own LST bookmarks on the main shop counter:

'Bible-less Bible Bookmarks' courtesy of Wycliffe Bible Translators

If you’d like some for your shop or to give away at your church to help raise awareness of those people who do not yet have the Bible available in their own language, please contact Wycliffe. More details on the Wycliffe Blog: Bible-less Bible Bookmarks: Now available

And if you’d like some LST bookmarks, I’ll gladly send you some of those too: you have only to ask.

 

August 18, 2008

Bibles and Bookmarks: Part 2

Posted by Phil Groom under News | Tags: , , , , |
[3] Comments 
The Bookmark (Side 2)

Vision 2025: The Bookmark (Side 1)

Back in April I protested the seemingly endless proliferation of new and revised English Bible translations when, according to Wycliffe Bible Translators, there are still more than 2,200 languages — representing some 193 million people — which do not yet have the Bible available:

The Bookmark (Side 1)

Vision 2025: The Bookmark (Side 1)

I put it to you that if a fraction of the creative energy that’s put into hyping up the Bible for English language speakers and readers went into translation programmes, Vision 2025 could be realised by 2012 if not sooner — and what a gift that would be to the world, far greater than Britain hosting the Olympics will ever be! 

So next time a publisher or a sales rep shows you yet another English edition of the Bible, do the world a favour: just say no. Refuse the gimmickisation of the Bible!

Instead, ask them for a bookmark — for a pack of bookmarks to give away! If you’re anything like me, you can never have too many bookmarks. I usually have about half a dozen books on the go at any one time and without my bookmarks I’d be lost. What’s more, my customers at LST can never seem to get enough bookmarks.

I finished that post with a suggestion:

And finally, a suggestion for the good folk at Wycliffe: instead of flyers, produce lots of bookmarks promoting Vision 2025. I promise you, if you supply me with a stack of Vision 2025 bookmarks, I will put one in every Bible I sell from now on.

I’m delighted to say that Wycliffe have now produced a Vision 2025 bookmark — and you’ve already seen it here. If you’d like a pack of bookmarks to give away to your customers or at your church, I’m sure Wycliffe would love to hear from you — so what are you waiting for? Contact Wycliffe today!

 

July 28, 2008

The Poverty and Justice Bible

Posted by Phil Groom under Guest Posts, Product Queries | Tags: , , , , |
[9] Comments 
The Poverty and Justice Bible

The Poverty and Justice Bible

Geoff Wallace writes:

We have customers asking us for the Poverty and Justice Bible published by the Bible Society at £12.99. However, Bible Society won’t sell it to us because they can only sell it to individual customers and not to the trade. They say that Harper Collins hold the copyright for the CEV text. Sam at Harper Collins says,

Hi Geoff, this is a bible society product and we have them special dispensation to create it using our material. We are trying to find a way to get this into the Christian trade through stl but currently the margin won’t work for any of us. But I will keep you informed of progress. Sam.

However, Bible Society are now offering it at £9.99 so there must be some margin in it somewhere.

The annoying thing is that the Bible looks really good and innovative and I am sure would sell really well and highlight issues that Christians need to face.

What do other shops think?

(Originally posted under ‘Feedback’)

John Duncan replies:

I have been asked about the Poverty and Justice bible on one occasion a few months ago – the customer didn’t actually want to order it so I had a look for it and found it on Bible Society website but didn’t follow it up. I think it would be a bible I would very much like to stock and I hope HC get their finger out.

(Originally posted under ‘Feedback’)

Which brings us back to Geoff’s question: 

What do other shops think? Should HC and Bible Society get their act together and release it to the trade? Would your customers be interested? I’m sure plenty of the students at LST would go for it. Official website here: www.povertyandjusticebible.org

Sam: come on, brother — I think you can do better than this! :)

 

May 12, 2008

Fishing Poles

Posted by Phil Groom under Bookshop Ramblings | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |
[6] Comments 

The other day I was wandering along the Thames Path with a friend — who happens to work with Wycliffe Bible Translators — and we came across a sign I couldn’t read. “It’s ‘No Fishing’ in Polish,” my friend explained, “We have a fair-sized immigrant community around here.”

How ironic, I thought, that the fishing Poles can’t read our regular ‘No Fishing’ notices: they need their own. It made me think of  those photographs I’m sure we’ve all seen of kingfishers perched on those same notices. It also set me thinking about the number of Poles (or should I be saying Polish people? No doubt someone will set me right) and other immigrants who would be completely lost if they visited most UK Christian bookshops, my own included, with the vast majority of our stock in English.

Polish New TestamentThere’s good news for the Poles, however, and good news for us as booksellers: one positive spin-off from STL’s recent merger with IBS (International Bible Society) to form IBS-STL is an increase in their stock range to include other language Bibles — Polish as well as Arabic, Chinese, French, Kurdish, Spanish and Urdu. That’s a Polish New Testament shown on the left.

Roger the RepHonourable mention must go to my good friend Roger Compton, a member of STL’s sales team, official STL mugshot on the right, for showing me these when he called in at LST last week. I invited Roger to contribute a guest blog introducing himself but he told me he’s a “grumpy old man” (his words!) who doesn’t do blogs! Sorry, Roger: there’s no escape — it’s blog or be blogged in today’s world.

STL are not the only UK source of foreign language Bibles, of course: No Frontiers (a division of Kingsway) offer an impressive range of books and Bibles in an equally impressive range of more than 200 languages, from Albanian to Zulu. Red Moon RisingTheir most recent project is a Macedonian edition of Red Moon Rising, the story of 24/7 prayer as told by Pete Greig and Dave Roberts of Soul Survivor — the 24/7 movement has created something of a buzz amongst the students at LST, but not many sales of the book (a good sign, I guess, if it means they’re too busy praying to read about praying!).

Other sources are Chapter Two Bible Distributors and the Bible Society UK (not to be confused with IBS, please note: they are separate organisations), distributed by IVP. IVP’s distribution department has gone downhill over the last year or so, unfortunately, with a tendency to run out of stock, send out the wrong products or invoice for products they haven’t sent: buyer beware — if you can source your stock elsewhere you may save yourself a lot of admin hassle.

Finally, all of this brings me back to my earlier post about Bibles and Bookmarks: the one thing we absolutely do not need, in my opinion, is more English language versions or editions of the Bible; what we do need is more Bibles in other languages, especially in those languages that don’t have them yet. If you’re looking for a career change and have an aptitude for languages, do get in touch with the folks at Wycliffe: the more people we have working on this, the sooner the job gets done!

 

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