This should make things interesting:
LifeWay acquires...
Hmmm. Hopefully more publishers will begin releasing resources in digital format, as soon as they print.
Oops. That page is no longer available.
Even more than that. The Lifeway Home Page is not even available. Guess they are having a problem over there.
The site seems down. Here's an alternative link: http://news.yahoo.com/lifeway-acquires-bible-software-solutions-wordsearch-quickverse-enhances-164609433.html
WordSearch only bought QuickVerse a couple of months ago. QuickVerse is a dead duck (in my opinion), so I presume will be quietly dropped.
I read the article before posting, they just took it down.
so the title of this thread needs to be corrected to:
"Looks like Lifeway just bought some software"
Thom Rainer would probably tell you the same thing as president and CEO.
The voters of this year's SBC in Phoenix did not vote on this.
[Y]
It's still working for me
It's back up.
It's there now
so the title of this thread needs to be corrected to: "Looks like Lifeway just bought some software" Thom Rainer would probably tell you the same thing as president and CEO. The voters of this year's SBC in Phoenix did not vote on this.
Have you seen LifeWay's copyright?
© 2001–2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention
[:D]
Have you seen LifeWay's copyright? © 2001–2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention
in the same way that Christians being of/in Christ do not make us Christ. (although ideally this is our goal! [:D])
I apologize if my original post sounded divisive
I wonder what this means for future B&H resources and Logos. To be honest, Lifeway's strength is more in the trade paper and not reference works benefiting from Logos' search features.
in the same way that Christians being of/in Christ do not make us Christ. I apologize if my original post sounded divisive
in the same way that Christians being of/in Christ do not make us Christ.
No apology necessary. The title was only meant to be a play on semantics.
You made me curious, Paul. However, nothing on either website (SBC or Lifeway) explains the relationship between the two. Since Lifeway began as the Sunday School Board of the SBC, I would assume the Convention owns it, but could find nothing stating that. All I could find was that Lifeway receives no funds from the denomination.
You made me curious, but my curiosity was not satisfied. [:'(]
You made me curious, but my curiosity was not satisfied
Careful my friend, curiosity killed the cat.
As long as something does.
Have you seen LifeWay's copyright? © 2001–2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention You made me curious, Paul. However, nothing on either website (SBC or Lifeway) explains the relationship between the two. Since Lifeway began as the Sunday School Board of the SBC, I would assume the Convention owns it, but could find nothing stating that. All I could find was that Lifeway receives no funds from the denomination. You made me curious, but my curiosity was not satisfied.
You made me curious, but my curiosity was not satisfied.
Good info here: The Organization Manual of the Southern Baptist Convention
My fear (and complete speculation) is that with the 2009 completion of the Holman NT and OT commentary series, Lifeway will attempt a new, digital commentary series and it will be proprietarily on Lifeway's software. Tony Merida (@tonymerida) tweeted this on June 13, 2011:
"Pumped after meeting w @plattdavid & @DannyAkin & B&H about the prospect of being general editors of a new commentary series!"
Jack,
Lifeway is an SBC institution. As I understand it, all SBC entities (seminaries, missions boards, etc) are separate institutions whose trustees are appointed by the SBC. Actually, the SBC only exists formally for two days per year - when the convention meets each summer.
Lifeway is the only SBC entity that does not receive funding from SBC churches through the Cooperative Program.
As I understand it, all SBC entities (seminaries, missions boards, etc) are separate institutions whose trustees are appointed by the SBC.
Understood, but even that information is not available on the webpages. Some of those relationships are very loose. However, I will stop here before I start an extended discussion of the SBC.
the SBC only exists formally for two days per year - when the convention meets each summer.
SBC denotes both the annual meeting and the organization itself.
You made me curious, but my curiosity was not satisfied. Good info here: The Organization Manual of the Southern Baptist Convention
It is good as far as it goes, but it did not answer my question. It's no big deal. I was curious, but it is not the most important thing on my mind. [8-|]
This is entirely possible. But my guess is that, while there may be a select few titles only available in LifeWay software (most likely just in the first period of their release), most of everything will be available in other formats. If LifeWay has shown itself to be anything, it has shown itself to be fiduciarily responsible when it comes to money. And I can not see them giving up the great source of revenue able to be gleaned from other brands of software, especially Logos.
Will this make any difference to Logos? Will Baptist pastors be more likely to use the software that Lifeway owns?
[quote]
curiosity killed the cat.
curiosity killed the cat=好奇害死猫！[:P]
More than likely this will not end well for WORDSearch. Products that need innovation to thriveusually call for a Steve Jobs, Bob Pritchett individual steering things alongto keep it on top of the game. If history tells us anything about LifeWay it isthat they will in a few short years rename the product, become very SouthernBaptist Convention proprietary, the product will begin to die and LifeWay willkick it to the side of road.
I wonder if it will include the NIV 2011... [;)]
As a pastor of a Baptist Church who cooperates with the SBC, my opinion is that Logos is so far ahead of the pack when it comes to functionality it will not make a difference.
If things were a bit more even, when it comes to quality of program, that may be a different story. However, I do not think other Bible software companies will catch up to Logos any time soon.
That being said, If a product from Lifeway were on par with Logos, I would be more inclined to support it. Just as, in my opinion, those of the Reformed nature would be more inclined to support Logos.
Will this make any difference to Logos? Will Baptist pastors be more likely to use the software that Lifeway owns? As a pastor of a Baptist Church who cooperates with the SBC, my opinion is that Logos is so far ahead of the pack when it comes to functionality it will not make a difference. If things were a bit more even, when it comes to quality of program, that may be a different story. However, I do not think other Bible software companies will catch up to Logos any time soon. That being said, If a product from Lifeway were on par with Logos, I would be more inclined to support it. Just as, in my opinion, those of the Reformed nature would be more inclined to support Logos.
I agree with J. Morris. I, too, am pastor of an SBC-affiliated church, in our case "of the Reformed nature." [:)] A few years ago, I would have considered today's WORDsearch a fabulous program. I have a few things on WORDsearch but rarely use it. The integration of Logos resources is just so much better. Perhaps some Baptist pastors who have not investigated the two programs well (WORDsearch and Logos) will be more inclined to buy WS simply because LifeWay carries it. I doubt, though, that it will make much difference unless the capabilities of WORDsearch increase greatly.
Take my opinion, though, with the grain of salt. Our church doesn't even use LifeWay educational materials. [;)]
I wonder if it will include the NIV 2011...
What is the 'pew Bible' for Southern Baptist Convention ?? [If NIV then most likely - if KJV then no way or maybe]
Well if we look at what Lifeway is, on top of being a trade book publisher (B&H) it publishes magazines, and quarterly Sunday School/small group/VBS material. I wonder if they would attempt to bring this into the digital realm. As I mentioned earlier, my hope is they don't justify proprietizing (is that even a word? [:P]) they're scholarly works to exclusively WordSearch. Then again Logos did just do this...[:S]
I think all publishers are looking forward at ways to vehiculate what they publish. I applaud Lifeway for moving earlier than later.
Mark & David,
To see how your conversation plays out, just read this thread. No need to rehash nor resurrect.
I wonder if it will include the NIV 2011... What is the 'pew Bible' for Southern Baptist Convention ?? [If NIV then most likely - if KJV then no way or maybe]
The SBC doesn't 'have' a Bible version, each Church is autonomous and has its own preferences. SBC affiliated Churches 'are like a box of chocolates' [;)]
I will say the HCSB is pushed hard through LifeWay resources. Which is far from my favorite translation. We have NKJV, the church my wife is children's minister at (I'm currently interim pastor), uses NIV.
I hope that if nothing else, this acquisition would move WordSearch forward in the mobile space (specifically iOS and even Android). They currently don't seem to have a real mobile strategy, other than a couple of rebranded offerings, but you have to pay for the same content again.
I have a lot of resources in WS, and I generally find their PC app useful and usable. But since I started to do most of my reading on my iPad last year, I've barely touched the WS resources again. I hope they come out with a real iOS app allowing access to our WS resources on the iPad soon.
Peter
I agree. I expect they will make a valiant effort to promote their resources through their software first, then follow in Logos. But look at the many publishers (B&H, IVP) who offer their material though many possible formats; Logos, WordSearch, Accordance, and BibleWorks.
Several companies published digital versions of their own materials before moving to Logos format. Zondervan had Pradis, Baker included etexts on CD with books like Encountering the Book of Romans . Fortress Press did the same with many books like Envisioning the Word: The Use of Visual Images in Preaching. Although a little delayed, Abingdon is now in Logos Pre-Pub.
Some publishers move to Logos format for the expanded revenues (profits) they can realize. Others move to Logos format to expand the usefulness of their books as ministry tools. It would be a shame to stunt that use by intentionally limiting access. Lifeway has a track record of putting their material in as many hands as possible. I doubt that will change.
I never bothered reinstalling WordSearch after my PC went down a couple of months back. Nor did I ever use it that much. Maybe I missed something, but I don't really think so beyond some resources they might have that Logos is missing.
Interesting discussion here. I too serve at an SBC church. I would comment regarding two issues. First, the name was changed a number of years ago from The Sunday School Board of the SBC to LifeWay Christian Resources of the SBC in order to reflect the fact that it served the conservative evangelical world at large, not just the SBC. So, anything they do is with the hope that they will sell to a broad spectrum of churches within the evengelical streams. Second, I believe this is a response to the digitizing of the publishing world - and not just with books. For instance, their Sunday school publishing arm is getting fierce competition from small group literature that is web based and customizable - much different than their "bread and butter" quarterly. LifeWay is seeking multiple ways to adapt to the changing marketplace because they have to earn their own way. They receive no funding from the SBC - in fact, they give back hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
