SPECIAL SERIES:  BAPTIST HERITAGE AND THE 21ST CENTURY
Published by the Baptist History and Heritage Society

Baptist History Speaks to Contemporary Issues
by Charles W. Deweese
    

Baptists today face major identity crises. Pressures on historic Baptist convictions and practices come from many directions: cultural temptations, denominational flux, demands for conformity, failures to link Baptists to their biblical roots, inattention to the freedom thrusts of Baptist history, and others.

Therefore, challenging questions face Baptists today: Where did Baptists begin? Are Baptists confessional or creedal? Why do Baptists do things so many different ways? How do freedom and control relate? Can women be ministers? Who has influenced Baptists the most? What does ordination mean? What about women deacons? Where is theological education headed? Why has denominationalism changed so much? What are Baptists' contributions to Protestantism? What are the biggest issues facing Baptists today?

Answers to these twelve questions are on the way. Walter B. Shurden, director of The Center for Baptist Studies of Mercer University, has invited the Baptist History and Heritage Society to submit a series of articles on Baptist history and heritage for use on the center's Website throughout 2005. The purpose of this series is to let Baptist history address contemporary issues. The titles of future articles include:

Baptist Origins

Baptist Confessions of Faith

Trends in Baptist Polity

Baptist World Alliance Freedom Themes

Baptist Women in Ministry

The Ten Most Influential Baptists

The Meaning of Ordination

Baptist Women Deacons

Directions in Theological Education

Patterns of Baptist Denominationalism

Baptist Contributions to Protestantism

Big Issues Facing Baptists Today

The eight writers for this series all have extensive experience in interpreting the Baptist story. They will not receive payment for their work; they write because they care. This series is a gift to the Baptist public. The writers will include:

Loyd Allen, professor of church history and spiritual formation, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University

William H. Brackney, professor of religion and director of the Program for Baptist Studies, Baylor University

John Briggs, senior research fellow in church history at Regent's Park College, Oxford, England, and editor of the British Baptist Quarterly

Carol C. Holcomb, assistant professor of religion, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Lydia Hoyle, assistant professor of church history and Baptist heritage, Campbell University Divinity School

William M. Pinson, Jr., director, Texas Baptist Distinctives Committee/Texas Baptist Heritage Center, Baptist General Convention of Texas

Pamela R. Durso, associate director, Baptist History and Heritage Society

Charles W. Deweese, executive director, Baptist History and Heritage Society.

The Baptist History and Heritage Society (BH&HS) is delighted to coordinate this publishing venture. The BH&HS was formed in 1938 as the Southern Baptist Historical Society.Ò It changed its name to BH&HS in 2001. Its offices are located in Brentwood, Tennessee. As an independent Baptist history program, it derives more than 50 percent of its income from voluntary gifts from individuals, churches, associations, conventions, fellowships, colleges and universities, and other organizations.

The BH&HS has about 900 members nationwide and in several other countries. Membership in the society is open to individuals, churches, associations, conventions, fellowships, libraries, institutions, and other organizations. Members receive Baptist History and Heritage, a journal; Baptist Heritage Update, a newsletter; and reduced fees for attending the society's annual meeting.

The BH&HS is freedom-driven, quality-oriented, and attentive to historic Baptist values. Our goal is to treat Baptist history with integrity, to contribute to its forward progress, and to raise its level of respectability. You can help us make that happen. To join our society, purchase our resources, secure information about our annual meetings, order a church anniversary certificate, or arrange to have your church's history published. you can contact us in one of the following ways: www.baptisthistory.org; 800-966-2278; fax 615-371-7939; PO Box 728, Brentwood, TN 37024-0728.

The society's mission statement reads: "Helping Baptists discover, conserve, assess, and share their history." Our mission expresses itself in ministries and services to Baptists through annual meetings, publications, a book-publishing program, awards, and church anniversary certificates. Some details follow.

BH&HS annual meetings include programs relating to important topics in Baptist life. Baptist hosts around the country sponsor these meetings. You are invited to participate in future annual meetings. Meeting dates, locations, and hosts for the next four meetings follow (themes are yet to be determined for the 2006-2008 meetings):

June 2-4, 2005
Birmingham, Alabama
Host: Samford University
Theme: Women in Baptist History

June 1-3, 2006
Washington, D.C.
Host: Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty

June 7-9, 2007
Campbellsville, Kentucky
Host: Campbellsville University

May 22-24, 2008
Macon, Georgia
Host: The Center for Baptist Studies of Mercer University 

BH&HS publications include Baptist History and Heritage, a journal; Baptist Heritage Update, a newsletter; The Baptist Heritage Library, a series of six booklets; Foundations of Baptist Heritage, a series of nine pamphlets; The Baptist Style for a New Century, a series of 9 pamphlets; Baptist Myths, a series of 11 pamphlets; A How-to Kit for Your Church's History, including a 120-page Manual for Your Church's History; and several books, such as Duke McCall: An Oral History (McCall served as president and chancellor of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and as president of the Baptist World Alliance).

Jointly with Fields Publishing, the BH&HS coordinates a Baptist History Book Publishing Program. The primary purpose is to help churches publish their histories. The program includes layout/design of cover, dust jacket, and text; editing; index preparation; and other services. The society tailors books to meet the financial and other requirements of individual churches. In 2004, the society published the histories of churches in several states, e.g., Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA; The Baptist Church of Beaufort, SC; and the First Baptist Church, Ahoskie, NC.

During its annual meeting, the BH&HS presents the following awards: Distinguished Service Award (career), Davis C. Woolley Award (state history), Norman W. Cox Award (writing), Meritorious Service Award, Officers Award (special), and Baptist Heritage Preaching Contest Awards.

The BH&HS will gladly prepare without cost certificates (suitable for framing) for churches celebrating key anniversaries.

The Fellowship of Baptist Historians was founded in 2000 as an auxiliary to the BH&HS. It meets annually in conjunction with the BH&HS meeting.

Charles W. Deweese is executive director-treasurer, Baptist History and Heritage Society, Brentwood, Tennessee.