Affirmations for the BH&HS

Baptist History and Heritage, Summer-Fall, 2001 by Charles W. Deweese

Affirmation is good for the soul of an organization. And members of the Baptist History and Heritage Society have strong reasons to feel affirmed.

The year 2001 opened with question marks (among a few) about possible negative reactions to changing the name Southern Baptist Historical Society to BH&HS. The actual impact has been extremely positive. Let me cite six examples:

* Donating institutions and organizations-are responding favorably to the BH&HS's new name. Contributions from colleges/universities and state conventions/state history programs remain strong. In 2001, two schools have sent their first donations ever: Grand Canyon University and Meredith College. Four schools (Campbell, Carson-Newman, Dallas Baptist, and Baylor) and two states (Missouri and Pennsylvania-South Jersey) have increased their gifts over their 2000 contributions.

* The BH&HS Baptist History Book Publishing Program is doing well. Currently, we are publishing a history of First Baptist Church, Clinton, Mississippi; a book of essays written by the Department of Religion faculty at Carson-Newman College; and the oral history memoirs of Duke K. McCall, retired president and chancellor of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and former president of the Baptist World Alliance. In a special vote of confidence, McCall donated to the BH&HS his manuscript, a check for $24,537 to publish it, and 100 percent of all sales.

* Readers have sent unsolicited endorsements for the new design of Baptist History and Heritage. Alan Neely, Henry Winters Luce Professor of Ecumenics and Mission Emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary, wrote: "I received three copies of the Baptist History and Heritage (Winter/Spring 2001). They are beautifully done. In fact, I think it is one of the most attractive journals I have seen."

* New pamphlets produced by the BH&HS and the Whitsitt Baptist Heritage Society are receiving wonderful approval. The BH&HS has received orders for almost 2,000 sets. Duke McCall wrote the following: "Thanks for the excellent new pamphlets. They not only are [excellent]; they have been desperately needed by Baptists for a quarter of a century. If American Baptists would incorporate this information in our faith, we would join hands to the glory of God."

* More and more Internet users are checking out the BH&HS Web site (www.baptisthistory.org). Exactly 681 people visited the site in July 2001. The dollar value of orders for materials and society membership applications received from persons consulting the site now exceeds the monthly fee that we pay to maintain the site. Check us out. If you have suggestions for improving our site, please let us know.

* Various institutions and organizations are expressing increasing interest in hosting future BH&HS meetings. Our meetings are set for the next three years: Carson-Newman College (June 20-22, 2002), the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (May 22-24, 2003), and the Northwest Baptist Convention (May 27-29, 2004). Three other organizations have already requested copies of the official BH&HS Host Application Form for 2005 and 2006. And two have submitted formal invitations for us to meet with them.

I affirm you for maintaining your membership in the BH&HS, recommending the organization to your colleagues and friends, and considering the possibility of making a personal financial contribution to the society in 2001. Remember our mission statement: Helping Baptists discover, conserve, assess, and share their history. That is worth supporting. Feel affirmed.

Charles W. Deweese
Executive Director-Treasurer
Baptist History and Heritage Society