June 3, 2005

BACKGROUND

On May 27, 2004, the Baptist History and Heritage Society (BH&HS) adopted a recommendation of its Board of Directors to approve a Planning Committee whose purpose would be to prepare and present to the 2005 BH&HS annual meeting a recommendation consisting of special events, projects, meetings, publications, and joint ventures that the society could undertake both to prepare for and celebrate Baptists’ 400^th anniversary in 2009. The adopted recommendation specified that the committee would remain in place from 2004-2009 with the same members throughout.

The committee met on April 1-2, 2005, in Brentwood, Tennessee. All members were present: Carolyn Blevins, William Brackney, Charles Deweese, Pamela Durso, Marlene Rikard, Walter Shurden, and Mike Williams. The committee heard background reports on the recent history, programs, publications, and finances of the BH&HS. After discussing a wide array of possible opportunities for the society in 2006-2009, the committee agreed to present the following recommendations for BH&HS discussion/vote on June 3, 2005.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Planning Committee for 2006-2009 recommends that the BH&HS adopt the following set of special plans for its staff to coordinate and implement on a year-by-year basis in 2006-2009 to help lead the society to celebrate the 400^th anniversary of the establishment of the first Baptist church, founded in Amsterdam by John Smyth and Thomas Helwys in 1609:

2006

1. Launch an endowment enlargement campaign titled $400,000 FOR 400 YEARS designed to raise $400,000 for the BH&HS Endowment Fund. The staff will seek professional consultation, which may include the paid or voluntary assistance of a professional consultant.

2. Initiate grant proposals designed to provide funding for parts or all of the following proposals.

3. Prepare a promotional brochure that features all events and publications related to the anniversary celebration and distribute it widely.

4. Prepare a special anniversary logo that can be used on all BH&HS publications released in 2006-2009, as well as on marketing materials, letterheads, note cards, the Website, and in many other ways.

5. Create a special place on the BH&HS’s Website to feature all promotion, events, and publications relating to the society’s preparation for and celebration of Baptists’ 400^th anniversary. Title this Website section COUNTDOWN TO 2009.

6. Launch plans (for release in later years) for a Baptist history dissertation reprint series in bound form. A dissertation series reprint committee will be created by the BH&HS Planning Committee for 2006-2009 by October 1, 2005. This committee’s primary role will be to select the dissertations to be reprinted.

7. Launch a Baptist History and Heritage (BH&H) article reprint series with each bound volume containing several articles on a common theme, and the development of three small books: a work featuring Baptist heroes for older children/younger youth, a capsule history of Baptists, and a capsule history of Baptist principles. Designed especially for church members, these latter two 128-page books will present in a scholarly, easy-to-read, creative way basic historical trends relating to Baptist history and principles. Each volume will have a commemorative quality and will be elegantly designed. The BH&HS Planning Committee for 2006-2009 will choose titles and select writers for all three books by October 1, 2005.

8. Release seven pamphlets in a series focusing on Baptist origins. For educational and marketing purposes, provide one complimentary set to as many churches as possible. The BH&HS Planning Committee for 2009 will select writers by October 1, 2005.

a. English Baptist Beginnings, 1609-1630s

b. Baptist Beginnings in America in 1638/39

c. Beginnings of the American Baptist Churches, USA

d. Southern Baptist Beginnings

e. African American Baptist Beginnings

f. Hispanic Baptist Beginnings in America

g. Beginnings of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

9. Select as the theme for the annual meeting, hosted by the Baptist Joint Committee, THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BAPTIST PUBLIC FIGURES IN AMERICA. The meeting is scheduled for June 1-3, 2006, in Washington, D.C.

10. Conduct a regional (multi-state) workshop for local churches on “How to Research, Write, and Publish Your Church’s History,” perhaps in concert with one or more state and/or other Baptist history programs.

2007

1. Release reprints of 1-2 Baptist history dissertations.

2. Release a reprinted edition of one BH&H article series.

3. Conduct a regional (multi-state) workshop for local churches on “How to Celebrate Your Church’s Anniversary,” perhaps in concert with one or more state and/or other Baptist history programs.

4. Select as the theme for the annual meeting, to be hosted by Campbellsville University, AFRICAN AMERICANS IN BAPTIST HISTORY. The meeting is scheduled for June 7-9, 2007, in Campbellsville, KY.

2008

1. Release reprints of 1-2 Baptist history dissertations.

2. Release a reprinted edition of one BH&H article series.

3. Conduct a regional (multi-state) workshop for local churches on “How to Celebrate Baptists’ 400^th Anniversary in Your Church,” perhaps in concert with one or more state and/or other Baptist history programs.

4. Release a small book featuring Baptist heroes for older children/younger youth.

5. Suggest that the CBF or another national Baptist organization provide a breakout session on the Baptist story for young adults. The BH&HS will serve as a resource if needed.

6. Select as the theme for the annual meeting, to be hosted and cosponsored by The Center for Baptist Studies of Mercer University and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia, BAPTISTS AND FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES. The meeting is scheduled for May 22-24, 2008, in Macon, GA.

7. Provide one $1,000 scholarship per year beginning in 2008 for students in colleges, universities, seminaries, divinity schools, schools of theology, etc., who are engaged in research in Baptist studies.

2009

Release reprints of 1-2 Baptist history dissertations.
Release two small books: a capsule history of Baptists and a capsule history of Baptist principles. Each small volume will have a commemorative quality, elegant design, and limited illustrations.
Coordinate a tour of Baptist historical sites in England and Europe.
Hold the annual meeting at First Baptist Church, Huntsville, Alabama, which will be celebrating its own 200^th anniversary that year.
Select as the general topic for the annual meeting Baptist contributions since 1609 (the BH&HS Planning Committee for 2006-2009 will recommend at the 2006 annual meeting a proposed theme for the 2009 meeting). Include on the program non-Baptists who can provide objective assessments of the Baptist experience from their perspectives.
Provide commemorative items for persons attending annual meeting, such as special note cards and an important frameable document from Baptist history.

The committee further recommends that throughout 2006-2009, the BH&HS attempt to consult with, relate to, and involve other Baptist history programs (state, national, and, in some cases, international) in developing and implementing appropriate meetings, events, and publications.

Although the committee’s recommendations include the development of an endowment enlargement campaign and the initiation of grant proposals, the committee also urges traditional and new donors to provide financial contributions to the BH&HS’s annual operations budget at increased levels of giving. The full implementation of all preceding recommendations will hinge on securing funds to pay for them.