News

In 1884, on February 11, nine believers were baptized, the beginnings of the Baptist witness in Estonia. The first Estonian Baptist church was started in Haapsalu in 1884. From that time  Baptist churches have been  planted across the country. The period of Soviet dominion 1940 – 1990 seriously hampered the growth of Baptist churches since religious activities were allowed only in church buildings and leaders were regularly interrogated by the communist state.  Currently the Union of Evangelical Christian and Baptist Churches of Estonia numbers almost 6200 members worshipping in 84 local congregations.  This picture above is from Tartu Baptist Seminary, Tartu, Estonia

An International Scholarly Conference
in Recognition of the Centenary of Professor Rauschenbusch’s Death
will be held at Mercer University, Atlanta, Georgia, April 9-11, 2018

The Conference will coincide with the publication of a new 3-volume critical edition of Prof. Rauschenbusch’s Works by Mercer University Press, edited by William H. Brackney and an international committee of scholars; conference papers will be collected for a follow-up volume.

Confirmed plenary speakers for the conference include Gary Dorrien, Darryl Trimiew, Paul Raushenbush, Paul Minus, Christopher Evans, William Brackney, David Gushee, and Wendy Deichmann Edwards.

Scholars in church history, theology, ethics, economics, political science, law, sociology, American studies and other fields are invited to offer proposals for 30-minute papers (publication length: 4000-5000 words) to be read at this event. These proposals, due June 1, 2017, should include a brief summary of the argument to be made, the theoretical framework, and beginning bibliography, together with a short c.v. Send proposals to Dr. David Gushee (gushee_dp@mercer.edu, 678-547-6457).

Notice of acceptance will be made by July 1, 2017.     The conveners regret that we are not able to pay honoraria or expenses.  For further information about the conference, please contact David Gushee.

 

February 6, 1812, marks the day five young men were ordained for missionary service at the Tabernacle UCC Church in Salem, MA.  Adoniram Judson, Samuel Newell, Samuel Nott, Gordon Hall and Luther Rice were Congregationalists.  Adoniram had married Ann Hasseltine the previous day, and they sailed for India on Feburary 19.  After intensive Bible study during the long voyage, the Judson’s decided to become Baptists. Denied admission to India, they went to Burma where they both ministered until their deaths, Ann in 1826, Adoniram in 1850.  ABHS has Ann and Adoniram’s correspondence, and documentation of their work on Burma.

On February 5, 1631, Roger Williams arrived in Boston from London after 56 days at sea on the Lyon.  He was a Puritan, and later a  Baptist who was expelled by the Puritan leaders from the colony of Massachusetts because they thought that he was spreading “new and dangerous ideas” to his congregants. Williams fled the Massachusetts colony under the threat of impending arrest and shipment to an English prison; he began the settlement of Providence Plantation in 1636 as a refuge offering freedom of conscience. ABHS has many books about Roger Williams and many more of his writings and letters.

February 1, 1877 marks the date that the Woman’s Baptist Home Mission Society was organized with headquarters in Chicago.  ABHS has minutes of their meetings, beginning with the first meeting, and copies of the magazine Tidings, which they began publishing in 1881.

held in conjunction with the ABC/USA Biennial Mission Summit
Portland Convention Center, Portland, Oregon
June 29th, 2017

The Office of the General Secretary of ABC-USA and the Theologians Commission will host the fourth pre-biennial theology conference around the theme The Church’s Public Witness in an effort to foster ongoing, vigorous theological conversations among American Baptist theologians, pastor-theologians, and theological educators throughout the denomination.

The Theologians Commission invites proposals of presentations that address (American) Baptist notions of The Church’s Public Witness. Scholars in social ethics, systematic theology, biblical studies, church history, missiology, and practical theology are invited to offer proposals for a 20-minute presentation. Additionally, panels of three participants may be proposed. Presentations that explore the views and perspectives of under-represented groups are encouraged.

For an informational flyer, click here:  Theologians Conference Call for Papers

January 30, 1864. James Hickey began the First Church of Monterey, the first Baptist church in Mexico. ABHS has foreign missionary correspondence for several missionaries who served in Mexico like George Pixley and Albert Benjamin Howell.  In the beginning Mexico was considered part of the Home Mission effort, and the WAHMS sent many women missionaries (see left).

January 25, 1783: William Colgate (left), founder of American Bible Union, was born in England. He is noted for being a philanthropist and founder of the Colgate Company (1806). ABHS has his papers dating from 1820 to 1850. Samuel Colgate, William’s son, started a library that became part of the ABHS collection.

January 25, 1783: William Colgate (left), founder of American Bible Union, was born in England. He is noted for being a philanthropist and founder of the Colgate Company (1806). ABHS has his papers dating from 1820 to 1850. Samuel Colgate, William’s son, started a library that became the heart  of the ABHS collection.

January 24, 1811:  Sansom Street Baptist Church in Philadlephia was founded with William Staughton (left) as pastor.  ABHS has some of Sansom Street’s original church records and Staughton’s sermon notes (1807-1823) and correspondence (16 letters).

On January 22, 1862, Lulu (Louise) C. Fleming was born. She is the first female medical missionary was appointed by Baptists. She served in the Congo from 1886-1899.  ABHS has her correspondence while she was in the Congo and a bio file which includes photographs.

On January 21, 1525, Anabaptists (Baptists) organized for the first time under the leadership of Conrad Grebel near Zurich, Switzerland. ABHS has a biography of Grebel, and many books and articles about the Anabaptists in Europe.

January 16, 1821: Prominent black missionaries Lott Cary and Collin Teague sailed to Liberia from Norfolk, VA.  ABHS has a folder of Lott Cary’s correspondence as a missionary.  His information is in our on-line collection called ArchivesSpace.

January 12, 1724:  Samuel Harris, the persecuted defender of religious liberty, was born in Hanover County, VA.  ABHS has booklets, tracts and sermons about the importance of religious liberty (especially in the matter of baptism) in colonial America, some dating to 1700.

January 8, 1841.  Judson College was chartered in Marion, AL, as Judson Female Institute.  It was founded by members of Siloam Baptist Church; the three individuals  who were most instrumental in the founding were Julia Tarrant Barron, General Edwin D. King, and Milo P. Jewett.

January 7, 1821: The first Baptist church in Florida was organized.  It is the Pigeon Creek church in present-day Nassau County.  ABHS has original church records from many states.  The earliest is First Baptist, Philadelphia, dating to 1691. ABHS gives anniversary certificates to churches who request them for a significant anniversary.

January 5, 1527:  Felix Manz, Swiss Anabaptist, was sentenced to death by the Zurich Council for his beliefs.  Freedom of religion was not a common concept prior to the Constitution of the United States.

December 30, 1798: Isaac Backus, a pastor in Massachusetts, commented against the Federalist Party foreign policy in opposition to France.  ABHS has 28 items and 3 reels of microfilm in the Isaac Backus collection.  It includes correspondence, sermons, diaries and travel journals.

On December 24, 1915, William H. Doane, composer and hymnist, died in South Orange, NJ.  Doane composed “To God Be the Glory” and tunes to several Fanny Crosby hymns.  ABHS has over 11 linear feet of items pertaining to Doane’s business dealings, charitable endeavors, personal finances, and family photographs and memorabilia. Copyright registrations for Doane’s hymns and sheet music are also part of this collection. The photo accompanying this post is a picture of Doane at the organ from the William Howard Doane collection.