NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–The Southern Baptist Historical Society has received a $250 check for its endowment fund from First Baptist Church, Orlando, Fla. With the donation, one of the Southern Baptist Convention’s largest churches is the second church to support to the society’s “Every Church Has a History” campaign.
The Southern Baptist Historical Society’s endowment goal is to reach $1 million by the end of the year 2000.
Presently, the SBHS has approximately $50,000 for its annual operating budget; the organization needs $120,000 annually if it is to continue the work of the SBC Historical Commission not assigned to other convention agencies when the commission closes in June under the SBC restructuring, “Covenant for a New Century.”
The Baptist Sunday School Board will assume SBC responsibility for assisting in the study of denominational history, while the commission’s archives and library in Nashville, Tenn., will become the responsibility of the Council of Seminary Presidents.
First Baptist Church, Shawnee, Okla., was the first church to designate an annual contribution to the Southern Baptist Historical Society’s budget through the “Every Church Has a History” campaign and has committed to contributing $1,000 to the society’s endowment fund the next four years. The church is strongly linked to Oklahoma Baptist University, which will serve as the society’s new home.
Jim Henry, First Baptist, Orlando’s pastor and former SBC president, wrote to the society, “Our church recently celebrated its 125th anniversary and we were reminded again of the value of preserving and publishing our denominational history. I enthusiastically support the work of the Southern Baptist Historical Society and our church looks forward to continuing that support in the future.”
Last year, the Orlando church published its history in a book titled, “We’ve a Story to Tell.” The book’s forward was written by the Historical Commission’s interim executive director and SBHS executive director, Slayden A. Yarbrough.
First organized in 1938 to prepare for the SBC’s centennial anniversary, the Southern Baptist Historical Society became an auxiliary of convention’s Historical Commission in 1953. The society kept its auxiliary status until last year when it obtained a new charter giving it an independent status. The move was necessitated by approval of the SBC restructuring by messengers to the 1995 and ’96 SBC annual meetings. The Historical Commission is one of seven SBC agencies being closed or merged.
Although the Southern Baptist Historical Society will not receive Cooperative Program support, it will continue the ministry of providing heritage resources for Baptist churches from its offices on the campus of Oklahoma Baptist University.
Churches interested in supporting the Southern Baptist Historical Society through the “Every Church Has a History” campaign may give to either or both the society’s endowment campaign and the operating budget.
To receive a brochure on the campaign or to make further inquiries, call the SBC Historical Commission at 1-800-966-2278.
–30–
