Change and stability.

The winter 1999 issue of Baptist History and Heritage represents both significant changes and stability. I suppose one could say that changes have been made to stay the same. About eighteen months ago, the Southern Baptist Historical Society voted to enter a partnership with Carson-Newman College's Center for Baptist Studies to produce Baptist History and Heritage. The society was interested in finding a home for the journal so that society leaders could devote more energy to charting a future for the group. As an officer in the society, I am especially interested in the SBHS's continued role in preserving and interpreting our Baptist heritage to a wide audience. As a member of the faculty at Carson-Newman, I am excited about what the journal will bring to CNC and what CNC will provide for the journal. This new arrangement will ensure that the journal continues to publish articles in Baptist history that reflect current efforts in scholarship. That goal has always been part of the mission of Baptist History and Heritage, and it will continue with this new arrangement.

The journal will continue to publish thematic issues, with the fall issue being devoted to papers presented at the SBHS annual meeting, as well as papers presented at other meetings. As always, the journal invites you to submit your papers for consideration, regardless of the themes planned for the future. I hope that this journal will remain a place for all Baptist historians to publish work dealing with Baptist history. Future, planned issues include themes dealing with Baptists and millennialism and Baptists and theology. I am presently working with members of the editorial board to plan issues on Baptist historiography, as well as Baptists and the social gospel. Although many writers will be invited to write particular articles, if you know of people writing in these fields, encourage them to submit an article for consideration.

This issue examines the relationship of Baptists and the civil rights movement from several perspectives. Marty Bell of the department of religion at Belmont University writes about the connection between the thought of the Hebrew prophets and the preaching of Martin Luther King Jr. Bell has analyzed two published sermons and three unpublished sermons. Bill Leonard, dean of the Divinity School at Wake Forest University, writes about the response of independent Baptist fundamentalists to the civil rights movement. Although he argues that fundamentalism is not "inherently racist," the worldview did cause many independent Baptists to oppose efforts to recognize the rights of African-American citizens. Dana Martin, director of the American Baptist-Samuel Colgate Historical Library, provides a strong narrative and analysis of the role of American Baptists in the civil rights movement. Working through both resolutions and the work of the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board, Martin's article brings together a strong introduction to how this branch of the Baptist family contributed to civil rights. Finally, Andrew Manis of Mercer University Press deals with Southern Baptist resistance to the civil rights movement. In this article, he looks at both the passive resistance of silence as well as the active resistance of many within the SBC.

This issue does not propose to be an exhaustive treatment of Baptists and the civil rights movement. Instead, the issue looks at a few aspects of a very complex relationship. I am certain that many more articles need to be written on the subject, and I am certain Baptist History and Heritage will visit the issue again in the future.

Numerous people have worked to make this issue happen, and I owe them a debt of gratitude. Jim Taulman will continue to have an active part in the production of the journal, especially on the technical end. I am grateful for Jim's long association with the journal, and for his patient help to me in getting this edition ready for the press. Slayden Yarbrough, executive director of the SBHS and former editor of the journal, continues to give input and advice that I value. He also is an important link between the society and Carson-Newman. The book review editor, Glenn Jonas of Campbell University, offered much help in soliciting reviewers and managing that aspect of the journal. Of course, all the members of the board are to be thanked both for attending to the various tasks that I have requested, as well as seeing that their respective institutions contribute funds to the journal. At Carson-Newman, I appreciate the support of administration and faculty for the journal. I am especially thankful for the interest shown by President Cordell Maddox and Vice President Michael Carter in bringing the journal to Carson-Newman. Without their interest, which was made tangible by the institution's financial commitment, the journal could not be here. Of course, I appreciate the support that Dean of Humanities Don Olive, and Chair of the Religion Department Don Garner, have offered and continue to provide for my work as a faculty member who has taken on an editing project. Finally, I appreciate the leadership of Carolyn Blevins who is both a member of the Department of Religion and Chair of the Center for Baptist Studies at CNC. The journal is actually a part of the Center for Baptist Studies, and it was Carolyn's idea some time ago to take steps to bring the journal to CNC. She and I will work closely in planning and producing the journal, and I look forward to our efforts.

Grace,

Merrill Hawkins Jr.