American Denominational History: Perspectives on the Past, Prospects for the Future

Preface

Preface This project began when I suggested that The University of Alabama Press consider republishing William Warren Sweet’s four-volume Religion on the American Frontier. Published between 1931 and 1946, this series featured volumes devoted to America’s Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Methodists. My proposal was that The University of Alabama Press secure authors to edit these volumes,update the sources,and write historiographical essays for each work.The press found merit in the proposal,especially the historiography component, and suggested a single volume of historiographical essays on American denominations. And thus was born American Denominational History: Perspectives on the Past, Prospects for the Future. I owe many debts of gratitude to those who helped produce this volume. First, I must thank The University of Alabama Press for wanting to work on a project like this. What a joy to work with such a dedicated group of professionals ! Also, each of the essayists in this work solicited advice and critical feedback for their essays from specialists in their respective fields. I cannot mention everyone by name, but on behalf of each contributor, thank you all for your input and suggestions. While I’m at it, I want to thank the essayists themselves for contributing to this volume. Each answered a phone call inviting him or her to write an essay with a gracious “Yes, thank you.” Some of them had no idea who I was—still don’t—but they liked what they heard about the project,and they have been an editor’s dream.Thanks again to each of you. In a slightly different vein, everyone needs friends like Hughie Lawson, Dan Smith, and Mike Travers. Each of them has helped me in ways too numerous to mention here, but their assistance is always welcome and greatly appreciated. And where would I be without Eliza Rutter, Nathan Finn, Sarah Hammond, and J. Wayne Ray? Eliza helped with proofreading and found x Preface numerous tidbits of information for me, while Nathan, Sarah, and J. R. have been sounding boards for this project and several others. I treasure my friends, and you guys are the very best! Finally, on a personal note, I want to dedicate these essays to the late Lance Banning. His probing questions followed by those painfully long periods of silence intimidated even the most fearless history graduate students at the University of Kentucky. It took awhile for us to understand what he was up to, but we came to see that Lance weighed his words carefully. He worked hard and he set high standards for himself. He expected no less from fledgling historians. We also learned three things about Professor Banning. First, he was always willing to help students. Second, he had an unbelievably dry sense of humor. Third, he was apt to separate you from your lunch money if you shot pool with him. Lance died on January 31, 2006, after complications following lung surgery. Even though he was not a student of American religious history, I suspect that he would have welcomed this project. He was a world-class scholar and an excellent teacher. His colleagues and friends miss him. ...