Report of the
Historical Committee
Most of the business of Annual Conference deals with issues present and future. The Historical Committee deals with the past. For some, issues of the past are a waste of time. Who cares about how it used to be? What is the point of nostalgia?
Those who serve the Historical Committee believe that the past is relevant to the present for a number of reasons. First, the past offers the explanation of who we are which helps to form our sense of identity. Second, the past is a laboratory where we can see how our ideas have shaped us. Those who think about our future do well to be aware of our past. Our past should not be an anchor that holds us back but rather a rudder that guides us to our future.
The Historical Committee endeavors to preserve the story of our past that we may learn for our future. The Committee continues its commitment to the work of collecting and preserving the material of our past. Many of our current projects involve computerizing the records we have available to us.
Minutes of previous meetings are being made available on-line at our website,
At the time of this writing, the following minutes can be found on the website: General Conference (1868 – 1916), Annual Conference (1896-1917, 1985-1999), Ministerial Convention (1899-1911). Of special note is the work of Diane Hertzog and Royal Kramer of Allentown who have helped to prepare the minutes for publication to the website.
Other materials have been made available. Those who visit the website will find papers of the Historical Society, selected study papers of Annual Conference, past publications by pastors and other items of interest for those who want to know more.
A significant project is nearing completion. The pastoral assignment record has been computerized allowing churches who wish to document those pastors who served them. Former Annual Conference Secretary C. H. Brunner began the compilation of this record many years ago. More recently, Willard E. Cassel updated the record. When completed, this record will be maintained as a reference tool.
The Historical Committee sponsored an essay contest this year. The purpose of the contest is to encourage people to learn more about and stimulate interest in our history. The winners will be announced in Fellowship News.
The Historical Society met this year in Lebanon. Mrs. Judy Althouse presented an excellent paper on the history of the Lebanon Church. Richard E. Taylor explored how the experience of former Preacher George A. Campbell during the Civil War affected his ministry in the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church. The next society meeting will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2002, in Reading where we will learn of the Reading Church and hear about the life of C. H. Brunner.
Churches and individuals are reminded that records you have may be important in preserving our history. While we know that Jesus will return and eliminate the need for archives and past records, we do not know when He will come. We don’t know how many generations will follow after us before He comes. If the significance and the identity of the Bible Fellowship Church are to be understood by those generations, the records we preserve today will be invaluable.
Historical Committee: Jill A. R. Davidson, Chairperson; Richard E. Taylor, Archivist and Secretary; Harold P. Shelly, Robert W. Smock, David E. Thomann, Daniel G. Ziegler)