Statement of Greetings

Statement of Greetings

McGarvey Ice

Director of Public Services

“The great festival--God's great festival; the best of all the seven. What a delight is the Lord's day! Crowded with the grand deeds of Christ--his death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven--it awakens in the soul all the resplendent recollections of the kingdom of God. What themes does it afford for meditation and eloquence!”*

For 175 years this place has been a place of worship on the Lord’s Day. It has been a place safe for souls to seek the Kingdom of God. It has been a place sacred for meditation. It has been a place which has honored the eloquent declaration of the gospel.

It is my pleasure and privilege to bring greetings this afternoon on behalf of Disciples of Christ Historical Society. We remember the fine heritage of faith, of grace and truth in this place and we salute those who even now carry forward the gospel from this place for this community.

12 April 2008

*Excerpted from the diary of Walter Scott, Dec. 3, 1848 in William Baxter, Life of Elder Walter Scott. Cincinnati: Bosworth, Chase and Hall, 1874, page 405.

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I brought this brief greeting to the Carthage Christian Church upon the unveiling of an Ohio Historical Society marker commemorating the establishment and history of the congregation.

Serving the Academy and the Church

Over the weekend I traveled to Cincinnati. I went for two reasons: one, I presented a paper on the Churches of Christ in Nashville at the Stone-Campbell Journal Conference at Cincinnati Christian University; and two, I brought greetings on behalf of DCHS at the dedication of an Ohio Historical Society Marker at Carthage Christian Church.

My paper traced the development of the Churches of Christ from 1866-1906, from reconstruction to the famed 1906 Census which reported separate listings for Disciples and Churches of Christ. A native of Nashville, this is an area of personal interest to me. At the same time, not very much has been written in this area, so I want to contribute to the existing scholarship. The atmosphere was congenial. I met lots of great folks.

The marker commemorates the ministry of Walter Scott, who established the congregation in Carthage in 1832. Through on-going ministries of preaching, teaching, compassion and service they have been present to the community in the same location for 176 years. Their historian told me that in 176 years they haven’t missed a communion service. On display was the original minutes book from 1832, a photograph of the original building, and other items which preserve and tell the congregation’ story. The atmosphere was celebratory. I met lots of great folks.

I share my weekend experiences because it underscores the ministry of the Society: we are dedicated to the ministry of preserving our history. Flowing naturally from this mission are our contributions to the on-going scholarship in the history and theology of the movement as well as our commitment to the on-going history and ministry of our congregations.

I'll be blogging here

(though it may not seem like it) as well as here http://blogsdiscipleshistory.org/

While you're at it, check out our newly redesigned website at www.discipleshistory.org

Are your church records safe?

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071003/COUNTY10/710030449/1006/NEWS

I don't know about the records of the Commerce Church of Christ near Watertown (east of Nashville near Lebanon), but I suspect that if a fire (or flood, or tornado, or...) were to destroy most any church building, the records of membership, baptisms, and ministry would not survive.

If you have, or know of anyone who has, valuable congregational records, please contact me at Disciples of Christ Historical Society. Upon donation, your irreplaceable congregational records will be properly sorted, processed, filed and boxed. They will then be housed in a climate-controlled and access-controlled secure environment in perpetuity. Here they will be available to researchers, genealogists, church historians and students such as contact me for research assistance on a daily basis.

McGarvey Ice
Public Services Archivist
Disciples of Christ Historical Society
1101 19th Avenue, South
Nashville, TN 37212-2196
615.327.1444
http://www.discipleshistory.org/
ice@discipleshistory.org
The Future of History

"Until you can find a better place to go,

come to church.”

Thus reads a blurb on the back of a church directory I ran across today.

Hmmmm….

Thanks, But No Thanks

Not exactly the sort of family history we at DCHS are interested in preserving:

http://www.wmur.com/news/14157668/detail.html

(we do have a lock of Alexander Campbell’s hair, though)

This and that

The fall research season is in full swing. Just today I had three researchers going full-steam. All are graduate students, from Vandy, Lipscomb and U. of Chicago. I'm always energized by sharing scholarship and by facilitating scholarship. Today was a good day for research; and if anyone tells you that people are not interested in our history, then they would be wrong.

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On that note, my presentation to the Tennessee Conference of Historians Saturday at Union University in Jackson, TN went well. Being my first such presentation, I have nothing to which to compare it (at least as far as the presentation is concerned). However, I was comfortable with the paper and the conference as a whole was well-done. The people at Union went out of their way to make it a good experience. The coordinator of the session in which I presented made several thoughtful and genuinely helpful suggestions on the paper. I wasn't expecting that and was very impressed. My paper was entitled: Nashville Churches of Christ, 1866-1906: Patterns of Evangelism for a Growing Fellowship. I've got some more work to do on it, both in the areas of research and interpretation.

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I'm commuting in via Murfreesboro Road now instead of I-24. It's comparable, and sometimes quicker, plus I have yet to brace myself for what I'm sure is an impending rear-end from either 1) an 18 wheeler, 2) a redneck in a large pick-up, 3) women who are putting on make-up. If that sounds snobby or sexist, then you haven't driven I-24 in the mornings; you drive it for 6 years and then get back to me. For the drive home, however, the interstate is still quicker. Most days it flows rather well; today I made it home in about 35 minutes. Lately, I've listened to Bob Randolph and James Walters sermons from Brookline Church in Boston. I burn CD's and can get one, maybe two sermons in one one-way trip (unless Bob gets long-winded).

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Speaking of James Walters, I've found his work on Rome and Romans not only fresh and well-reasoned, but tremendously insightful for a reading and application of Romans. Ethnic Issues in Paul's Letter to the Romans; a book you should own. So, having an opportunity to hear him preach (even if on CD) is a real bonus. (Chad, I'm envious...take good notes!) I met James at Chad Smith's (beautiful) wedding last fall. A fine exegete and a nice guy (both of them).

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Speaking of Romans, we at Central Church will be in chapter 4 Sunday morning. Steve and I are attempting a program of teaching in which I teach the AM class, exegete the text for the day and he preaches the AM sermon on the same text, drawing out from it teaching for the assembly. The trick here is to do a class well (and not preach a sermon under the guise of a Sunday School lesson) and do a sermon well (and not preach as if it is a Sunday School class). I think the approach has real merit. This is the first time we've attempted such and it seems to be going well.

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How about that for a stream-of-consciousness post?

I've also added some new blogs, deleted others, and fixed some broken links. I've got more to add as time permits.

I have often wished that I had kept a record...

…of my work, but I did not, and it is too late in the day to begin now. I am sure that there is a true record of my life being kept, but by Him who notes the fall of the tiny little sparrow, whose eyes run to and fro through the earth, and from whose vision nothing can escape. Yes, God is keeping my record, and of that I am conscious all the time. But as I say, I wish I had a record of the number that I have baptized, the number of people I have married, the funerals I have preached, and the different places at which I have preached; but I have not, and I feel that I would be wasting my time if I should try to keep such a record. This I do know: if I have ever failed to tell the sweet story at any place I have ever been, I am not conscious of it, and for that I have no apology to offer to any man on earth.”

--J. G. Allen, “Our Work in South Carolina,” Gospel Advocate January 30, 1930, 100.

Church Bulletins

Just a brief note today: a plug about local congregational material. Please add me to your church’s bulletin mailing list, or pass along my address to the person who handles the mailing. Many churches are now moving to an online bulletin (usually PDF); but I would rather still receive the printed version by snail mail. We don’t have room at work to house bulletins in bulk or to go online each week in order to cull important items. But we will keep single copies when noteworthy events occur: new ministers, new facilities, other transitions. While you’re at it, send me your old church directories as well.

1101 19^th Avenue South

Nashville, TN

37212

Research Projects Underway

I spend my days researching for other people. I answer their questions and sniff out leads on their behalf. Genealogy, congregational history, biography, orphaned parents, scholarly articles and books, institutional research, seminarians and professors: it varies from day to day and no two days are the same. I really like the variety because it forces me to interact with the full range of our materials at work and really has broadened by understanding (while at the same time reminding me how much I do not yet know or understand).

I also nurture some research projects of my own. The last three weeks, for example, I've been up at the crack of dawn tracing out the story of Nashville Churches of Christ from 1866-1906 in preparation for a paper I'm presenting at Union University in Jackson, TN in September. I've had long-standing research interests in Central Church and J. W. Shepherd and constantly keep my eyes open for anything that can contribute to an understanding of them. My most recent project included the Churches of Christ in North Edgefield, a suburb of Nashville just across the river from downtown. This project, slated for publication in September, led to my paper on the Nashville churches.

This afternoon, I enjoyed a few hours at church with former residents of the Central Girls' and Boys' Homes. Right at 100 folks, primarily from the Nashville area, gathered for lunch, to share memories and to keep in touch. I listened to stories and met some fine folks.

Last night Laura and I, Sharman, Sara and Marice (colleagues from DCHS) attended the Friday Night Singing at Charlotte Avenue Church of Christ. The congregation is merging with West Nashville Heights and will sell the building later this fall; this was the last singing in the old building (circa 1921-1923 or so, patterned after the Ryman Auditorium). I'd never before been to church at Charlotte Avenue, so I thought I'd better strike while the iron is hot. At one time it was about the largest Church of Christ in Nashville with something like 1200-1300 members. A historic congregation to be sure.

So, this weekend was a real treat. Let me plug my research projects: If you have, or know of anyone who has any historic material (paper items, photographs, ephemera, congregational records, books, periodicals, bulletins, letters, etc. no matter how insignificant you think it might be) along these lines, drop me a line, I'd love to meet you, listen to your story and talk with you.

It is up to us to keep and preserve our stories!

The folks you preach to...

Here's a gem I ran across this morning:

On a church bulletin, for Palm Sunday 1943, written in bold strokes are these words: "I was so disappointed, for I wanted to hear a good Palm Sunday sermon. He is too inclined to be "cute" and funny."

And again next to the title of the sermon (which was" God at Your Door") this person writes, "terrible sermon."

And now we have it in our archives where it will testify throughout the ages that this particular sermon, at least to one auditor, was a real flop.

Ha ha. Its a humorous find alright, but it also is quite telling. This person, man or woman I cannot fully tell from the handwriting, came to church wanting a good sermon yet was served up a helping of "cute and funny."

I know that you can't please all the people all the time...yada, yada, yada. Still, its a shame when folks come to church asking for bread and get a stone in return.

I'll have my laughs at this little bulletin (the author of which I'm sure never intended his/her comments to be preserved), but I'll also take it seriously when I prepare to preach. For no criticism of preaching (or class, or small group meeting) is so stinging as "it was a waste of my time."

Grace and peace.

He had no sword

Another reason why I love what I do: Here is a little blurb about B. U. Watkins' submissions, or lack thereof, to the pages of the North Western Christian Magazine, in the early months of 1857.

"In answer to several interrogatories relative to his contributions, we would say that we are sorry to learn that he has turned his pen into a ploughshare. Being a peace man, he had no sword to convert to that use."

--John Boggs, editor, "Editor's Table", North Western Christian Magazine, July 1857.

Come by for a tour

of the TW Phillips Memorial, home of Disciples of Christ Historical Society. Our facility has just been officially named to the National Register of Historic Places.

I'd love to show you around!

A Homily for Congregational Historians

2006 Stalcup Seminar for Local Church Historians

A Homily for Congregational Historians
McGarvey Ice
Public Services Archivist

Psalm 105.1-6 : O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones. (NRSV)

The task of keeping up with the history of a local congregation is a fulfilling experience. We enjoy old newspaper clippings, faded photographs, obscure-yet-sought after references in books. We revel in oral history interviews and in finding scraps of information that will afford us better information, more accurate description, and thus a more faithful accounting of our past. We enjoy collecting material, retelling the stories, and keeping alive the memories of our congregations.
Allow me this morning to take you beyond that job description. I want to give you lenses through which to see your task as congregational historian. In fact, I would rather not use the language of “task” or “job”; instead we should use the language of “ministry” and “service.”
Drawing from the reading of Psalm 105, I urge you to see your history-gathering and your history-keeping as a theological task. Congregation history is names and dates and places and activities and chronology and photographs and records and lists. But it is so much more: to keep and tell congregational history is to keep and tell the “wonderful works God has done.” It is a theological task, it is a ministry. Congregations are more than mere assemblies of people; they are the assembled people of God, in whom and through whom and for whom God is actively at work. When we do congregational history we are telling of the work of God. Our task then is holy, it is sacred, for it concerns the ongoing story of God and his church. Bernard of Clairvaux has a statement that I have long cherished: "There are many who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge: that is curiosity. There are some who desire to know in order that they themselves are known: that is vanity. Others seek knowledge in order to sell it: that is dishonorable. But there are those who seek knowledge in order to serve and edify others: that is love." Drawing from Bernard, I urge you to see your history-gathering and your history-keeping as a pastoral task. The practice of acquiring, processing, interpreting and preserving congregational history is to be done for the larger purpose of serving and edifying others. The practice of congregational history is a labor of love for the good of the church. It is a pastoral task; it is a sacred ministry.

Campbellite Dead Sea Scrolls

In the world of Biblical scholarship and Near Eastern archaeology, few finds rank as high as or higher in terms of across-the-board significance than the discovery of a cache of Biblical scrolls and manuscripts in a series of caves near the Dead Sea. In the world of the Stone-Campbell tradition, few collections of manuscript material compare to the collection recently acquired by Disciples of Christ Historical Society of from First Christian Church in Frankfort, Kentucky.

This collection of letters is simply superb. The breadth and scope of the Fall Collection is tremendous. Their value to scholars over the next few decades will prove to be inestimable. Verily, verily, we may not see another cache like this one for a very long time. (Please, someone out there prove me wrong!) I really don't think comparing them to the Dead Sea Scrolls is too overblown. I'll cite one example: We have one Walter Scott letter at DCHS. In the Fall Papers there are five new ones. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Disciples World contributor Ted Parks has the scoop here

The Noble Tester Collection

Sunday afternoon was a real treat. I attended a reception at the Society celebrating the acquisition of the Noble Tester Collection of Illustrated Sermon Charts.

The children of Noble Tester donated to the Disciples Historical Society several large and well-illustrated sermon charts. The charts, from the later 1940's, are fabulously preserved and splendidly executed on bed sheets. Noble used them in preaching revivals, gospel meetings throughout eastern Kentucky, eastern Tennessee, Indiana, Georgia and points between and beyond. Noble minstered for many years among Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (instrumental).

His charts are a fine example of preaching and practice in the life of the church in the 1940's-1950's. Clint Holloway did a masterful job contextualizing Tester's life and ministry. The charts are now on display throughout the Society building. Many more photos will be online, along with Clint's essay, soon.

This is but one example of the sort of thing I look forward to being involved in. Acquisitioning a superb collection of material, making it accessible, interpreting its value and significance for the history of the church and the life of the church, and sharing the experience with many fine people.

Grace and peace.

Announcement: Public Services Archivist

Come June 1st I will assume my new duties at the Disciples of Christ Historical Society as Public Services Archivist. The Society is an exciting place to be these days. Significant publications and interpretations of the Stone-Campbell history and theology are coming out all the time, unprecedented collaboration of scholars and historians is happening in many places, and meaningful interaction across the streams of the wider movement have been and are currently underway. This is a new position, so charting a course in it thrills and humbles me. The opportunity to join the Society in a mission to preserve and carry forward our heritage is one I relish. It is a ministry I anticipate.

On the other hand, leaving my friends and colleagues at Ezell-Harding is proving to be a difficult mix of emotions. I teach and partner with high-quality, well-grounded and competent people. My students are bright high-achievers. Ezell parents are supportive and committed to the education of their children. Over the last (almost) ten years Laura and I have had many wonderful experiences at 574 Bell Road. We have worked with fine colleagues, taught fine students, and poured our hearts into a ministry of daily teaching. (I have had a few knuckleheads in class, but this isn't the time or the forum).

Facing my final few weeks is difficult; being a part of the Disciples Historical Society is thrilling. Leaving friends will be hard; meeting and collaborating with new people will be a joy, I know.

But I'm not through yet: We have much work left to do in Luke. I've been around long enough to see faculty announce their intentions for the upcoming year and then pretty much quit for the last 6 weeks. I can't do that, and I won't do that. We've got too much great material to cover, to many things to explore and too much to learn to quit now (and most of all: my students deserve better).

While there is joy in new beginnings, there is also joy in finishing well.

Here's to great memories and new horizons!

Grace and peace.