Alabama Baptist Covers Collinsville Baptists 175th

[Stephen Fox]

Anniversary in a Page Six story Sept 13 issue with a cover on Religious Hostility.

About 200 folks attended the Aug 12 two and half hour service in the church where my Mother was baptized around 1936 and her family goes back to 1844 in the region.

Former SEBTS Proff Fred Grissom--the Lolley era, a former CBC Pastor (74-76 or so) was guest speaker. He thanked the church, his first pastorate, for their graciousness and guidance. Grissom and I had an interesting conversation about Collinsville at a CBF Convocation in Atlanta about ten years ago.

My Mother and Father were both present for the 150th anniversary 25 years ago. Both of their funerals were held at the church and both are buried in the Collinsville Cemetery where the stone reads: "The Godly He Doth Set Apart."

[Stephen Fox]

Collinsville Baptist celebrates 175th anniversary comment (0)

September 13, 2012

By Neisha Fuson

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Several months of preparation went into the 175th anniversary of Collinsville Baptist Church celebrated Aug. 11–12.

Nine church anniversary committee members, including Jennifer Wilkins, worked countless hours to help the event come to fruition, send out formal invitations and compile and print a church history book for attendees.

“Several decades of bulletins had been saved,” Wilkins said. “We put them together and pulled out excerpts from … church newsletters. We searched (through) many records we had in minutes and annual reports at the [Alabama Baptist Historical Commission] and included a lot of pictures.”

More than 200 people attended the Aug. 12 celebration and were given a book, according to Collinsville Baptist Pastor John E. Morgan, while more than 100 attended a casual reception Aug. 11.

During the two-hour service Aug. 12 there was “lots of special music,” Morgan said. Former pastor Fred Grissom presented a message based around his experience at Collinsville and how he was blessed by how gracious the church, his first pastorate, had been and how members had provided him with valuable guidance.

Alabama Baptist Historical Commission representative Wendell Dutton presented the DeKalb Baptist Association church with a certificate commemorating its 175 years.

Before a covered-dish lunch and fellowship, attendees stood outside the church for a group picture.

To conclude the event the children were invited to the front of the sanctuary to lead the congregation in singing “Jesus Loves Me.”

Wilkins said she felt as though the Holy Spirit was moving in and throughout the entire weekend.

“(The anniversary celebration was) a major event in my life that I will always look back on in a positive way,” she said.

Morgan said he hopes the church will continue to fulfill the anniversary’s theme and be “A Light on a Hill” to the community.

“[I hope that] we would live (as) Jesus said in Matthew 5 about being a light … and that we would work to always build everything we do on Jesus as our foundation,” Morgan said

[KeithE]

Drove through and ate at Collinsville a couple of weeks ago. Ate at a Mexican Restaurant near a Subway, The town appears to be highly hispanic. Has FBC Collinsville been successful in drawing Hispanics?

[Stephen Fox]

Intricate story. I don't know how much liberty I have here at the board to explore thoroughly. Short story is several churches rise to the occasion with Vacation Bible School; but my effort to have Robert Parham come to the county last fall fell on deaf ears. I think I shared my letter published in the Ft. Payne Times-Journal in SBC Trends.

Earlier this century there was a vibrant van ministry outreach but it has somewhat dissipated. There are several gripping personal stories, but the witness, especially on the nitty gritty of justice issues has been inconsistent to put it mildly.

[Stephen Fox]

Here is a note that showed the promise of the church at the beginning of the 20th Century; From the church's history link at their website www.CollinsvilleBaptist.com

The BYPU (now church training) State Convention was held at the Collinsville Baptist Church in April 1908. ( It was first organized in this church in 1894) At that time Collinsville Baptist had the second largest BYPU in Alabama. A Cradle Roll Department was added in 1911. The WMU (formerly the Ladies Aid Society) was organized in this church in 1900. Mrs. G.Y. Newman was the first president. In 1914 she organized a WMU at First Baptist Church, Fort Payne. She was the first associational WMU superintendent, a position she held for many years. The first Sunbeam Band in DeKalb County was organized at the Collinsville Baptist Church before 1914 when they helped organize one at First Baptist Church, Fort Payne.

[Stephen Fox]

Will be interesting to see what History the Morgan sons make over the Holidays in regard Newtown Connecticut and the Bama Immigration story on NPR nationally this afternoon.

Morgan son Joseph now staffs US Congressman's Aderholt's office in Gadsden.
I posted comments on Aderholts Facebook wall today.

http://www.npr.org/2012/12/17/167447908 ... n-overhaul

[Stephen Fox]

http://www.collinsvillebaptistchurch.co ... e_2012.pdf

[Stephen Fox]

It sponsored the mission that became the church Bethany, of which my Dad was pastor for 16 years from 62-78. I posted this note on the facebook wall of a friend there and her invitation to join them for worship this morning. Healthy Church's Jack Causey and Blvd Baptist Anderson Johnny McKinney are both former pastors of FBC Gaffney.

Stephen M. Fox Do they preach the Unfettered Word there or is it Bound in some Creed the Southern Baptist Convention has concocted in its lesser vision of the last 30 years? Tough question and I pose it as a friend in some ways in honor of my DAd and the conversation we had with his Seminary teacher Stewart Newman about Newman's encounter with W.A. Criswell in Columbia, S.C. in 1956.... Even so the Open Bible aided by the Holy Spirit is a powerful thing and stronger than any reservations I may have about fundamentalism in the SBC; so where the Holy Spirit is engaged with the word this morning at FBC Gaffney, you have my Blessing, as well as my affirmation, Elaine, to your Invitation this morning. Momma, even though she walked out on Charles Stanley in 86, would be proud of you.

[Stephen Fox]

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~Public/civi ... -south.pdf

. Talked to author Tyson about 2004 at Furman and he was the first to tell me about it, then I got the book in which this essay in appears later. See Link Below. Tyson's movie Blood Done Sign my name was made into a low budget film some scenes shot in Shelby.




http://www.tnr.com/book/review/the-hypo ... -crespino#
Tell Gov Cuomo about Crespino's Book. I read it about a month ago and recommended to Roger Milliken Jr. Completely fascinating

http://www.goupstate.com/article/201101 ... /101181016

Hillary Clinton's mentor has roots in Gaffney. See Story above about her coming to Limestone. I helped get this going after chatting with Ms. Edelman at MLKing's famour 16th Street .

http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=5324

[Stephen Fox]

Buddy was on mission trip to Charleston with me and the Pastors son and his now wife Susan Weaver back in 2004 or so. WE all got the true religion one afternoon listening to Southern Culture on the Skids.

Today on his facebook, Buddy, who is now the games columnist for the UBama Tuscaloosa student paper The Crimson posted this on his facebook wall:

If you don't like President Obama that's fine. People shouldn't call you "racist" or whatever just because you're white and you're not a fan of the President. However, when people start throwing up his ethnic background and touting that dumb birther conspiracy junk that has nothing to do with anything, it does make them sound a little racist. I think President Obama has done the best he can with what he has, and I think everyone else knows that too. Sure, he hasn't done a lot of the things he said he was going to do. That reminds me of, I don't know, every other politician. He's a good guy. Mitt Romney is a good guy too, I suppose. I just didn't like the way he flip-flopped on a lot of his ideas, but then again, he's a politician. I also am not a "misinformed young person" as I've been accused of being. I daresay I know just as much about politics as someone 30 years my senior. I just don't go around shoving my beliefs down people's throats. This country is divided right now because of people not being able to get along because of the sole reason of who the President is. That's dumb. That's not going to get us anywhere. We need more togetherness. Maybe Obama won't solve our economic crisis, and I don't think Mitt Romney would have either. It's pretty bad. Barack Obama won the election, though. The American people chose him to serve our country for four more years. I chose him because I liked him more than the other candidate. If you didn't vote for him that's OK. It still doesn't change the fact that he won. Togetherness, people. Togetherness.

[Stephen Fox]

http://foxofbama.blogspot.com/2013/01/b ... n-npr.html

[Stephen Fox]

They misspelled my name, but if that's what it takes to have an exchange with Taylor Branch, I'll take it. Taylor's Brother Randy is a member of Heritage BC in Cartersville, Ga with our friend Lamar Wadsworth; and you see where I say some good things about Baptists, especially of the 2nd Ponce de Leon Stripe:

STEVEN

11:48:02

Taylor, I desperately wanted to hear you at Sanford last October in the lecture there. But I didn't make it. I want you to tell your story about the anonymous black fellow who was on the march from Selma to Montgomery in '65. He said we won when we started walking. And to Isabel my parents were married in a house about a quarter of a mile from the Faithful Baptist Church in Rome, Georgia. So I feel very kind of...


STEVEN

11:48:33

My father was a Baptist minister and I know, Taylor, you're a product of the Second Ponce de Leon Baptist in Atlanta as is Charles Marsh, who's written about civil rights. And so I know that white Baptists have a very checkered history, to say the least, in that era. But there was, you know, the priesthood, the belief thing, it's good and thanks.


GJELTEN

11:48:55

Well, Isabel and Taylor we're getting all your old friends calling. Isn't that great?


BRANCH

11:48:58

Yeah, this is quite something and connecting...


WILKERSON

11:48:59

That's lovely.


BRANCH

11:49:00

...connecting the two of us. Well, the story that he mentioned is from a guy up in Lowndes County, Alabama, one of the most primitive counties -- nobody -- no black. It was 70 percent black, but not a single black person had even tried to register to vote in the entire 20th Century. But one man joined the march to Montgomery and was asked, you know, when did you know this might be a good thing. And he said we won when we started.


BRANCH

11:49:26

And what he meant by that is that if you're an ordinary citizen the hardest thing to do is to take action toward and act like you deserve the rights you're claiming. Which is a great metaphor for that whole movement, which was an aroused citizenry interacting with responsive elected representatives. That's what makes the 1960s so great.

[Stephen Fox]

http://ethicsdaily.com/how-to-keep-your ... -cms-20422

[Stephen Fox]

My friend Todd Heifner has been in South Africa for six weeks with his father in law and his youngest son Deason.

His wife, Mel's daughter, was pregnant with Deason when they visitted the Collinsville Baptist Church the evening of Feb 24, 2002 for a presentation with Samford and the Bama Baptists' Mark Baggett; Lottie Moon biographer Catherine Allen, and national mainstream Baptist leader David Currie.

Todd came home Friday and reported this news about his wife on his facebook wall. I'm proud of both of them:

Even more proud of Kit Deason Heifner on her promotion today to Department Manager--Application Development at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama! She has enjoyed the 20+ years she has been with the company and has had the most incredible mentor/manager who is now retiring after an incredible career with the company. Thanks, Patsy, for all you have meant to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama generally, and to Kit specifically.

[Stephen Fox]

Bob and a young attorney visitted the CBC for a two hour conversation yesterday afternoon. I providentially bumped into the Foundation at a stop near I 59 before they went to the church. We discussed our mutual friendship with Bama SBC Prez John Killian though I was clear my politics differed from Killian and in the brief conversation with the Party mentioned the 32-20 vote of May 28, 2006.

Nice Fellows and I enjoyed talking to them.

[Stephen Fox]

I recently brought the following article to King Trilogy and Pulitzer winner Taylor Branch's attention. William Moore of the piece walked through Collinsville in April 1963 the early afternoon in which he was later assassinated a county south, Etowah County.
http://articles.latimes.com/2002/oct/27 ... tm-south43

Below is Taylor's reply to the article:


Thank you for that reference. I had not seen the article by Scott Martelle, which came years after my own work on William Moore in Parting the Waters. The story is very well done. It made me remember vividly what it was like to poke around in hate crimes.

[Stephen Fox]

That Sunday is a great memory, one of the highlights of my stay on the membership rolls of Collinsville BC.

I was a leader for bout th 6th grade youth choir and there were a lot of Hispanics in that group including. Christian and Jose, Paloma and Aracely and Jennifer Cortina.

They processed into the sanctuary with olive branches and adult choir rose behind them to sing that morning. Dora Street had a big smile that morn but she is no longer with us. Her Daughter Becky directed the Baptist Choir at Baylor for several years.

I was listeing early to The Reproaches by John Sanders on NPR Heart and Voice Sunday and the classical version of the Sacred Harp standout Absalom My Son. May link the Utube version of The Reproaches Soon. I think some still in the choir and my friends Donnie and Jackie Myers will get it if someone copies the lyrics for them and they read over couple times.

[Stephen Fox]

http://cantusmundi.blogspot.com/2012/04 ... nders.html

[Stephen Fox]

http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/ar ... f6878.html

And see my blog on the Collinsville Soccer team.

In 93 or so Pastor John Morgan took several of his children out of school for the massive march on Montgomery for the fetus.

But here in the most ethnically diverse town in the state, he'll most likely set out the immigration reform movement; set it out for children outside the womb.

Even in the face of Will Willimon's public prophetic witness to Gov Bentley.

Pastor Morgan was so proud of his son Mark gettin to know the Duke Chaplain. But here in Bama while the Bishop was amongst us, nary a word; of if there was one I didn't hear it.

[Stephen Fox]

About 7 miles South of Collinsville on HWY 11

Statewide story on Bama NPR. Will have a link for you soon so you can listen online.

[Stephen Fox]

http://www.wbhm.org/News/2013/postmansmarch.html

Also google a Stain in Alabama, LA Times.

[Stephen Fox]

Collinsville, Al has an imperfect but beautiful testimony in regard immigration reform. I hope some of the best in the community are called to testify. John Kennedy once said "Let them come to Berlin." At this moment let Gov Bentley , and Kris Kobach and Eunie Smith and all the reactionaries come to Collinsville and tell the soccer team who beat Daniel Alarcon's Indian Springs, who beat undefeated Calhoun County Ga these kids to a person have not earned their citizenship in a community where everybody knows their parents were Invited here for labor.

You can't be a beacon if your Light Don't Shine. Navigate this oped with the best lights you have and call Joe Morgan with Aderholts office or Brooks Simmons of Jasper in the National Office or if Baptists have your Pastor call Gov Bentley or his former pastor Rick Lance and lets do the right thing.

[Stephen Fox]

William Thornton our beloved and out of the closet card carryin SBC apologist on this board has made some strong analysis in the "moderates" thread in Faith and Practice

Using Collinsville as an example and their 175th anniversary, of the two under 40 products they celebrated as testimonials last August, none of them buy the creation science and bogus tea Party history of the SBC, Gov Bentley and what is now the GOP Baptist ideology in Bama.

That is Thornton's hypocrisy, not so much his but the shallow denomination he enables.

[Stephen Fox]

I was present with President Carter, Wayne Flynt, Hugo Black's grandson Stephen, Marian Wright Edelman and Kate Campbell for the Baptist Covenant gathering in Bham. Standing room only. I was standing under the glass window blown to Oblivion in 63 when President Carter pointed to that site of the room. At first I was a little nervy since it was one bout 30 months after I was voted off the property of Collinsville Baptist where Momma was baptized; was thinking here I go again, they're gonna show me the door at this Baptist gathering. But I got my bearings.

Later my understanding got deeper. Sharing with the Ivy League this morn and Gaffney S.C. via facebook so thought I would share with my audience at bl.com, my little dot in the Old Redemption Story:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/ ... ary-younge

[Stephen Fox]

http://www.gaffneyledger.com/news/2008- ... e/001.html

This woman was great friend of my Dad. Her friend Florence Reaves, the sister of former President of the American Textile Manufacturers Inst and driving force ( John Hamrick) in the founding of the FBC mission Bethany Baptist where my Dad was pastor for 16 years;Both Mrs Reaves and Mrs Sossamon came to Bethany for Dad's last Sunday in 78.

Mrs Sossamon and Mrs Reaves never were quite sure what to make of me, but I had tremendous respect for them that has only grown over the years as I consider what was going on the 16 years in Gaffney 62-78; Race and Textiles, labor relations trying to maintain community; and of course, High school football and integration.