Volume 8 Issue 2

Beginning with this issue, Stone-Campbell Journal is being published by Stone-Campbell International, a non-profit enterprise formed in 2005 to foster, produce, disseminate, and preserve scholarship in the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement. We are excited about the prospects for this new venture. Six individuals have agreed to serve on the initial board: William Baker, Doug Foster, Mark Lura, Jennifer Wagner, Jon Weatherly, and Paul Williams. A smooth hand-off of SCJ from College Press, former publisher, to SCInternational is nearly completed. Formal recognition from the IRS as a 501(c) 3 organization authorized to receive grants and tax-deductible contributions is anticipated soon. An organizational web site has been set up at scinternational.org. Inquirers about financial support should contact me (scjeditor@aol.com) or Jeff Derico, Development Manager (317-989-4610). Make note that College Press should no longer receive subscription payments. All subscription issues should be directed to Pam Ralls at (scjsubscriptions@sbcglobal.net; 513-837-3283). She has all the up-to-date information on your subscription.

Some changes are taking place in the editorial structure of SCJ. First, Rick Cherok, Professor of Church History, Cincinnati Christian University, has agreed to serve as a new editor. He has been helping assign reviews and evaluate articles for a while now. So I am pleased to make his role official. Second, over the years I have come to rely on a number or people to assist me from time to time with editorial issues from a cross-section of institutions. These individuals will now be recognized officially as Consulting Editors. Sixteen people have agreed to serve in this role:

Barry Blackburn (Atlanta Christian College); Carl Bridges (Johnson Bible College); Scott Caully (Center for the Study of Christian Origins, Tübingen, Germany); David Fiensy (Kentucky Christian College); Gary Hall (Lincoln Christian Seminary); Clay Ham (Dallas Christian College); Jennifer Hamilton (Rochester College); Mark Hamilton (Abilene Christian University); John Harrison (Oklahoma Christian University); Ronald Highfield (Pepperdine University); Gary Holloway (Lipscomb University); Mark Krause (Puget Sound Christian College); Phil Kenneson (Milligan College); Kevin Larsen (Roanoke Bible College); Jesse Long (Lubbock Christian University); Mary Ellen Pereira (Northwest Christian College).

SCJ will again partner with Cincinnati Bible Seminary and Cincinnati Christian University to offer the Fifth SCJ Conference, March 31–April 1, 2006. The theme: Embracing God in an Age of Confusion, features Special Guest lecturer, Clark Pinnock, Professor of Christian Interpretation, Emeritus, McMaster University), who will speak on “The Concept of Divine Self- Limitation” and “The Struggles of a Post-Conservative Evangelical Theologian.” Two other guest speakers are: Ronald Highfield (Pepperdine University), “Why Knowing God Compels Us to Seek, Follow, and Praise Him,” and John Castelein (Lincoln Christian Seminary), “The Intelligent Design of the Human Soul.” Papers are sought for parallel sessions on biblical, theological, or historical topics from experienced and student scholars. Send your paper title (no abstract needed) to William Baker, SCJ Editor, by December 1, 2005, to scjeditor@aol.com. We are also hoping to add a formal, student paper competition and a variety of study groups. Information on conference registration will be available at the SCJ website (stone-campbelljournal.com) or from conference registrar, Pam Ralls (scjsubscriptions@sbcglobal.net; phone: 314-837-3283).

This first issue of the journal published by SCinternational maintains the high academic standards you have come to expect in the pages of SCJ. Robert Rea (Lincoln Christian Seminary) provides an excellent comparison of views from the early leaders of the Stone-Campbell Movement with those in the holiness movement. Andy Olree (Faulkner University) offers a fascinating examination of moral issues and law from the perspective of a lawyer who is very concerned about what the NT says. Carrie Birmingham (Pepperdine University) goes deep into the phenomenon of Harry Potter, giving SCJ a second article following the fine one in SCJ 7.1 by James Sennett. M. Danny Carrol R. (Denver Seminary) has allowed SCJ to publish one of his excellent lectures from the 2005 SCJ Conference (April 15-16) giving a much-needed OT perspective on worship. Gregory Linton (Great Lakes Christian College) provides a solid examination of house churches, and Lee Snyder (University of Nebraska at Kearney) takes a new look at the book of Revelation.

You will see we are keeping the blue and yellow cover. Most people liked the nonglossy cover. So, here it is again.

William R. Baker, Editor