Deweese Retires from History Society

By Bob Allen, Associated Baptist Press

Charles Deweese is retiring in October at age 65 after 10 years as executive director of the Baptist History and Heritage Society.

Deweese, who was treated for lymphoma in 2007 and 2008, said his health is excellent and is not the reason he is stepping down. He said body scans last fall and in January and April have all come back clear.

Deweese called working at the Baptist History and Heritage Society--formerly an auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention Historical Commission before that agency was dissolved in a denominational restructuring in 1995--"the culminating work of my life."

"The society is a true grassroots Baptist organization; working with its members constitutes one of the true joys of my career," he said.
Organized originally in 1938, the Society became an independent Baptist history organization called the Southern Baptist Historical Society in order to continue its work after dissolution of the Historical Commission. In 2001 Deweese led the organization to change the name to Baptist History and Heritage Society to encourage broader than Southern Baptist participation.

Today the society has nearly 700 members in the United States and 30 international members in 16 countries.

[In recent years, Seventh Day Baptists--including Nick Kersten and Pastor Pat Bancroft--have presented papers at the BH&HS annual gatherings.]

For the entire story of Mr. Deweese's retirement, click here.