ASDAH Business Meeting
March 24, 2013; 9am @ Union College, Lincoln, NE
Malcolm Russell, VP for Academic Affairs presiding
Ben Tyner, minute taker
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  • Ed Allen commenced with worship, discussing his sense of the overlap between Adventism and the pursuit of historical truth. Seen from the larger perspective, Adventist Christianity and historical study often teach a similar lesson: as humans we are inescapably self-centered, and our best efforts fail to achieve ultimate success. “The Bible proposes not another human project but the kingdom of God; first, among us as the kingdom of grace, but ultimately for us in the kingdom of glory.”
  • Malcolm Russell calls business meeting to order; apologies made for weather, Tyner appointed secretary.
  • 2010 minutes approved (moved, seconded and passed) after summary of contents. 
  • Topic 1: What is the purpose of ASDAH?
    • ASDAH is an organization for Adventist historians.
    • As such, the organization ought to focus on providing support to historians in Adventist institutions and churches and not be limited to the study of the history of Adventism itself.
  • Topic 2: Preparing for 2016
    • La Sierra University is the next host institution, pending Andrew Howe’s confirmation, with Southern College as an alternate.
    • Steering Committee for 2016 will be composed of: Brian Strayer, Andrew Howe (or representative of next host if not LSU), Ben Tyner (rep of last prior host), Samuel London (Oakwood), and David Trim.
    • Motion approved. 
  • Topic 3: Constitutional Committee
    • A committee will be formed with the purpose of forming a constitution for the ASDAH organization.
    • A preliminary report of said committee is requested for August, 2014.
    • Committee will include: Gilbert Valentine, chair; Ben McArthur, Joan Francis, Doug Morgan and Gary Land.
    • Motion approved. 
  • Topic 4: President of ASDAH
    • Ed Allen was unanimously voted President of ASDAH, effective immediately.
    • The President will work with the Constitutional Committee and others to formalize ASDAH’s organizational structure and define the job description of its various parts, as well as being responsible for:
      • Calling meetings to order.
      • Writing ASDAH editorials (via Strayer newsletter).
      • Enforcing membership policy and dues structure (depending on Constitutional Committee’s framework).
      • Creating a strategy for marketing and web presence including resolving issues about the webhost, digital vs. physical mailings, archives of past papers and newsletters, and a membership database.
      • Serving as the central destination for information about members, in collaboration with Brian Strayer and the ASDAH newsletter. As such, Adventist historians who have passed away (e.g. Arthur Patrick), retired (e.g. Karl-Heinz Schroeder, Gary Land, Ron Numbers and Dennis Pettibone) or ought otherwise be recognized should be referred to the President. Furthermore, a list of graduate students in history from or at Adventists institutions ought be compiled through the President’s office.
    • President’s office, in consultation with Bruce Lo, Doug Morgan, Ciro Sepulveda, Ben Tyner and others, will report on the status of ASDAH’s web presence for the August 2014 newsletter.
    • Motion approved. 
  • Topic 5: Suggestions for further discussion
    • Richard Osborn suggested that we think about taking on an advocacy role in opposition to the diminishing of institutional commitment to historical study and history departments at colleges but also at K-12 institutions.
    • Attendees initiated a formal thanks to Brian Strayer for shepherding the organization to the present through the newsletter. Strayer suggested a formal thanks be passed on to the funders of the newsletter at the GC Department of Education. 
  • 2013 ASDAH meeting formally closes.