Encouraging scholarship, strengthening faith identity, and interpreting contemporary issues in Baptist life.

Newman Scholar:
Jim Wooten

 Home • Staff • Local Church • News & Views • Issues • Bulletin • Conferences / Seminars • Sabbaticals • Certificate • Links

A Mini-Sabbatical at the Center
for Baptist Studies

 by Jim Wooten

Pastor, Earle Street Baptist Church
Greenville, South Carolina

Return to Sabbaticals Homepage

Imagine the opportunity to clear the schedule, get away from the phone, focus on one area of study that holds particular interest to you, consult each day with scholars who are helping you with your agenda, be treated like a VIP and make some great new friends in the process. Mercer made it happen for me. What a gift! And I am grateful.

As the fourteenth Newman Scholar, I used my mini-sabbatical to prepare for a “maxi-sabbatical.” I will be going to England and New England late-summer/ early-fall ‘07, in part to photographically trace the roots of Baptist life (and other areas of historical interest). I needed time to focus, guidance to fill in some of the gaps of my knowledge, and access to books and materials to aid my quest. This experience afforded me all that… and much, much more.

Through a prescribed reading plan and consultations each day, Buddy Shurden gave me invaluable assistance and encouragement. Bruce Gourley is a gifted photographer as well as historian, and he shared photos of several of the places I need to go. The Special Studies section of the library had abundant resources (and helpful staff) to explore all areas of British (and American) Baptist history.

For someone who likes to travel and explore, the week held another opportunity for me. I had never spent any time in that part of Georgia, so it was a bonus to be able to take an afternoon off and visit some places I had always wanted to see – Andersonville (site of the Civil War POW camp), the Habitat headquarters and Koinonia Farms in Americus, and Plains, the hometown of our 39th President. I even got to meet President and Mrs. Carter at a revival service at their church!

It was a great week… and the groundwork for my sabbatical project has been laid. I just wish I could have stayed longer.   

The Center for Baptist Studies, Mercer University, 1400 Coleman Avenue, Macon, GA 31207      Phone (478) 301-5467