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9781588383259

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Historian William E. Nicholas masterfully tells a sad, inspiring, triumphant, tragic story all at once Here's an engaging drama of how Alabama Methodism eventually came to terms with it it's racist sin in the creation of the Central Conferences of the Methodist Church and how Alabama Methodists repented, reorganized, and moved forward into unity, sort of. Not content to merely rummage in the archives, Nicholas has talked to surviving eye-witnesses who testify to church at its worst, church at its best. Here's history with contemporary relevance as Nicholas recounts the bravery of ordinary saints, of bishops behaving well and badly, and of how a church being pushed by God toward dealing with the 'color line' still cuts through the Body of Christ. -- Will Willimon, Bishop of the North Alabama Conference, United Methodist Church (2004-2012), Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry, Duke Divinity School, and author of Who Lynched Willie Earle? Confronting Racism Through Preaching

Historian William E. Nicholas masterfully tells a sad, inspiring, triumphant, tragic story all at once Here's an engaging drama of how Alabama Methodism eventually came to terms with it it's racist sin in the creation of the Central Conferences of the Methodist Church and how Alabama Methodists repented, reorganized, and moved forward into unity, sort of. Not content to merely rummage in the archives, Nicholas has talked to surviving eye-witnesses who testify to church at its worst, church at its best. Here's history with contemporary relevance as Nicholas recounts the bravery of ordinary saints, of bishops behaving well and badly, and of how a church being pushed by God toward dealing with the 'color line' still cuts through the Body of Christ.--Will Willimon, bishop of the North Alabama Conference, United Methodist Church (2004-2012), professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry, Duke Divinity School ""author of Who Lynched Willie Earle? Confronting Racism Through Preaching"" The product of a lifetime of scholarship and years of careful research, Go and Be Reconciled is Prof. William Nicholas's account of the integration of the white and black Methodist conferences in Alabama. The hero of the story is Bishop Kenneth Goodson, the sometimes reluctant progressive who led, cajoled, and wheedled Alabama's Methodists toward integration. The conclusion, however, reminds us that victory is rarely final, and shows us not only how far Christians have walked down the path of racial reconciliation but how much further we have to go.--Rev. J. Barry Vaughn, PhD ""author of Bishops, Bourbons, and Big Mules: A History of the Episcopal Church in Alabama"" Utilizing interviews, church records, and newspaper accounts, among other sources, this well written and analyzed book chronicles the struggles over desegregation within the northern Alabama Methodist structure. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of race and religion viewed from the bottom up during the tumultuous civil rights era.--Mark K. Bauman ""author of Warren Akin Candler: Conservative Amidst Change, co-author of Quiet Voices: Southern Rabbis and Civil Rights"" William E. Nicholas has written a book for our times: Amid deepest racial, political, and religious divisions, how did Alabama black and white Methodists reconcile Biblical justice with a culture inimical to the teachings of Christ?--Wayne Flynt, distinguished university professor emeritus, Auburn University, Baptist minister ""author of Alabama in the Twentieth Century"" In his Illuminating narrative, Bill Nicholas gives readers an insightful look at the segregated world of the Methodist Church in Alabama during the 1950s and 1960s. Vividly conceived and highly revealing, Go and Be Reconciled, demonstrates Nicholas's superb ability to trace the complex realities that Methodist leaders faced during a period of chaos and upheaval. This small, but powerful book will long endure as an essential study of Alabama Methodists and the race question.--S. Jonathan Bass ""author of Blessed Are the Peacemakers"" Go and Be Reconciled is an insightful and informative book that enriches our understanding of the civil rights era in Alabama in all its complexity. Not only is this work a valuable addition to the growing body of literature concerning organized religion during the civil rights movement, it demonstrates the value of ecclesiastical history and how this oft neglected field of inquiry can broaden our understanding of the past.-- ""Alabama Review""

Go and Be Reconciled is an insightful and informative book that enriches our understanding of the civil rights era in Alabama in all its complexity. Not only is this work a valuable addition to the growing body of literature concerning organized religion during the civil rights movement, it demonstrates the value of ecclesiastical history and how this oft neglected field of inquiry can broaden our understanding of the past. -- Alabama Review Historian William E. Nicholas masterfully tells a sad, inspiring, triumphant, tragic story all at once Here's an engaging drama of how Alabama Methodism eventually came to terms with it it's racist sin in the creation of the Central Conferences of the Methodist Church and how Alabama Methodists repented, reorganized, and moved forward into unity, sort of. Not content to merely rummage in the archives, Nicholas has talked to surviving eye-witnesses who testify to church at its worst, church at its best. Here's history with contemporary relevance as Nicholas recounts the bravery of ordinary saints, of bishops behaving well and badly, and of how a church being pushed by God toward dealing with the 'color line' still cuts through the Body of Christ. -- Will Willimon, bishop of the North Alabama Conference, United Methodist Church (2004-2012), professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry, Duke Divinity School, and author of Who Lynched Willie Earle? Confronting Racism Through Preaching In his Illuminating narrative, Bill Nicholas gives readers an insightful look at the segregated world of the Methodist Church in Alabama during the 1950s and 1960s. Vividly conceived and highly revealing, Go and Be Reconciled, demonstrates Nicholas's superb ability to trace the complex realities that Methodist leaders faced during a period of chaos and upheaval. This small, but powerful book will long endure as an essential study of Alabama Methodists and the race question. -- S. Jonathan Bass, author of Blessed Are the Peacemakers The product of a lifetime of scholarship and years of careful research, Go and Be Reconciled is Prof. William Nicholas's account of the integration of the white and black Methodist conferences in Alabama. The hero of the story is Bishop Kenneth Goodson, the sometimes reluctant progressive who led, cajoled, and wheedled Alabama's Methodists toward integration. The conclusion, however, reminds us that victory is rarely final, and shows us not only how far Christians have walked down the path of racial reconciliation but how much further we have to go. -- Rev. J. Barry Vaughn, Ph.D., author of Bishops, Bourbons, and Big Mules: A History of the Episcopal Church in Alabama Utilizing interviews, church records, and newspaper accounts, among other sources, this well written and analyzed book chronicles the struggles over desegregation within the northern Alabama Methodist structure. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of race and religion viewed from the bottom up during the tumultuous civil rights era. -- Mark K. Bauman, author of Warren Akin Candler: Conservative Amidst Change, co-author of Quiet Voices: Southern Rabbis and Civil Rights William E. Nicholas has written a book for our times: Amid deepest racial, political, and religious divisions, how did Alabama black and white Methodists reconcile Biblical justice with a culture inimical to the teachings of Christ? -- Wayne Flynt, distinguished university professor emeritus, Auburn University, Baptist minister, author of Alabama in the Twentieth Century

Historian William E. Nicholas masterfully tells a sad, inspiring, triumphant, tragic story all at once Here's an engaging drama of how Alabama Methodism eventually came to terms with it it's racist sin in the creation of the Central Conferences of the Methodist Church and how Alabama Methodists repented, reorganized, and moved forward into unity, sort of. Not content to merely rummage in the archives, Nicholas has talked to surviving eye-witnesses who testify to church at its worst, church at its best. Here's history with contemporary relevance as Nicholas recounts the bravery of ordinary saints, of bishops behaving well and badly, and of how a church being pushed by God toward dealing with the 'color line' still cuts through the Body of Christ. -- Will Willimon, Bishop of the North Alabama Conference, United Methodist Church (2004-2012), Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry, Duke Divinity School, and author of Who Lynched Willie Earle? Confronting Racism Through Preaching William E. Nicholas has written a book for our times: Amid deepest racial, political, and religious divisions, how did Alabama black and white Methodists reconcile Biblical justice with a culture inimical to the teachings of Christ? -- Wayne Flynt, Distinguished University Professor Emeritus, Auburn University, Baptist Minister, author of Alabama in the Twentieth Century Utilizing interviews, church records, and newspaper accounts, among other sources, this well written and analyzed book chronicles the struggles over desegregation within the northern Alabama Methodist structure. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of race and religion viewed from the bottom up during the tumultuous civil rights era. -- Mark K. Bauman, author of Warren Akin Candler: Conservative Amidst Change, co-author of Quiet Voices: Southern Rabbis and Civil Rights In his Illuminating narrative, Bill Nicholas gives readers an insightful look at the segregated world of the Methodist Church in Alabama during the 1950s and 1960s. Vividly conceived and highly revealing, Go and Be Reconciled, demonstrates Nicholas's superb ability to trace the complex realities that Methodist leaders faced during a period of chaos and upheaval. This small, but powerful book will long endure as an essential study of Alabama Methodists and the race question. -- S. Jonathan Bass, author of Blessed Are the Peacemakers The product of a lifetime of scholarship and years of careful research, Go and Be Reconciled is Prof. William Nicholas's account of the integration of the white and black Methodist conferences in Alabama. The hero of the story is Bishop Kenneth Goodson, the sometimes reluctant progressive who led, cajoled, and wheedled Alabama's Methodists toward integration. The conclusion, however, reminds us that victory is rarely final, and shows us not only how far Christians have walked down the path of racial reconciliation but how much further we have to go. -- Rev. J. Barry Vaughn, Ph.D., author of Bishops, Bourbons, and Big Mules: A History of the Episcopal Church in Alabama

Author Information

William Nicholas is Professor Emeritus at Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama, where he was James R. Wood Professor and taught recent American history and Latin American history for forty years. In 2005-2006, the College presented him with the outstanding Educator of the Year Award and he received the ODK Distinguished Professor Teaching Award in 2006-2007. His research interests have centered on twentieth century civil liberties and he has published articles on Southern academic freedom in during World War I and student participation in the Civil Rights movement during the 1960s in Birmingham. His research in recent years has employed extensive oral history interviews to amplify the archival records of the United Methodist Church in North Alabama during the Civil Rights era. He is currently retired in his native state of Texas and participates in local civic activities and arts organizations in Georgetown, Texas. He also pursues his lifelong study of the Spanish language and his devotion to the piano and opera performance.

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