Robert M. Shel
President

INTRODUCTION

On January 31, 1949, Professor H. Richard Niebuhr stood to deliver the first of five lectures he had been invited to present as a part of Austin Presbyterian Seminary's annual Mid-Winter lectures, a series Dr. Niebuhr had titled "Christ and Culture." I wonder if those who were privileged to hear him that evening, and who listened to him lecture during the subsequent four days, sensed that they were hearing something very special, namely, presentations which would have broad and deep meaning and influence in the church and in academic circles for years to come. How I wish we had been recording our annual lectures fifty years ago as we do now.

Well, no matter what the impression of that 1949 audience, those lectures were published in 1951 in a book bearing the same title as the original lecture series, and this published version has become what many regard as a classic. Its enduring quality is found not in the fact that it demonstrates no shortcomings or is unassailable in all of its presuppositions, claims, or categories. Rather, I believe, it continues to have value for Christianity, the church, and scholars because it addresses in a useful and substantive way issues that have been critical from the beginning of Christianity, are equally critical today, and doubtless will be critical for the Christian faith and the church in the future. Therefore, this issue of Insights is intended not only to celebrate the delivery of Niebuhr's "Christ and Culture" lectures half a century ago, but also to highlight their utility for today.

Accordingly, the 1999 Currie Lecturer at Austin Seminary, Dr. George M. Marsden, professor of history at the University of Notre Dame, was encouraged to focus his lectures on Niebuhr's work fifty years later. He was excited about doing so, and he titled his lecture series "Christianity and Cultures: Transforming Niebuhr's Categories." His initial lecture in that series "Can These Categories Be Saved" is presented in this issue of Insights as a provocative piece for us all. In it he summarizes some of the more critical and fundamental objections to Niebuhr's work that have been voiced and analyzes their consequences for Niebuhr's views.

In addition, the Reverend Laurel Neal writes about how Niebuhr's work continues to be useful for her as a working pastor, and one of Niebuhr's former students, Jack L. Stotts, recounts his personal remembrance of Niebuhr and his appreciation of the volume Christ and Culture.

And back to that original audience. You will find in this issue published interviews with three persons present in 1949: the president of the seminary at that time, a faculty member, and a student. I am confident you will find their comments interesting.
As always, we send out these materials in the hope that you will find them stimulating for your personal pilgrimage and for your ministry....