Failure to imagine 100
In the Summer 1992 issue, the editors of Pietisten admitted their failure to take Skogsbergh’s Point on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. We also failed to create a Pietisten flag to plant. The “Point” property on Lake Minnetonka was once owned by Rev. E. A. Skogsbergh and was a gathering place for Swedish Pietists in the early part of the 20th century. We planned to sail to the point in the dead of night and plant a Pietisten flag firmly in the soil.
In the article, “Editors Face Their Failure,” we sought to analyze the factors that prevented success. If you read the article you will understand more clearly the present situation. Receiving the announcement of 100 issues has brought this editor emeritus face-to-face with his lack of imagination. Of course, this 100th issue would not be in your hands without 15 years of continued publication under publisher Karl Nelson, editor Mark Safstrom, designer Sandy Nelson, their editorial board, and many more.
Recognizing the fact that 100 issues of Pietisten have now been published comes as a shock and arouses many memories. From the beginning, Pietisten (“The Pietist”) has been a conversation intending blessing independent of any denomination or other outside authority. Shortly after establishing Pietisten in 1842, George Scott, a Methodist missionary to Sweden, was asked to leave the country. The Swedes did not appreciate Scott’s evangelism or his criticism. Scott had just established the journal Pietisten that he left in the hands of young Carl Olof Rosenius. We have done our best to emulate the conviviality and ecumenical perspective exhibited in the original Pietisten which was read by Swedish immigrants in America as well as by Pietists in Sweden. The journal continued under Paul Peter Waldenström, who succeeded Rosenius and was published continuously from 1842 to 1917. The founders of the current journal took their inspiration from the original journal and revived it in 1986. David Hawkinson and Peter Sandstrom had the vision for a new publication reviving the name and mission of Rosenius and Waldenström as expressed in the original Pietisten. They called a meeting. Tommy Carlson, Sandy Johnson, and I met with David and Peter at 3232 47th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota. We had no idea that 3232 was going to become the worldwide headquarters of Pietisten for nearly 25 years.
Fortunately, many of the 100 issues we celebrate are online as well as in print. They are easily accessed at Pietisten.org. Our website is of tremendous value. It was the great good fortune of Pietisten to gain the services and presence of young Karl Nelson of Seattle, way back when he was a graduate student at the University of Iowa. Karl quickly created a website and has managed it through the years and continues to do so as publisher. He and the rest of the staff are a great team.
It would be remiss of me if I did not mention the earlier attention and support of many of our college and seminary teachers and friends endorsing and participating in the Pietisten conversation. In particular, the regular contributions of the late, revered trio of Art Anderson, Glen Wiberg, and Elder Lindahl come to mind. The contributions of Tom Tredway, Art Mampel, Bruce Carlson, Arvid Adell, Bob Elde, Reginald Johnson, and Tim Johnson have had a vigorous role in creating these priceless 100 issues. There are many more names to name, but a few include associate editor, Nels Elde, sports prophet, Eric Johnson, and the mysterious Penrod. Please also take the time to read and consider Pietisten’s “Premises,” which are printed in every issue.
My experience perusing the issues online has been deeply satisfying—great fun. It is an invaluable resource when looking specifically for past articles. There are stories behind each of the 100 issues. To tell the stories would be the equivalent of another hundred issues. It can’t be done. Nevertheless, the articles and issues that are online call forth memories of the activities that were the fruit of conversations and integral to their creation.
Thanks for the conversation!