Karl A. Olsson

I have not read the first volume of this history but enjoyed volume two. This book is more interesting and engaging than By One Spirit, Olsson's earlier Covenant history. This may be because of Olsson's closeness and participation in many of the events described here. He also is more comfortable using the 'I' voice here, whereas in the earlier history, he referred awkwardly to himself in the third person.

Certainly Olsson offers unique, thoughtful and important insight into the Covenant but this is hardly an impartial history. Olsson describes in detail several of the inner conflicts but it is silent on several points another historian would not be.

For example he talks about conflict involving conservatives/modernists (not his shorthand) at the seminary in the 1960's and the growing theological unity under Engebretson but there is little mention of the national and civil turmoil of the period. His discussion of racial tension appears to be internal Covenant Swede/non-Swedes and not much else. Yes there are brief statistics of minority churches but the facts are is that during this period, this denomination is mostly white, mostly middle class. A more impartial voice may have spoken directly to some of this.

This isn't to say the book isn't good, Olsson is a fine historian and employs good analysis here, but there are limits to his analysis.… (mehr)