Pacific Journal of Theological Research
EDITORIAL: A TRIBUTE TO MYK HABETS Andrew Picard Carey Baptist College In 2012, Myk Habets picked up the reins as Senior Editor of the Pacific Journal of Baptist Research (PJBR) from Martin Sutherland, having worked as Book Reviews Editor from 2007-2011. At the time, the journal was in hiatus and in need of new leadership to renew the journal and provide impetus for the future. Undaunted by the task, Myk embraced this as an opportunity to not only re-establish the journal but also strengthen and extend its work. Equipped with his renowned fecundity, he set about renewing PJBR and establishing it as an international vehicle for theological scholarship, research, and debate in the context of the Pacific. Renewing the journal began with rebuilding its base. Myk secured the Australasian Baptist colleges as Contributing Institutions, renewed the Editorial Board with established international theologians, and broadened the editorial team to include John Tucker, Sarah Harris, and Andrew Picard. The Baptist and Pacific locators identified the context of the journal, but not its contributors or audience. As Doctor Serviens Ecclesiae, Myk sought to extend the international readership and reach of the journal in the academy whilst also ensuring the fruits of scholarship served the church. Serving the church was not a blithe rider added for theological correctness before moving on to the real work of improving academic rankings. In a publishing world marked by paywalls, Myk sought to remove as many barriers to readership as possible. PJBR was relaunched in 2013 as an open-access online journal with a new website and database. We write, Myk believed, to be read. Whilst Myk is rightly famed for his prolific productivity, his relational skills have been equally vital to the re-establishment of PJBR. As his own academic career progressed, Myk utilised his growing networks to invite an array of scholars from Australasia and beyond to contribute to the journal. This resulted in a range of international Baptist and non-Baptist scholars publishing in the journal, and widening the conversation in and beyond the Pacific. Various themed editions were published from Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom that showcased Australian scholarship on the 500th anniversary of Luther, outputs from symposiums held on Steve Harmon’s work, Curtis Freeman’s work, and Darrin Belousek’s work, a themed edition on Baptism from Australian scholars, as well as outputs from the British Baptists’ Theology Live. Myk also took the opportunity to honour scholars who have shaped theology in the Pacific. This resulted in was festschrifts for Laurie Guy and Tim Meadowcroft to mark their retirements, as well as a festschrift for Paul Fiddes on his 65th birthday. Myk used his editorship to highlight not only the work of established scholars, but also establish the work of emerging scholars. Theology “down under” can suffer from a timidity when the traditional centre of theological scholarship is up and over. Myk emboldened a range of emerging scholars and church leaders to contribute to international conversations alongside leading
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