The One Hundred Fifty-Fifth Meeting
THE AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Midwest Division
The One Hundred Fifty-Fifth Meeting
Friday, April 29, 2005
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
2121 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60201
THEOLOGICAL TABLE -TALK
1:00-2:45 P.M., Room 105
Recent Scholarship among the Society’s Members
Gary Dorrien, Moderator
Mary Doak, Notre Dame University, The Public Role of the Church
Tom Gilbert, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Science, Religion and Creation
Jerry Stone, William Rainey Harper College, The History of Religious Naturalism
Edgar Towne, Christian Theological Seminary, Theology of Culture: God as Actual
Registration and Afternoon Refreshments, 2:45-3:15 P.M.
AFTERNOON PROGRAM
3:15-4:30 P.M., Room 105
The ‘Unmappable Geography’ of Religion and Science: Pedagogical Questions
Jennifer Jesse, Truman State University
Hospitality Hour 4:30-5:00 P.M.; Dinner and Business Meeting, 5:00-6:45 P.M.
THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS
7:00-9:00 P. M., Room 105
Theology of Spirit: Personalist Idealism, Nels F. S. Ferre and the Universal Word
Gary Dorrien, Kalamazoo College and Union Theological Seminary (New York City)
ATS Officers (Midwest Division)
Robert Cathey, Member-at-Large
Antje Jackelén, Vice President
Paul P. Parker, Secretary/Treasurer
The Program: The Midwest Division of the American Theological Society is a regional organization of scholars who teach and publish in the fields of religious studies. The Society’s semiannual meetings often reach beyond its local membership to invite scholars from across the country and around the world to present papers and to participate in vigorous discussions. For this meeting, however, the Executive Committee is pleased once again to call attention to its own members’ research and publications. We are a community of scholars engaging each other.
At 1:00 P.M. the one hundred fifty-fifth meeting of the Society’s Midwest Division will open with Theological Table-Talk during which four members will present some of their most recent research for the Society’s critique and discussion. ATS president and the newly appointed Reinhold Niebuhr Chair in Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, Gary Dorrien, will moderate the papers and discussions by professors Doak, Gilbert, Stone, and Towne. This is an opportunity for our colleagues to receive feedback on their works in process, and for the Society’s members to learn of emerging arguments in religious studies.
In the afternoon and evening sessions the Society will turn its attention to the work of two its most critical and faithful members. First, Professor Jennifer Jesse will address the pedagogical riddles if not contradictions in teaching about science and religion. Then, after dinner and the business meeting, President Gary Dorrien will deliver the Society’s prestigious annual Presidential Address, Theology of Spirit: Personalist Idealism, Nels F. S. Ferre and the Universal Word.
Housing, Registration, and Dinner Reservations: The Executive Committee’s task of planning the Society’s semiannual meeting is greatly eased if members pre-register for the meeting and make reservations for dinner. To pre-register and to reserve your place at the table, please call, write or email Paul Parker and declare your intentions: office phone (630) 617-3559; paulp@elmhurst.edu; or Department of Theology and Religion–Box 26, Elmhurst College, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126.
Because ATS meetings are partially supported by the host institutions, there is no registration fee and only nominal dining expense. For this meeting members will dine in Garrett’s cafeteria and paying for our meals individually as we proceed through the line. Meals average about $ 9.00.
To arrange overnight housing, please phone Sue Fowler, Garrett’s Assistant to the Director of Special Services, (847) 866-3950. A range of options is available from $45.00 to $78.00.
Dues: Annual membership dues (to cover the costs of printing, postage, refreshments, and other incidentals) are $15 for members and $10 for associate members to be paid to the Secretary/Treasurer, Paul Parker, each year at the fall meeting. If you did not submit your dues last fall, you may attend to it at the spring meeting or at any time through the mail. Attention to this is appreciated.
Directions and Parking: Directions to Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and a map of the campus are conveniently located on its website.