The One Hundred Fifty-Second Meeting

Program
THE AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Midwest Division
The One Hundred Fifty-Second Meeting
Friday, October 24, 2003
(Please Note Site Change)
McCormick Theological Seminary
5460 South University Avenue
Chicago, IL 60615
THEOLOGY  CHICAGO  STYLE
THEOLOGICAL TABLE TALK
Kirsch Common Room, Francis A. McGaw Center, 1:00 -3:00 P. M.
Remembering Bernard Meland: A Critical Appraisal
Gary Dorrien, Dean of Stetson Chapel and Professor of Religion
Kalamazoo College
Remembering Bernard Meland: Personal Reflections
A panel of Meland’s former students recall his impact on theology and their lives.
Registration and Afternoon Refreshments, 3:00 – 3:15 P.M.
AFTERNOON  PROGRAM
Kirsch Common Room, Francis A. McGaw Center, 3:15 – 5:15 P.M.
The Void, the Open, and God
David Tracy, Professor of Catholic Studies, Theology, and Philosophy of Religion
The Divinity School, The University of Chicago
Reception, Dinner and Business Meeting: Refectory of the Lutheran School of Theology, 5:15 – 7:00 P.M.
EVENING PROGRAM
Kirsch Common Room, Francis A. McGaw Center, 7:00 – 9:00 P.M.
Theology Chicago Style: Engaging the World as It Really Is
Philip J. Hefner, Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology
McCormick Theological Seminary
ATS Officers (Midwest Division)
Edgar A. Towne, President
Gary Dorrien, Member-at-Large
Donald Alexander, Vice President
Paul P. Parker, Secretary/Treasurer
The Program: PLEASE NOTE THE SITE CHANGE. The location for this meeting has been changed to McCormick Theological Seminary.
Is there a Chicago school of theology, a distinct identity among Chicago theologians that is captured by such theologians as Bernard Meland, David Tracy, Phil Hefner? What links these theologians together yet still allows them to be distinguished from each other? Are you in the same Chicago school? The Society’s Executive Committee is please to bring the membership’s attention to a self-reflective moment and ask, “What, if anything, is characteristic of the theology that arises from Chicago?”
The 152nd meeting of the American Theological Society will begin at 1:00 P.M. with Theological Table Talk which starts with a critical evaluation of the works of Bernard Meland by the Society’s Vice President, Gary Dorrien. The second half of Table Talk moves in the direction of a broader, panel-led member-wide examination of Meland’s thought that draws on the personal reflections of some who knew and worked with him. In the mid-afternoon session, at 3:15 P.M., the Society will draw on another of its members to delivered a paper, David Tracy, The Andrew Thomas Greeley and Grace McNichols Greeley Distinguished Service Professor of Catholic Studies and Professor of Theology and Philosophy of Religion in the Divinity School and the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago. David is working in his paper to find “a way of formulating the question of God theologically,” to be followed by an extended period of discussion, as is the custom of the Society. The Society’s wealth of talent is seen again in the evening session (which begins at 7:00 P.M.) when yet another member of the Society, Phil Hefner, will address the Meeting’s central question, “Theology Chicago Style: Engaging the World As If It Really Mattered.” Since Phil has been doing theology in Chicago for more than thirty-six years he can speak as a scholar and from personal observations as few can.
Why not break free of your routine and engage your colleagues over good food and drink for mind, body, and soul? If you are unable to attend the full meeting, you should feel free to participate in whichever portion of the program fits your schedule. The Executive Committee designs each program for both collegial renewal and vigorous intellectual conversation. For further information, contact any of the Society’s officers or Paul Parker at the addresses below.
Registration and Dinner Reservations:. The Executive Committee’s task of planning the Society’s semiannual meetings is greatly eased if members pre-register and make reservations for dinner. Because ATS meetings are partially supported by the host institutions, registration is free and dinner is at the actual costs to the Society, $17.00. To register and RSVP, you may call, write, or email Paul Parker: office phone (630) 617-3559; paulp@elmhurst.edu; or Department of Theology and Religion, Elmhurst College, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126.
Dues: Annual membership dues are $15 for members and $10 for associate members to be given to the Secretary/Treasurer, Paul Parker, each year at the fall meeting. Attention to this is kindly appreciated. Also, the Society’s membership roster remains strong only as we advocate the Society to our eligible colleagues, invite them to join us, and sponsor them for membership.
Directions and Parking: McCormick Theological Seminary is conveniently in Hyde Park with clear directions posted on its website. Guest parking is located on the north side of the building, throughout the neighborhood, and in the new University of Chicago parking garage at 55th and Ellis.