The One Hundred Fifty-Third Meeting

Program
THE  AMERICAN  THEOLOGICAL  SOCIETY
Midwest Division
The One Hundred Fifty-Third Meeting
Friday, April 30, 2004
Benedictine University 5700 College Road Lisle, IL 60532
THEOLOGICAL TABLE -TALK
Krasa Building, Presentation Room, 1:00-2:45pm
Recent Scholarship among the Society’s Members
Edgar A. Towne, Moderator
      Robert A. Cathey and Thandeka, Team Teaching Schleiermacher
      Gary Dorrien, Pax Americana
      Douglas Sharp, Survey Research on Christian Opinion
      David Weddle, Pragmatic Elements in Evangelical Tests of Doctrine
Registration and Afternoon Refreshments: Krasa Building, Presentation Room, 2:45-3:15pm

AFTERNOON PROGRAM
Krasa Building, Presentation Room, 3:15-4:45pm
Between Realism and Imagination: The Doctrine of God in Postliberal Perspectives
Robert A. Cathey, Associate Professor of Theology
McCormick Theological Seminary
Hospitality Hour (4:45-5:45pm), Dinner and Business Meeting (5:45-7:00pm)
Krasa Building, Cafeteria, Room A-B

THE PRESIDENT’S  ADDRESS
Krasa Building, Presentation Room, 7:00-9:00pm
Inquiry into Theism: The Plausibility of Panentheism
Edgar A. Towne, Professor of Theology, Emeritus
Christian Theological Seminary

ATS Officers (Midwest Division)
Edgar A. Towne, President
Vacant, Member-at-Large
Gary Dorrien, 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 typically 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 to call attention to its own members’ research and publications. We are a community of scholars engaging each other’s scholarship.
At 1:00pm the one hundred fifty-third meeting of the Society’s Midwest Division will open with Theological Table-Talk during which five members will present some of their most recent research for the Society’s critique and discussion. Professor Towne will moderate the papers and discussions by professors Cathey, Dorrien, Sharp, Thandeka, and Weddle. 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 programs the Society will turn its attention to the work of two its most critical and faithful members on the doctrine of God.  First, Professor Robert Cathey will offer his thoughts on postliberal perspectives of the doctrine of God. Then, after dinner and the business meeting, President Edgar Towne will deliver the Society’s prestigious annual Presidential Address, “An Inquiry into Theism: The Plausibility of Panentheism.”
Unable to attend the full meeting? Feel free to participate in whatever portion of the program fits your schedule. The Executive Committee designs each program for both collegial renewal and vigorous intellectual conversation. Why not break free of your routine and engage your colleagues over good food and drink for mind, body, and soul? 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 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 expenses–$15.00 this spring, payable to the Society at dinner.
Dues: Annual membership dues (to cover the costs of printing, postage, 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. 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: Directions to Benedictine University and a map of the campus that locates the Krasa Building are conveniently located on their website at