January 2006 Published by the American Academy of Religion Vol. 21, No. 1 2006 2006 r embe M ar alend CALL FOR C e 2 e pag Se PAPERS Annual Meeting Call for Papers General Information ........................................................................3 Deadlines ........................................................................................3 Religious Studies News is the newspaper of record Guidelines for Submitting Proposals ..................................................3 for the field especially designed to serve the pro- fessional needs of persons involved in teaching Methods of Submission ....................................................................4 and scholarship in religion (broadly construed to include religious studies, theology, and sacred Sections ..........................................................................................5 texts). Published quarterly by the American Academy of Religion, RSN is received by some Groups............................................................................................7 10,000 scholars and by libraries at colleges and universities across North America and abroad. Participant Forms ........................................................................8, 9 Religious Studies News communicates the impor- tant events of the field and related areas. It pro- Seminars ......................................................................................16 vides a forum for members and others to examine critical issues in education, pedagogy (especially Consultations ................................................................................16 through the biannual Spotlight on Teaching), research, publishing, and the public understand- ing of religion. It also publishes news about the Election Results ......................................................................21 services and programs of the AAR and other organizations, including employment services Tribute to Henry Luce III ....................................................21 and registration information for the AAR Annual Meeting. ................................................22 For writing and advertising guidelines, please see Tribute to Robert W. Funk www.aarweb.org/publications/rsn.asp. 2005 Annual Report A Message from the President ........................................................25 Centennial Strategic Plan................................................................25 A Message from the Executive Director ..........................................26 Governance and Structure ............................................................26 Membership Trends ........................................................................28 Meetings ......................................................................................28 Publications ..................................................................................29 Grants and Awards........................................................................30 Outreach ......................................................................................31 The Department ............................................................................31 The Profession................................................................................32 Resources ......................................................................................33 Benefactors....................................................................................35 AAR Call for Papers 2006 20062005 2006 Member Calendar AAR Staff Directory Dates are subject to change. Check www.aarweb.org for the latest information. Kyle Cole, PhD Director of College Programs January March 11–13. Western regional meeting, September Executive Editor of RSN Claremont, CA. E-MAIL: [email protected] Religious Studies News January issue, including the Journal of the American Academy of Religion TEL: 404-727-1489 Annual Meeting Call for Papers, results of the March 16–17. Mid-Atlantic regional September 2006 issue. For more information on meeting, Baltimore, MD. Barbara DeConcini, PhD officer elections, and the 2005 Annual Report. AAR publications, see www.aarweb.org/ Executive Director and Treasurer January 1. Annual term of membership begins March 18. Publications Committee meeting, publications/default.asp or go directly to the JAAR E-MAIL: [email protected] for the AAR’s 10,000 members, the largest and New York, NY. home page hosted by Oxford University Press, TEL: 404-727-3049 most inclusive association of religion scholars in March 20. Nominations due for Awards for www3.oup.co.uk/jaarel/. Joe DeRose the world. Director of Membership and Technology Services Excellence in the Study of Religion book Annual Meeting Program Books mailed to E-MAIL: [email protected] January 20–21. International Connections awards. For details, see www.aarweb.org- members. TEL: 404-727-7972 wareds/book/rules.asp Committee meeting, Atlanta, GA. TBA. Regions Committee meeting, Atlanta, GA. Toby Director January 28–29. Academic Relations March 24. Executive Committee meeting, Research Project Coordinator September 9. Executive Committee Committee meeting, Atlanta, GA. Washington, D.C. E-MAIL: [email protected] meeting, Cambridge, MA. TEL: 404-727-1461 January 30. Nominations Committee March 24. Regional Secretaries meeting, Ina Ferrell meeting, Atlanta, GA. Washington, D.C. October Accountant March 24–25. Rocky Mountain–Great Plains E-MAIL: [email protected] (More information on AAR committee Religious Studies News October issue. TEL: 404-727-2331 meetings can be found at regional meeting, Colorado Springs, CO. Spotlight on Teaching Fall 2006 issue. Lauren Frazier www.aarweb.org/meetings/meetings.asp.) March 25–26. Spring Board of Directors Administrative Assistant meeting, Washington, D.C. October 1–31. AAR officer election period. E-MAIL: [email protected] February March 31–April 1. Midwest regional meeting, Candidate profiles will be published in the TEL: 404-727-7920 October RSN. Carey J. Gifford, PhD February 1. Nominations due for Best First Chicago, IL. Director of Theological Programs Book in the History of Religions award For March 31–April 1. Upper Midwest regional October 15. January 2007 Religious Studies E-MAIL: [email protected] more information, see meeting, St. Paul, MN. News submission deadline. TEL: 404-727-2270 www.aarweb.org/awards/books/rules.asp. October 15. Excellence in Teaching award Stephanie Gray (For more information on regional meetings, Office Manager February 3. Martin E. Marty Public see www.aarweb.org/regions/meetings.asp.) nominations due. For more information, see E-MAIL: [email protected] Understanding of Religion Award nominations www.aarweb.org/awards/teaching.asp. TEL: 404-727-3059 due. For more information, see April October 21. EIS preregistration closes. Steve Herrick www.aarweb.org/awards/marty/. April 1. Notification of acceptance of Annual Director of External Relations February 3. Membership Committee meeting, TBA. Finance Committee meeting, Atlanta, GA. E-MAIL: [email protected] Meeting paper proposals by Program Unit Chairs. Atlanta, GA. TEL: 404-727-7948 (For more information on regional meetings, November Myesha D. Jenkins February 3–4. Religion in the Schools Task see www.aarweb.org/regions/meetings.asp.) Associate Director of Theological Programs Force meeting, Washington, D.C. November 1. Research grant awards announced. E-MAIL: [email protected] February 4–5. Teaching and Learning May November 16. Executive Committee TEL: 404-727-3026 meeting, Washington, D.C. Aislinn Jones Committee meeting, Atlanta, GA. Religious Studies News May issue. Annual Meeting Program Director November 17. Fall Board of Directors meet- February 4–5. Graduate Student Task Force Spotlight on Teaching Spring 2006 issue. E-MAIL: [email protected] meeting, Atlanta, GA. ing, Washington, D.C. TEL: 404-727-8132 Annual Meeting registration materials mailed November 17. Chairs Workshop at the Deborah Minor February 10–11. Public Understanding of with RSN. Director of Finance and Administration Religion Committee meeting, Washington, Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. May 1. Nominations (including self-nomina- E-MAIL: [email protected] D.C. November 18–21. Annual Meeting, TEL: 404-727-7954 tions) for committee appointments requested. February 11–12. Status of Women in the For more information, see Washington, D.C. Held concurrently with the Robert Puckett Profession Committee meeting, Atlanta, GA. Administrative Assistant www.aarweb.org/membership/volunteering.asp. Society of Biblical Literature, comprising some 9,500 registrants, 200 publishers, and 100 hir- E-MAIL: [email protected] February 15. Submissions for the May 2005 May 5–6. Eastern International regional meet- TEL: 404-727-1461 ing departments. issue of Religious Studies News due. For more ing, Quebec City, QC, Canada. Shelly C. Roberts information, see www.aarweb.org/ November 20. Annual Business Meeting. See the Associate Director of Professional Services May 5–7. Pacific Northwest regional publications/rsn/default.asp. Annual Meeting Program Book for exact time. Editor of RSN meeting, Spokane, WA. E-MAIL: [email protected] February 17–18. Theological Education TEL: 404-727-4707 Steering Committee meeting, Atlanta, GA. May 15. Annual Meeting registration & hous- December ing opens for 2006 Annual Meeting. Susan Snider February 18. Executive Committee meeting, Journal of the American Academy of Religion Associate Director of External Relations Cambridge, MA. May 15. Registration