AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL SOCIETY — MIDWEST

The One Hundred Seventy-Ninth Meeting April 28, 2017

Christian Theological Seminary

1000 W. 42nd Street Indianapolis, IN

Phone: 317-931-2303

***

Registration & Afternoon Refreshments, Room B-29, 2:45 p.m.

Afternoon Session, Room B-29, 3:15 p.m.

This Revolution Cannot Be Televised: African Americans in Pursuit of Liberation

Michael Miller
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Payne Theological Seminary

Response

Leah Gunning Francis
Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Christian Theological Seminary

Reception, Cafeteria, 5:00 p.m.
Dinner and Business Meeting, Cafeteria, 5:30 p.m.

The President’s Address, Room B-29, 7:00 p.m.

Wisdom and the Whirlwind

Marti Steussy
MacAllister-Petticrew Professor Emerita of Biblical Interpretation, Christian Theological Seminary

***

Executive Committee

Marti J. Steussy, President Jennifer Leigh Baldwin, Vice President Jacqueline M. Braeger, Member at-Large Paul Parker, Secretary/Treasurer

http://www.americantheologicalsociety.org/

TO ATTEND

Professors and other scholars in the field of religious studies are warmly invited to attend the ATS-Midwest semi-annual meetings, and if qualified to become members of the Society. As a guest, visitor or long-time member of the Society, please join your colleagues for a critical and cordial theological discussion.

The CTS Hospitality House (1040 West 42nd St.) provides over-night housing for out-of-town guests who do not want to return home after the evening session. For rates, terms and reservations, please contact the Logistics and Space Use Manager at events@cts.edu or 317-931-2333.

REGISTRATION

To register for an ATS-M semi-annual meeting, please call, write or email Paul Parker and state your intentions by the medium most convenient to you: office phone (630) 617-3559; paulp@elmhurst.edu; or Department of Religious Studies–Box 26, Elmhurst College, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126.

Because the host institutions of the Society’s semi-annual meetings provide significant support (CTS this spring), there is no registration fee. There is, however, a fee of $25 for dinner and refreshments.

THIS SESSION

This spring’s papers demonstrate both the contemporary importance and ancient wisdom of theology. Dr. Michael Miller argues that the theological paradigm of the Exodus fuels white supremacy, leads to tragic misunderstandings of God’s actions, and strengthens oppressive structures. He calls Christians to reject the imperial ethos/capitalist system which will then open space for God to heal the intergenerational trauma of America’s horrific history. Dr. Leah Gunning Francis will start the Society’s discussion of Michael’s paper with a prepared response out of the richness of her scholarship, Womanist perspective, corporate experience, and commitment to the church. After a break for dinner and our semiannual business meeting, we will reconvene for the annual President’s Address. Dr. Marti Steussy will offer a constructive process theological reflection, in dialogue with the book of Job, on the possibility of anchoring personal God-imagery (“Wisdom”) in a less personal “creativity/ground of being” (whirlwind) understanding of God. After her paper, the Society as a body is the designated respondent for discussion.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The American Theological Society gathers as an intentionally collegial community of scholars who are engaged in the critical and creative examination of the depth and breadth of religion as it influences and is influenced by culture.

DESCRIPTION

The American Theological Society (Midwest) has convened semi-annually since the early 1920’s to present and receive scholarly papers on crucial issues of religion and culture. The Society meets twice a year–on the last Friday of April and the last Friday of October–in greater Chicago at colleges, seminaries and universities. The Society has often reached beyond its local members to invite international scholars and others from across the United States to present papers and to participate in its semi-annual meetings. At the same time, the Society calls attention to the work of local scholars whose theological thinking about religious phenomena has shaped their lives and their scholarship. The Society is a community of scholars who speak and listen to one another.

DUES

Annual membership dues are $20 for members and $10 for associate members to be paid to the Treasurer, Paul Parker, each year at the fall meeting—this meeting. And if you have not paid dues for the previous year, you may attend to the oversight at any meeting or at any time through the U.S. Postal Service. Your attention to this is appreciated.

LOCATION, DIRECTIONS, AND PARKING

Maps and parking instructions are available at CTS website: http://www.cts.edu