Dear Colleagues in Practical Theology,
I hope that this letter finds you well and thriving. I want to let you know about several opportunities to explore and develop practical theology scheduled to take place during the American Academy of Religion meeting in San Francisco later this month. I also want to let you know about several exciting developments related to the APT biennial conference scheduled for April 13-15, 2012 at Princeton Theological Seminary.
1. Practical Theology at AAR in San Francisco (November 18-22, 2011)
a. The APT session at AAR:
Practical Theology Online: Issues in Pedagogy and Formation
Saturday, 11/19/2011 9:00:00 AM to 11:30:00 AM in Cyril Magnin
Ballroom III at the Parc 55
Jeffery Tribble, Columbia Theological Seminary, Presiding
Theme: Practical Theology Online: Issues in Pedagogy and Formation
Marilyn Naidoo, University of South Africa
Spiritual Formation through Distance Education in Developing Contexts
Melinda McGarrah Sharp and Mary Ann Morris, Phillips Theological Seminary
Virtual Empathy? Assessing Authentic Connections and Real Conflicts in Teaching and Learning Pastoral Care Online
Mary Hess, Luther Seminary
A New Culture of Learning: What are the Implications for Theological
Education?
Responding:
Israel Galindo, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
b. Practical Theology Group sessions at AAR
Practical Theology Group
A19-317
Saturday – 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Evelyn L. Parker, Southern Methodist University, Presiding
Theme: Practical Theology, Economics, Labor, and Class Relations
Joerg Rieger, Southern Methodist University
Why Engage Labor and Worker Justice Issues in Church and Theology?
Claire Wolfteich, Boston University
“Time Famine” and Women Worker-Mothers: A Practical Theological Analysis and Critique
Joe Blosser, University of Chicago
Opportunities after Babel: The Importance of Faith at Work in a Post-Great Recession World
Cyndi Jones, Episcopal Divinity School
Because No One has Hired Us: The Story of Employment Issues of People with Disabilities
Responding:
Pamela Couture, University of Toronto
Practical Theology Group
A20-225
Sunday – 1:00 pm-2:30 pm
Dale P. Andrews, Vanderbilt University, Presiding
Theme: Panel on The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Practical Theology, Edited by Bonnie Miller-McLemore
Panelists:
Serene Jones, Union Theological Seminary
Emilie M. Townes, Yale University
Tom Beaudoin, Fordham University
Responding:
Bonnie Miller-McLemore, Vanderbilt University
Business Meeting:
Mary McClintock Fulkerson, Duke University
Religion and the Social Sciences Section and Practical Theology Group
A21-309
Monday – 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Carol B. Duncan, Wilfrid Laurier University, Presiding
Theme: Ethnography and Theology
Annie Hardison-Moody, Emory University
At the Boundary of Research and Care: Toward a Feminist Practical Theological Research Agenda
Jan Holton, Yale University
How are You Blessed by God? Negotiating the Fluid Boundaries of Pastoral Theological Ethnography in Post-conflict Zones
Christian A. B. Scharen, Luther Seminary
Copresenting with Eileen Campbell-Reed
Eileen Campbell-Reed, Luther Seminary
Ethnography On Holy Ground: Practical Theology, Shared Silence, and Qualitative Interviewing
Eu Kit Lim, Iliff School of Theology and University of Denver
“Critics and Caretakers”: Critiquing and Complementing Russell McCutcheon in Qualitative Approaches to the Study of Religion
Responding:
John Swinton, University of Aberdeen
2. APT Biennial Conference
I am happy to announce several developments related to the 31st APT biennial conference to be held at Princeton Theological Seminary, April 13-15, 2012.
a. Conference theme: “Practical Theology and Sacred Texts”
b. Keynote speakers: Richard R. Osmer and Beverly Roberts Gaventa. Drs. Osmer and Gaventa will present and interact on the topic of “Paul the Apostle as Practical Theologian: Contexts of conflict.”
c. Call for papers: The Association of Practical Theology will hold its 31st biennial conference at Princeton Theological Seminary April 13-15, 2012. The APT executive committee invites proposals for papers or panels examining the APT 2012 Biennial Conference theme, “Practical Theology and Sacred Texts.” Proposals on any of the following themes are especially encouraged: (1) sacred texts as themselves examples of practical theology on the part of the authors and communities from which they emerged; (2) how practical theologians have used, do use, or should use sacred texts in their work; and (3) from the point of view of practical theology, what are sacred texts? Proposals should be up to and no more than 750 words. Proposals should be electronically submitted as double-spaced Word documents. Proposals should not include information that would identify the author. Please include a separate document that provides identifying information about the author (i.e. name, institution, etc.). Proposals will be selected by a double-blind peer review process. Please submit proposals to gordon.mikoski@ptsem.edu by January 10, 2012. The Association of Practical Theology values diversity in scholarship as an important factor contributing to academic excellence. Toward that end, if there are ways in which your work diversifies scholarship in practical theology of which you would like to make the executive committee aware, please include an additional statement of no more than 100 words describing the diversities informing your scholarship.
Please look for further updates and details about the biennial conference at Princeton Theological Seminary in the next few weeks!
3. Membership and website
Your membership dues make possible a dynamic and growing organization that supports groundbreaking scholarship in practical theology, offers current and archival information crucial to the field through our highly informative website, and encourages graduate students in practical theology. Please renew your APT membership online at www.practicaltheology.org. Your annual membership dues ($50 regular, $25 student) support the excellent and ever expanding work in the field of practical theology.
Warmly and on behalf of the APT executive committee,
Gordon S. Mikoski
President
Association of Practical Theology