The Religious Research Association
President's Report
1981
The President's Letter
to
Members of the Religious Research Association
1980 brought a slight increase in the membership of R.R.A. and a shift in the character of our membership profile. Though the number of memberships from colleges, universities, and seminaries remained constant, their percentage of the overall membership declined because of an increase in the memberships of professional researchers and consultants, denominational staffs, and pastors. The increase In the latter groups is a result of a concerted effort over the last three years by the membership committee. These results are gratifying since R.R.A. was founded by denominational researchers in order to promote dialogue among academic researchers, church consultants, denominational planners and researchers, and interested pastors.
News and Information of R.R.A.
Hart M. Nelsen of Catholic University was selected in 1980 as Editor of the Review of Religious Research to succeed James Davidson of Purdue University. Jim did an outstanding job with the Review and the Association is deeply grateful for his dedication and work. Hart brings great creativity and energy to the job. Under his leadership the future of the Review, as an instrument of dialogue and knowledge sharing among researchers and practitioners In the academy and the church, appears bright. Anne Kusener Nelsen will serve as Managing Editor and Kirk Hadaway as Book Review Editor.
Everett Perry of New York City was elected Treasurer of the Association, to succeed Ed Rauff. Everett, as a denominational researcher, has been a member of the Association for many years and has provided leadership to many aspects of the Association.
Barbara Hargrove was elected as Chairperson of the Nominating Committee for 1981. Barbara urges the membership to suggest names to the Nominating Committee for the elections of 1981. Names should be submitted by the summer of 1981. Her address is Iliff School of Theology, 2201 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO 80210.
David Roozen has been appointed Publicity Chairperson for 1981. This post is shared jointly with S.S.S.R. and is designed to inform the media of journal articles and the events at the annual meeting that appear newsworthy. The office will maintain an up-to-date press contact list and furnish information to religion editors and link these editors to authors of papers and participants on the annual meeting program. To do his part effectively David needs the help of Association members. He requests that you send him names and addresses of press people who either contact you or who might be interested in receiving information about the Association, its programs and papers. David's address is the Hartford Seminary Foundation, 77 Sherman Street, Hartford, CT 06105. This office was begun on an experimental basis in 1980 as a service to the membership and will continue at least through 1981.
The Board of Directors of R.R.A. will hold its spring meeting on April 20th. If there are items or issues that members want to refer to the Board, please send them to me.
1981 Annual Meetings and Convention
The joint meeting with the S.S.S.R. is scheduled for October 29, 1981 to November 1, 1981 in Baltimore, Maryland. The tentative theme for the R.R.A. program is "Voluntaryism and the Church: Implications for Faith and Organizing." Some of the proposed sessions include: religious presence as mediation; the church and Its veto minorities; role of leadership in the voluntary church; place of religion and religious institutions in contemporary voluntary literature and its theory.
Ross Scherer is the 1981 program Chairperson. He requests that individuals desiring to be a part of the program, either presenting a paper, leading a workshop or seminar within an area of the theme please contact him soon. His address is Department of Sociology, Loyola University, 6525 North Sheridon, Chicago, IL 60626.
The 1981 H. Paul Douglass lecturer will be Mayer N. Zald, the Center for Research on Social Organizations, University of Michigan. His address will be in the area of voluntary theory and the church. The H. Paul Douglass lecture has a distinguished history and has been a distinctive contribution to the annual S.S.S.R./R.R.A. annual convention. The R.R.A. Board has voted to continue the lecture and to have an annual financial appeal in order to support it.
The 1982 annual meeting will be held in Providence, Rhode Island. The Association for the Sociology of Religion will meet jointly with R.R.A. and S.S.S.R. that year.
During this year it is my desire to serve the Association and its members in ways that will strengthen the Association. I would appreciate hearing of your concerns and suggestions. I hope 1981 will be an enjoyable and productive year for you and a good year for the Association.
Douglass Lewis
Hartford Seminary Foundation
77 Sherman Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(203) 232-2411