Society for the Scientific Study of Religion

Business Meeting Minutes

1988

October 29, 1988      

AGENDA
October 29, 1988


  1. Call to order, 12: 05pm (McGuire)
  2. Approval of minutes from last year's meeting (Poloma)
  3. Introductions (McGuire)
  4. Executive Secretary's report (Davidson)
  5. Program Chair's report (Adriance)
  6. Next year's Program Chair (Greil)
  7. Editor's report (Capps, Mauss)
  8. Treasurer's report (Mauss)
  9. Monograph series (Gaede)
  10. Publicity (Roozen)
  11. New Business
  12. Awards
    - Fellows (McGuire)
    - Research Awards (Capps)
    - Student Paper (Adriance)
    - Distinguished book (Bromley)
  13. Adjourn, 12:55pm

1989 ANNUAL MEETING
Marriott Hotel
SALT LAKE CITY
October 27-29, 1989

1988 BUSINESS MEETING - MINUTES


The meeting was called to order by President Meredith McGuire at 12:05 p.m. on Saturday, October 29.

The minutes of the October 31, 1987 business meeting were approved with one correction. The sentence on membership should read: "Membership continues to climb, from 1277 in 1982 to 1512. Library subscriptions remain constant at 1232, for a total JSSR circulation rate of 2744."

President McGuire thanked outgoing officers: Donald Capps, JSSR editor; Bob Wuthnow, book review editor; Council members Ruth Wallace and Roland Robertson; David Roozen, Publicity Chair for eight years; and Armand Mauss, who is stepping down as Treasurer to become editor of the JSSR. She welcomed new officers: Council members Ellen Umansky and Tom Robbins; Peter Benson (filling the seat vacated by the resignation of Mary Jo Meadow); Treasurer Richard Schoenherr; Hans Baer, JSSR Book Review Editor; and Stuart Wright, Publicity Chair.

Executive Secretary's Report:

Jim Davidson reported membership to be at 1616 (104 more than last year), and commended Hart Nelsen for his aggressive recruitment strategies. Library subscriptions to the JSSR has remained stable with 1200+ receiving the Journal. Registration for this year's annual meeting set a new record with 415 persons registered at the time of the business meeting (up from an average of 340-350 registrants).

The 1989 meeting will be held October 27-29 in Salt Lake City. The 1990 meeting is scheduled for Virginia Beach and the 1991 meeting for Pittsburgh. The 1989 meeting will include a casual buffet or some collective food function. Davidson reported that changes in the meeting times for Council will make it possible to have a welcoming "kick off" session on Friday morning before the regular sessions begin.

SSSR participation in the Gallup Survey was judged to be a success, and the Society will continue its participation. Members may write to Jim Davidson at Purdue for a copy of the instrument used in the September, 1988 survey.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) will be meeting in New Orleans in 1990 and Hart Nelsen will once again lobby for at least one session. Anyone wishing to participate must contact Nelsen with his/her ideas before mid-January, 1989.

Davidson expressed appreciation to Sheed and Ward and Orbis Publishers for their contributions to the reception following this afternoon's Plenary Session.

Lastly, Davidson announced the deaths of Ted Abel and Barbara Hargrove

Program Chair's Report.

Madeleine Adriance expressed her appreciation to President McGuire for asking her to be Chair and thanked the many who helped her put together this year's program.

Next Year's Program Chair.

Larry Greil encouraged people to come to Salt Lake City and to begin organizing sessions for next year's meeting. The theme is "Religion, Diversity and Change."

Editor's Report:

Donald Capps expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to serve as JSSR editor for six years. New editor Armand Mauss noted that he would leave written reports on the Journal's acceptance rate and table of contents for the March issue for interested members to pick up on their way out.

Treasurer's Report:

Finances are in very good shape. Details may be found in the written report prepared by Mauss and available at the door of the meeting.

Monograph Series:

Members are invited to submit monographs to Stan Gaede for the series.

Publicity:

Davidson noted the eight years of service by outgoing Publicity Chair David Roozen and introduced Stuart Wright as the new Chair.

New Business:

There was concern about the rushed nature of the meeting. Jim Spickard asked about the discontinuation of the Abstract Book. Inquiry about the Abstract Book produced a split vote from the members present on the need for one.

Awards:

Twenty two Fellows were recognized. Mark Chaves (Harvard University) was the unanimous choice as the winner of the Student Paper competition. Capps reported the receipt of 20 applications for the Research Awards, seven of which were funded. Recipients were Clyde Wilcox ($900), Donald Kraybill ($1500),David Bromley ($1000), Jerome Tobacyk ($1500), David Hackett ($1500), James Guth ($900), and Robert Segal ($700). David Bromley reported that of the 14 books for the Distinguished Book Award the winner was James Davison Hunter's Evangelicals and the Coming Generation (University of Chicago Press).

Meeting was adjourned at 12:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Margaret M. Poloma
SSSR Secretary