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PROGRAM UNITS

AMERICAN SCHOOLS OF ORIENTAL RESEARCH  (ASOR)
Description of the goals and rationale

The program unit is affiliated with the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR), whose mission is to initiate, encourage and support research into, and public understanding of, the peoples and cultures of the Near East and Eastern Mediterranean from the earliest times. As such, the unit is concerned with:

  • Fostering original research, archaeological excavations, salvage work and the preservation of cultural heritage collections
  • Encouraging scholarship in basic languages, cultural histories and traditions of the ANE and Eastern Mediterranean
  • Offering opportunities for all levels of scholarship, especially students, to share their research

Chair
Monique Vincent, Walla Walla University, monique.vincent@wallawalla.edu.


ARTS AND RELIGION
Description of the goals and rationale
The Arts and Religion section provides a space for interdisciplinary exploration of religion through the arts (in broad contexts). We invite multiple perspectives, embodied passionate scholarship, and rich discussion of the vital role arts have played and continue to play in attempts to create meaning of the human condition, and to address the enduring questions posed by the world’s religions and spiritual traditions.

Co-Chairs
Marion Dumont mariondumont@gmail.com (first term 2016-2019)                                Karen Villanueva knvillanueva@buddhistministry.org (first term 2016-2019)


ASIAN AND COMPARATIVE STUDIES 
Description of the goals and rationale
To promote scholarship in non-Western areas of religion and theology and to assess various comparative methods of investigation.

Chair 
Nick Gier, University of Idaho, ngier@uidaho.edu


Gender, Religion, Sexuality, and Power (GRSP)
Description of the Goals and Rationale
The GRSP unit is interested in exploring all aspects of gender, religion, sexuality, and power.  We are open to the research and scholarship that explores these complex intersections.  We are particularly looking for scholarship that explore issues of the public performance of gender or sexuality in religious terms such as in speculative fiction, for example the meditations on the soul of the transgendered android robot at heart of David Weber’s bestselling Safehold series, or in media discourse as a whole, for example the construction of American religious normativity in media coverage of the “gay marriage” issue. Other areas which might be explored are those of the technological image of the human or the thinning of discourse.  Scholarship exploring specific religious perspectives of sexuality, such as Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, etc., are welcome. An apt topic area in the current year may be the oppositional use of sexuality as a Democratic or a Republican wedge electoral tool. Interested scholars may propose a full panel in any related area.

Chair 
Bruce Hiebert, Independent Scholar, brucehiebert@shaw.ca (first term, 2018-2021)
Student Coordinator (Co-Chair)
Jennifer Newman, Independent Scholar, Jennifer.Elizabeth.Newman@gmail.com (first term, 2018-2021)


HEBREW BIBLE 
Description of the Goals and Rationale
Since the Biblical Hebrew texts are part of the larger category of ‘biblical texts’, the rationale for the Hebrew Bible session falls naturally within the mandate of the SBL, the central purpose of which is “…advancing the academic study of biblical texts and their contexts as well as of the traditions and contexts of biblical interpretation.”

The primary goal of the Hebrew Bible session is to foster study and interaction in the field, more specifically:

      • To promote academic dialogue between scholars in the Pacific Northwest Region.
      • To showcase and promote research in the Hebrew Bible.
      • To advance the quality of research and writing in the area of Hebrew Bible by mentoring and recommending work for publication.
      • To provide mentoring and opportunities for graduate students to present their work to the Hebrew Bible session, thus incorporating new scholars into the greater goals of the SBL.

Chair
Antonios Finitsis, Pacific Lutheran University, finitsak@plu.edu (second term: 2017-2019)


HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY AND NORTH AMERICAN RELIGIONS
Description of the goals and rationale
This program unit invites both historians of Christianity and scholars studying North American religions to present their research and engage in collegial discussion of their work. Review panels of selected new works in these fields are also included in the sessions. The section seeks to develop an ongoing dialog and network among participants.

Co-Chairs
Chris Roberts, Lewis and Clark, robertsc@lclark.edu
Laura Jurgens, University of Calgary, lkjurgen@ucalgary.ca


NEW TESTAMENT AND THE WORLD OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY
Description of the goals and rationale

This program unit provides an opportunity to discuss topics in New Testament and related interdisciplinary studies, such as Hebrew Bible and Early Christianity, as well as topics relating to Hellenistic Religions and related literature. The session strives to be inclusive of a wide range of topics of interest to the study of early Christian writings and the world in which they developed.

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Co-Chairs                                                                                                                                               Ron Clark, George Fox Evangelical Seminary, rclark@georgefox.edu (third term 2015-2018)                                                                                                                                                  Anne Moore, University of Calgary, amoore@ucalgary.ca (second term 2016-2019) 


RELIGION AND SOCIETY
Description of the goals and rationale
The Religion and Society section creates a space for the interdisciplinary analysis of religion, ethics, social science, and current events in the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Our goal is to make space for academic presentations and for significant dialogue about them.

Co-Chairs
Jenna Ferrey, Independent Scholar, jennaferrey@gmail.com (first term 2018-2021)
Joseph Kim Paxton, Claremont School of Theology, joseph.paxton@cst.edu (first term 2016-2019)


MORMON STUDIES
Description of the goals and rationale
This special topic of Mormon Studies promotes the exploration of a wide range of topics relating to Mormonism. This section seeks to provide scholarly inquiry into Mormon history, culture, belief and practice, theology, scripture, and the role of Mormonism in contemporary politics. This section encourages the study of Mormonism from multiple disciplines and methodologies. This section will better equip those in the academy to teach on the subject of Mormonism and actively promotes opportunities for interfaith dialogue.

Co-Chairs
Thomas Murphy, Edmonds Community College, tmurphy@email.edcc.edu


STUDY OF ISLAM
Description of the goals and rationale
The Study of Islam Program Unit fosters intellectual exchange and collaboration among regional scholars working in any area of Islamic Studies. In addition to research panels, we host an annual roundtable devoted to a topic of current pedagogical concern, and we have launched an annual film series. We welcome papers from academics at any career stage.

Chair
Paul Powers, Lewis & Clark College, ppowers@lclark.edu


THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
Description of the goals and rationale
The Theology and Philosophy of Religion Section exists to provide a forum for scholars to critically examine politics, scriptures, ethics, history, art, literature and/or culture from explicitly philosophical and theological perspectives. We welcome diverse perspectives, and encourage the collegiality of frank and open dialogue between and among disciplinary areas.

Co-Chairs
Norman Metzler, Prof. Emeritus, Concordia University, npjmetzler@gmail.com (first term 2014-2017)                                                                                                                                       Sarah Gallant, Everett Community College, smgallant@hotmail.com  (first term 2014-2017)


WOMEN AND RELIGION
Description of the goals and rationale
This section explores the lives and scholarship of women within the world religions, from antiquity to the modern era. It is a space to explore literary, material, and ritual cultures in relation to women’s presence and participation in religion; and to develop/utilize methods of interpretation that center the lived experiences of women. Presenters are invited to reflect on women’s roles in places of worship throughout history; the significance of women’s bodies in sacred text, sacred spaces, and sacred rites; and the centering of women’s scholarship in religion.

Co-Chairs 
Kristen Daley-Mosier, Garrett Evangelical Seminary, (kristen.daley-mosier@garrett.edu)
Carly Jane Lee, Independent Scholar, (carlyjanelee@gmail.com)