Stephen Schmidt called the meeting to order, approximately 70 were in attendance. He expressed thanks to Mary Boys for organizing the meeting and appreciation for the support he received during his absence from last year's meeting when he was President. Thanks were also given to various persons and groups doing work for the organization: Linda Vogel for coordination of the revitalization study group, the Executive Committee for added time in reviewing the study, Avis Clendendon for work on the Research Interest groups, Judith Johnson-Siebold for the Task Force and Women's Breakfast work, and Maureen O'Brien on the Ph.D. Award. Schmidt then turned the meeting over to Mary Boys.
1. Adoption of Agenda
Boys reviewed the proposed agenda for the meeting and it was adopted by vote of the Membership (copy attached).
Boys expressed thankfulness for Schmidt's recovery and thanked him for his leadership as APRRE President.
2. Recommendations Regarding Policy and Procedures
Boys reviewed the summary report entitled Decisions, Considerations and Recommendations from the Executive Committee (copy attached). She stated an intention
to distribute a copy of the Association's By-Laws to the membership. The Decisions document included two recommendations for revising the By-Laws (Decisions, p. 3). A motion to change the By-Laws per the recommendation under the heading "Particularism and Pluralism" was made and seconded from the floor. The motion passed by voice vote without dissent.
In discussing the second recommended By-Law change under the heading "Management," Boys explained the change was not motivated a desire to centralize power but to simplify communications for the Nominating Committee. Schmidt explained that the present arrangement involves many difficult to arrange teleconferences with persons across the country. After further discussion from the floor, the recommendation was amended to indicate that the President may appoint up to two persons to the Nominating Committee to strengthen the diversity of the Nominating Committee. A motion to change the By-Laws per the amended recommendation under the heading "Management" was made and seconded from the floor. The motion passed by voice vote without dissent. The amended recommendation reads:
Schmidt distributed a written report of the Nominating Committee (copy attached). Nominees for various positions were: Mary Boys for President; Chuck Foster for President Elect; Fayette Breaux Veverka for Vice President; Greer Anne Wenh-In Ng, Warren Benson, and Christelle Estrada for Members to the Board. Given the previous changes to the By-Laws, Jennifer Jue and James Wilhoit were announced as appointees to the Nominating Committee. No nominations were received from the floor. The nominations were accepted by voice vote without dissent.
Schmidt presented Chuck Melchert as the nominee from the Executive Committee for the position of Executive Secretary. A motion to accept Melchert as Executive Secretary was made, seconded and passed by voice vote without dissent. Applause was given Melchert.
4. Discussion of APRRE's Affiliation with Other Organizations
Boys asked the membership to form small groups of four to five persons, including a mix of ages, to discuss the question "Should APRRE meet in conjunction (before, during, after) with other organizations and if so which ones and why?" Each group submitted written reports of their discussion to the Secretary (transcription attached). The following are comments made from the floor following small group discussion.
Suggest that APRRE meet before or after AAR however overlapping with AAR could mean a five night meeting which would be a problem. Another problem is that many APRRE members are also members of groups that already meet in conjunction with AAR.
Meet with REA simultaneously one year and the next with other religious educator groups seeking to be interreligious
Hanan Alexander indicated that there is a Jewish educational research network that might meet with APRRE like a denominational caucus.
Other groups mentioned included SSSR, Society of Christian Ethics
REA values connections with practitioners who are reading books by APRRE members.
It is important to keep APRRE independent because it is a small enough organization to know each other.
An optional joint membership fee for APRRE and REA should be offered--one that is less than the sum of the two separately.
An observation was made that preferences to connect with either AAR or REA seem to be connected with age: older members express loyalty to REA, middle age groups express interest in both REA and AAR, and younger members mainly interested in AAR.
Suggested explanations included:
Research interests addressed at AAR
AAR is more accepting of practical theology now
AAR has a teaching section that is receiving high levels of interest
Perception that APRRE is "talking to itself"
AAR is the place for job market and access to publishers
AAR could help with the use of computer technology utilization.
APRRE could help AAR see religious education as an important area
in the study of religion.
Every fourth year APRRE could facilitate a congress of religious
education groups.
Whoever APRRE meets with we should be concerned about maintaining
our purpose as an organization and values, such as cultural diversity.
An announcement was made that additional comments could be forwarded to Melchert. This raised issue of membership needing to receive an updated directory (possibility of an on-line version suggested).
5. Report from Student Caucus
Ted Brelford reported that seven students attended the Caucus meeting. Students expressed appreciation for the increased services and changes that allow them greater involvement in APRRE operations. Brelford will serve as coordinator of the Caucus for next year and therefore also serve on the Executive Committee.
6. Report from Executive Secretary (Padraic O'Hare)
O'Hare requested that members send Scholarly and Professional Updates to Melchert without waiting for forms to do so. This will assist in developing a directory supplement.
O'Hare gave general thanks to all with whom he worked while Executive Secretary. Special thanks were given to:
O'Hare reported that since 1992 membership has increased from 248 to 331 and annual meeting attendance has increased from 126 to 154.
Copies of the financial report were distributed and accepted without discussion (copies attached).
7. Memorials and Retirements
Gentry Shelton, retired for a number of years from Brite Divinity School died in September of 1994.
Schmidt and Boys thanked Padraic O'Hare for his service to APRRE over the last three years as Executive Secretary. That thanks was acknowledged by a standing ovation from the assembled members.
Allen Moore retired as Dean of the School of Theology at Claremont after 30 years of service. While Dean he brought increased diversity to Claremont. In his professional career he has had the courage to face hard challenges, sponsored many students, and been a leader in APRRE.
Sherry Blumberg has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is beginning chemotherapy.
Campbell Wyckoff has had a slight stroke and is recovering.
Joan Penzenstadler has had a tumor develop behind her eye.
8. Report on 1995 Program
Charles Foster reported that he had received lots of suggestions stemming out of the discussions held during last year's business meeting. The focus of the meeting will be religious education and faith in an age of disbelief. Information about the meeting can be found in the newsletter. The dates are November 3-5, 1995 at the same hotel as this year.
9. Other Business Items
No further business was introduced and the meeting was adjourned.
GROUP A
REA- Connection with them due to the Religious Education journal is important
Could still do REA in alternative years
AAR/SBL- needed for job interviews, people may be hired in Christian education through AAR and our people are not there
AAR only forum for minority scholars as a group
REA attendance- too many consecutive days
-need for more collaboration but joint sessions change character of group
But how can we diversify? e.g. conjoint meetings with NAPCE- but it is moire focused on experts presenting
REA would like more APRRE participation
AAR/SBL- large size; would we get swallowed up?
GROUP B
Meeting with REA does not work
-REA meeting times eliminate faculty
Need to survey the membership
Faculty cannot be absent for such a long time
What about alternating tandem meetings, rotating between REA, SSSR, AAR/SBL?
Logistics of working before/after AAR- hotel space, length of time
Hiring institutions go to AAR
Some indifference about this issue--willing to go along
What about spring meeting--no response
Can we get institutions who are looking to send reps to talk to people about what they want?
AAR really moves around
Group identity important--don't want to get lost
-got better hotel rates
Denominational meetings that focus on church education
Could we explore a religious education umbrella like AAR/SBL--meet in tandem with Jewish education
Would like to continue encouraging younger people to be here
As long economically viable, continue to meet on our own to cultivate our identity and to develop interreligious relationships
Problem of large group- dominated by Anglo-European types
GROUP C
We are all in favor of relating in some fashion to another group(s)
REA, AAR/SBL, SSSR--explore the varieties of possibilities of groups
We don't want to lose the atmosphere that we have here--a place where we can be known and get to know other colleagues
GROUP D
APRRE remains an independent organization
We believe APRRE and REA should continue to do the journal together, therefore we need a revised joint fee as an option, i.e. APRRE membership as an option and an APRRE/REA option. In addition, we'd encourage simultaneous APRRE track in the midst of REA conference
We'd also consider meeting on the other years prior to AAR/SBL. We realize that Tuesday through Thursday may be difficult.
GROUP E
Yes- expense would be reduced
Problem with AAR is that no time for us to meet since they meet almost back to back with Thanksgiving
Problem with AAR is its largeness and it would be difficult to maintain our identity; with so many at AAR it would be hard for us to network
What about other groups?
GROUP F
A criteria should be the diversity of the other organization
Agreed that to affiliate would be a good thing
Could affiliate with a different organization different years? REA, SSSR, AAR/SBL
Other Criteria:
Important to keep our identity--therefore meeting before/after with some overlap better than meeting exactly the same time
Continuity between our concerns and agenda and that of the other organization's
Concerned about ability to set agenda of our own meetings
Junior faculty want more affiliation with other organizations in order to have more exposure for employment and scholarship
GROUP G
Judy Fischer might have stayed for REA if she had known it was in the same city just after APRRE
We could have some overlapping time with REA. If we met simultaneously we could have some joint sessions.
We might meet with REA every other year and SBL/AAR every other year. Religious Education may be about the only discipline not related to SBL/AAR.
Bob Conrad has no vested interest in who we meet with
A problem of getting facilities if we meet with AAR/SBL but that wouldn't be an issue if we met ahead of it.
Don Browning says he doesn't think many of our members actually link with other groups when we do meet with them.
The group consensus was to explore linking with REA one year and AAR/SBL the next.
We need information on trip cost--would be easier for us to get hotel rooms if we met separately?
If we link with AAR/SBL we could not meet concurrently. We could meet concurrently with REA and have some joint plenaries if we had the same theme.
GROUP H
AAR- hard core academics and practitioners
Don't want religious education to get side-lined
AAR devoid of our kind of presence and focus--only a few small groups focus on our stuff
But it is getting harder to pay for two plane tickets and hotels, etc.
AAR critiqued for being non-contextually oriented--religious studies oriented
Can we connect with another organization
Consider SSSR and Society for Christian Ethics
After much discussion, we would strongly like to meet with the AAR. We should meet before to get rooms etc. Start Thursday evening; go to Friday and end Saturday at noon. AAR gets cranked up on Saturday afternoon.
None of us have ever been to REA and are not as concerned with that relationship. If we are going to be concerned with keeping that relationship, lets do it just every other year or every four years.
What is the relationship between APRRE and REA? We don't understand this and need information.
GROUP I
REA- They are a major linkage (journal, values, etc) but may not be at same level of interest
AAR/SBL- May be overwhelming, but they do have some connecting points
SSSR- Where are they?
Alternate between REA and AAR for both scholarly and political reasons
Not as a fully recognized organization of AAR, not meet concurrently
GROUP J
APRRE/REA too long time commitment to meet with other people--stay on only when giving paper
Parallel sessions are a disadvantage--competition for hotel and meeting rooms
Chicago is very accessible
Every five years to California
Four in group voted to stay in tandem with REA and separately
One voted to join AAR trying to a meeting perhaps every other year
GROUP K
AAR is breadth of interests, job bank, networking with broader arena. (AAR is plural, APRRE is particular) They need our insights. We need to stop talking to ourselves. (Prefer to meet one or two days before AAR)
Connection to AAR would increase the perception that we are professionals with professional standards. many are now serving on faculties where they as religious educators are alone amidst other disciplines (prefer to alternate between REA and AAR)
GROUP L
Interviewing for new jobs (doctoral students)
Networking
Same time (economics)
Already connected with AAR
If we started early Friday, concentrating on our work through Saturday, then people who wished could shift to AAR
Discounted books/larger exhibits/publisher recruiting manuscripts
Please consider alternate with AAR and REA
Separate track through REA
GROUP M
Alternate each year with organizations that differ rather than tie-in to one association, such as: ASCD, Educational Associations, KDP, ARIL, ACURA, CCPRAHAE, AAR, REA, APT, NCRPE
Connect theme with associating organizations. For instance, plan themes and see if other organizations are using same themes and coordinate to draw larger groups.
APRRE leadership meet with own students to see their feelings
Students need place that is "safe" to discuss and present papers
Draw from a more diverse group of scholars for plenary speakers
GROUP N
I. Meeting with AAR/SBL:
Disadvantages: Meeting before or after creates a long span of time; Meeting parallel creates program conflicts and sometimes strips participation in APRRE
Advantages: Opening possibility for more Jewish educators to participate in APRRE
V. Creating a Major Cooperative Meeting Every 4 Years (Meeting 2000):
Include: APRRE, REA, Liberal Religious Educators, NAPCE,
Jewish religious ed. groups (C.A.G.E., etc.), Jewish
Education Research Network, Orthodox Christian and
Orthodox Jewish groups, etc.
GROUP O
What are the other professional associations that people already belong to?
Increase attendance by meeting with other societies
Publishers have problems picking and choosing which conventions
Wide array of publishers display at AAR/SBL, up to 50% discount on books
Publishers soliciting manuscripts at AAR/SBL
Placement services available at AAR/SBL
The scholars in Bible, Theology, ethics, etc that we use in our teaching are present at AAR/SBL and we could have greater interface
AAR now has Teaching and Academic Study of Religion section that a few APRRE members are presenting papers for.
Week of professional meetings would still be too much for most people to take from their teaching schedules
The hostility of AAR to The practical field but that is changing
Institutional weakness of REA to facilitate interreligious participation
Historically REA journal has nurtured young scholars in Religious education. Value this contact for this purpose
Should APRRE stay connected to REA to assist it in getting better institutionally?
Importance of APRRE for helping us get to know one another's Research, supportive nature of APRRE in facilitating scholarship, the attention APRRE gives to issues of Religious education
Strong affirmation of APRRE continuing as an independent organization