2021
Society of Christian Ethics (SCE) – 2022 Conference Scholarship
The Society of Christian Ethics (SCE) International Scholarly Relations Committee wishes to announce that two $500 scholarships will be available to support conference-related expenses for international scholars who wish to attend the 2022 Annual Meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 6 – Sunday, January 9 in Costa Mesa, CA. Please note at this time we are planning on a fully, in-person Annual Meeting.
Priority will be given to:
- Applications from the global South
- Those presenting at the meeting
Applications will be due by Monday, June 21, 2021, with notifications on or about Friday, July 9, 2021.
In addition to filling out the Subsidy Application, these are the expectations we will be working with:
Eligibility Requirements:
- International residence
- Financial need
- Current status as PhD student or faculty member in Christian ethics or related field
Applicants should provide:
- Current curriculum vitae
- 300-word statement of need, description of other forms of assistance being received, and expectations of how attendance at the conference will benefit vocation.
Please contact the SCE office at sce@scethics.org if you have any questions.
2021
Update: Virtual Conference, July 21-23
| Dear Colleagues, At our March 24 General Meeting, it was announced that the AASR will host a virtual conference this summer from July 21-23, 2021. This conference will include the AASR Women’s Caucus launch, a keynote address from the AASR President, and opportunities for Graduate Students and Early Career Scholars. Please find the Call for Papers for Graduate Students and Early Career Scholars linked here. If you are not a graduate student or early career scholar, there are still plenty of opportunities: – please pass the cfp onto eligible colleagues – please consider volunteering as a mentor (email me at nathanaelhomewood@depauw.edu if interested) – attend the sessions during the conference and provide constructive feedback Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank those who have been diligent in paying their dues and remind everyone that doing so crucially contributes to the vitality of our Association. Sincerely, Nathanael J. Homewood AASR General Secretary |
2021
Remembering Rev. Dr. Melissa D. Browning
Dear AASR friends,
With deep pain, we share the devastating news that long-standing AASR member Rev. Dr. Melissa D. Browning passed away on April 8th, 2021, after living courageously and to the fullest while fighting cancer for the past several years. She leaves behind her husband, Wes Browning, and their daughter, Olivia.
Much beloved by her family, friends, community members, students, and colleagues near and far, she played a substantial role in our Association for many years, serving with dedication and integrity. This included serving on the Executive Committee as Assistant Secretary General and Webmaster (2010–2015), for which her husband Wes generously provided technical expertise and web support and continued to do for several years following the conclusion of Melissa’s tenure. As Asst. Secretary General, Melissa served meritoriously and in many instances did the “heavy lifting,” always with grace, cheerfulness, and selflessness.
Melissa was Interim Director of Contextual Education and International Partnerships at Columbia Theological Seminary and is remembered as an outstanding feminist theologian, ethicist, and activist, with long-standing connections in East Africa and the rest of the world. Melissa’s teaching, community activism, and scholarship, and especially her bold book Risky Marriage: HIV and Intimate Relationships in Tanzania (Lexington 2013), remain a testament to her intelligence and humanity. AASR members remember her as an incredibly pleasant and personable colleague who was deeply loved and admired by many, and a consistently hardworking colleague who did much to build and strengthen the Association.
You can read more about Melissa’s life and work here, while her personal blog may be found here https://posthope.org/mbrowning.
We remember her family in these moments as they grapple with this painful loss. May the richness of the joy and hope that Melissa offered the world so graciously be an inspiration; and may we as an Association continue to honor her legacy of service, energy, dedication, and love for Africa.
Rest in power, Melissa!
Update: Please read Rev. Dr. Melissa D. Browning’s full obituary here. Details on donations and tributes among others can also be found here https://www.melissabrowning.com/.
2021
Call for Papers: Graduate Students and Early Career Scholars in AASR
The AASR is committed to mentoring graduate students and early career scholars. To this end, we invite graduate students and early career scholars writing about religions of Africa to apply for the mentorship programme. Early career is defined as those who have earned a Ph.D. in the past five years and those who are yet to secure a continuous teaching or research position. To indicate your interest, please submit a.) a 250-word abstract outlining a project you are working on or intend to work on b.) a 250-word bio that includes what you would hope to gain through mentorship, and c.) an abridged CV (two-page maximum).
Please, send these documents to the secretary-general of the AASR, Dr. Nathanael Homewood, at nathanaelhomewood@depauw.edu or secretary@a-asr.org. The deadline is 1 May 2021 by 5:00 PM WAT. Upon review, submissions will receive a response by 15 May 2021.
Those selected will present a 5-7 minute paper on their current project or project proposal at the July 21-23, 2021 AASR Virtual Conference. This project can be at any stage and most certainly does not need to be completed. The goal is to create a space where even nascent ideas can be shared and receive constructive and encouraging input and feedback from members of the association. The experience will demystify the professional presentation and promote mentorship in a context where every question is valued. You will be required to send a draft of your presentation by the beginning of July so potential mentors can have access to it before the virtual conference.
After the conference, each presenter will be paired with a senior scholar who will provide mentorship and advice on the project and career advancement and opportunities more broadly. This mentorship will include a one-on-one session after the presentation, with the possibility of an ongoing relationship.
2021
AASR Update: Upcoming Events
Dear Colleagues,
I want to draw your attention to several upcoming events that we hope you will consider participating in.
Save the Date: On March 24 at 4 pm GMT we will host a virtual AASR General Meeting. A Zoom link and agenda will be provided closer to the date, but we kindly ask that you plan to join us as the new-ish executive shares updates and plans for the next few years.
AAR Call for Papers: You can find the AASR cfp for the 2021 AAR Annual Meeting here. The submission deadline is March 1, 2021, at 5 pm EST. We encourage members to submit proposals for these and the many other panels that create space for conversation about religion(s) in Africa.
Leeds University Short Term Virtual Fellowships: For association members based at African institutions, Leeds University is offering short-term virtual research fellowships to consider “African Knowledges for Global Challenges.” Those interested can find more information here.
Finally, this is a friendly reminder for all members to make sure to renew your membership for 2021. The improved Association website makes it easy to do so. Further, the executive has decided that 2021 fees are “pay what you are able”, ensuring, in light of the global pandemic, that membership is accessible to everyone.
Sincerely,
Nathanael J. Homewood
AASR General Secretary
