Fall 2010

Christian Scholars Group
Business Meeting, November 14, 2010
Chicago Theological Union

Present: Mary Boys, Phil Cunningham, Alice Eckardt, Eugene Fisher, Katharina Von Kellenbach, Bjőrn Krondorfer, Marty Michelson (guest), Esther Menn (scribe), John Pawlikowski, Peter Pettit, Elena Procario-Foley, Jean-Pierre Ruiz, Franklin Sherman, Karla Suomala

Excused: Rosanne Catalano, Robert Cathey, Michael McGarry

1. Meeting started at 9:00 a.m.

2. Members of the CSG thanked John Pawlikowski and donors for hospitality at Picolo Mundo.

3. Pawlikowski introduced Debbie Weisman, President of ICCJ, who discussed project of the ICCJ related to A Time for Recommitment: 12 Points of Berlin document and the December 2009, Kairos Document. Members of the CSG engaged Debbie Weisman in discussion.

4. Minutes of the April 19, 2010 CSG Business Meeting approved with correction of 3c.: Fall 2011 dates will be Oct. 14-17 at Muhlenberg College [later changed to SJU].

5. Nominations Committee actions:

   1. Chair: Nomination and acclamation by CSG members of Katharina Von Kellenbach as chair for three years term, through spring 2013. A new chair will be elected in spring 2013, to begin in fall of 2013.

   2. Rosann Catalano’s request for leave of absence discussed. Rosann can continue as a member even though missing meetings and ask for renewal in 2012.

   3. Membership: currently at 15 or 16, and Boston College will fund up to 18, so can expand. Katharina von Kellenbach will investigate if Rosann Catalano contacted James Bernauer concerning membership in CSG. March 2010 meeting lists a number of potential new members, and additional potential members may be identified at 2011 summer program. Geographic, denominational, ethnic/cultural/racial factors need to be considered. Process for nomination and election of new members reviewed: guest participation with paper, letter of nomination by member, request C.V. and statement of interest from potential nominee, review by nomination committee who brings name to whole group for vote (yes or no).

   4. CSG members voted to change by-laws to encourage membership by younger scholars through the addition of this sentence to the five criteria for membership: “Initial appointment may be made based on the promise of fulfillment of the criteria during the first five years of membership. 

6. Program Committee: Karla Suomala appointed as chair, Elena Procario-Foley appointed as new member, Phil Cunningham continuing. Subsequently Elena Procario-Foley withdrew, and Michael McGarry was appointed.

7. Next meeting will be April 8-10 at Boston College, with travel arrangements to be made by January 31, including public program on religious pluralism and Jewish-Christian relations. Fall 2011 meeting will be Oct. 14-17, Muhlenberg College [later changed to SJU].

8. Reports from working groups:

   1. Summer 2011 Coolidge Research Colloquium: Explorations at the Intersection of Religious Pluralism and Jewish-Christian Dialogue, announced in Cross Currents, application deadline Feb. 1, 2011.

   2. Nicene Creed in light of Jewish-Christian relations: each member is re-writing creed.

   3. Plan for two time blocks at April 2011 meeting for working groups to meet.

9. Program Committee to invite Demetrios Tonias (John Chrysostom and the Jews) and Joy Galarneau (Feminism and Jewish-Christian Dialogue) to April 2011 meeting.

10. Website and archives need updating, for papers, minutes, etc. Phil Cunningham volunteered to manage if moved to CCJR and connected to BC with a link; the archives, which remain at BC, may need to be catalogued and digitalized; concern for draft status of papers expressed, to be protected with password.

11. The CSG thanked John Pawlikowski and the Catholic Theological Union for a wonderful meeting.