| Home |
Following an uncommonly-early Easter, it is time to remind ourselves that our 2008 Annual Study Conference convenes this June in Los Angeles, following our adventures last year to San Juan. At the request of members, we have returned to the “Denver format” which will allow for more in depth conversation. More details appear below, but this year’s program promises again to challenge and enrich our teaching and practice of pastoral theology. Much of the program will be familiar to long-time Society members, but our setting provides opportunity for some new experiences as well. Please look through the description of our setting and program, and register right away. Be sure to confirm lodging as well, because we have reserved a limited block at the conference rate.
SETTING:
The Manhattan Beach Marriott sits on 26 beautifully landscaped acres just 3 miles south of the Los Angeles International Airport. Minutes from Southern California's premier beaches, the hotel is also located within walking distance to area businesses, restaurants, shopping. Guests may enjoy the par 3 executive Manhattan Beach golf course, heated outdoor pool, health club and Jacuzzi. The hotel invites us to “experience a variety of tasty options in our Terrance Bistro or wind down in the lobby lounge. Indulge in the classic, laid-back lifestyle with attentive service under the warm Southern California sun.” SPT has arranged a block of rooms at our conference rate of $159 per night and reservations should be made by May 28 to ensure the conference rate. You may confirm a room by calling the hotel at (310) 546-7511, Fax (310) 939-1468. Be sure to mention that you are attending the Society for Pastoral Theology annual conference, both to ensure proper charges, and to ensure that the Society receives credit for all rooms reserved. The hotel address is 1400 Parkview Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. The Steering Committee regularly makes available a limited number of hotel rooms (double occupancy) for graduate students in the field.
Divine Politics, Human Politics: Theological and Clinical Constructions of Power “Divine Politics, Human Politics: Theological and Clinical Constructions of Power” is the working title for our 2008 conference in Los Angeles, June 19-21. (Note that this date is the week after Father’s Day next year, and is in accordance with our bylaws.) The steering committee is hard at work developing a format that will invite more extensive and focused conversation. We are happy to announce that Dr. Archie Smith of the Pacific School of Religion, Dr. Rodney Hunter of Candler School of Theology (retired), and Dr. Pamela Cooper-White of Lutheran School of Theology at Philadelphia, (on her way to Columbia Theological Seminary during the fall of 2008) have all expressed their availability to offer plenary presentations helping us to focus this timely issue. We have asked them to make their presentations available to us for circulation ahead of time, summarize them at the conference, and then allow ample time for comments and questions from the rest of us. We are also exploring an alternative model for immersion experiences, offering pre- or post-conference options for those who would like to attend. Stay tuned for further information, but plan now to join us for a stimulating and timely series of conversations. Colleague John Carr has graciously agreed to offer our luncheon presentation.
WORK IN PROGRESS:
Our Work in Progress this year will be presented by Kristen Leslie, Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Yale Divinity School. She has titled the work, “Pastoral Care in a New Public: The Great Commandments v. The Great Commission.” She describes the work in this way: As Pastoral and Practical theologians, we have argued for the need to move our work into the public arena. When pastoral care makes this move Christian pastoral caregivers must take seriously the theological tensions caused by a shift from the “public” of the Church and Academy to the “public” of the current debate about faith and politics. In 2005 pastoral care practices stepped into this new public arena when the United States Air Force Academy came under scrutiny for Christian proselytizing in the guise of pastoral care. Secular journalists, filmmakers, bloggers, and military and government officials—a voice of the new public—regularly approached the matter as the Christian caregiver’s constitutional right to make disciples. When Christian pastoral care enters the public arena, it must consider the tension between this understanding of the Great Commission and the mandate of the Great Commandments--to love God by loving the stranger as neighbor.
SOCIETY LUNCHEON:
Friend and colleague John Carr has graciously agreed to offer our luncheon presentation, which he has titled “When I Was in Trail...” He promises that the meaning will unfold early in his remarks, in which he intends to consider the evolution of our field over the last five decades through the lens of his own experience.
SPT QUICK REFERENCE, 2007-2008
Steering Committee
Esther Acolatse, Chair, 919-660-3573 eacolatse@div.duke.edu
David Hogue, Corresponding Secretary, 847-866-3983 David.Hogue@garrett.edu
Daniel Hembree, Recording Secretary, 803-535-5894 dhembree@clafin.edu
Siroj Sorajjakool, Conference Registrar, 909-558-4300 ext 83413 ssorajjakool@rel.llu.edu
Jeanne Hoeft, Treasurer, 816-245-4814 jhoeft@spst.edu
For information on previous Annual Meetings, please visit the following links:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Newsletter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Doctoral Programs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||