SSBR

Welcome to SSBR!

                                                           

Society for the Study of

Black Religion

43rd Annual Meeting

Evanston/Chicago, IL

March 14 - 16, 2013

Conference hotel       Northwestern University Evanston campus

One of the local residents                     A "Second City" scene

  "The Bean," a Chicago Landmark

Please see link to Newsletters, January, 2013, for progam and meeting details

 

 

In Memoriam

Dr. William R. Jones

1933 - 2012

Please see link to our Newsletter, January, 2013, for Dr. Jones' Obituary

 

Member News

Plaudits and Kudos to our esteemed SSBR President, Dr. Emilie M. Townes, who will assume the post of  Dean of the Vanderlbilt University Divinty School! Long a distinguished scholar, administrator, clergyperson, and seminal, matriarchal figure in the development of Womanist Theology, Dr. Townes accepts this post as a "calling" and an opportunity to fulfill deeply-held vocational commitments.  The Vanderbilt News  issued this laudatory statement:

Emilie Townes named dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School

by Ann Marie Deer Owens | Posted on Friday, Dec. 28, 2012 — 1:38 PM

Emilie M. Townes, a distinguished Yale University scholar and administrator whose areas of expertise include Christian ethics and womanist theology, has been named dean of Vanderbilt University Divinity School, effective July 1, 2013.

Townes, an ordained American Baptist clergywoman, succeeds James Hudnut-Beumler, who will take a year’s sabbatical after serving as the school’s dean since 2000.

Townes, who will be the 16^th dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School, pending approval by the Vanderbilt Board of Trust, has been appointed to a five-year term, according to Richard McCarty, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. She will also hold an endowed chair as a tenured faculty member.

“Emilie Townes is an amazing scholar, a wonderful mentor to students, and a leader in theological education,” McCarty said. “She is also ready to lead, and I am delighted that she has accepted our offer to be the next dean of the Vanderbilt Divinity School. Her impact as dean will be felt in the Divinity School and across the university as well as nationally and internationally. I look forward to welcoming her to the Vanderbilt community.”

Townes is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor of African American Religion and Theology and associate dean of academic affairs at Yale Divinity School. Previously, she was the Carolyn Williams Beaird Professor of Christian Ethics at Union Theological Seminary.

Carolyn Dever, dean of the College of Arts and Science and professor of English, chaired the search committee for the new Divinity dean. “In every aspect of her profile, Emilie Townes epitomizes the Vanderbilt Divinity School’s dedication to renowned scholarship, ecumenical leadership and commitment to social justice,” Dever said. “We warmly welcome her to a community that is passionate about the scholarship and teaching of religion, and about empowering students to change themselves, and the world, for the better.”

 

And the honors keep rolling . . .

Dr. Evelyn Parker named Dean at Perkins.

 

 

SSBR member Dr. Parker, an innovative scholar in the fields of Christian Education and Adolescent Spirituality, has been appointed to a five-year term as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. Dr. Parker will begin her new position on June 1, 2013.  As with Dr. Townes, we congratulate Dr. Parker on this recognition of her leadership gifts for theoloogical education.

 

SSBR member Dr. Tracey Hucks, Chair of the Department of Religion at Haverford Coillege, announces the release of her book Yoruba Traditions and African American Religious Nationalism. Albequerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press: 2012. Description and ordering information available here .

SSBR member Luke Powery shares the following:

DURHAM, N.C. -- The Reverend Dr. Luke A. Powery of Princeton Theological Seminary  recently became the new dean of Duke Chapel, Duke University President Richard Brodhead.

Powery, 38, started his new position on Sept. 1, 2012.. He succeeded the Rev. Dr. Samuel Wells, who returned to England this summer to become the vicar of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London.

Powery, who is the first black dean of Duke Chapel, has taught at Princeton Theological Seminary since 2006, where he was the Perry and Georgia Engle assistant professor of homiletics. He has taught courses and lectured at numerous other educational institutions and has been a frequent guest preacher and singer at various congregations and conferences. A video of his sermon at Duke Chapel this past June 24 is available online.

"Luke Powery is a compelling preacher whose gifts of mind and heart will be evident to all who hear him," Brodhead said. "He will give a powerful presence to the life of the spirit and will connect with every part of our community -- students, faculty, staff and our Durham neighbors."

http://agbsearch.com/news/13/1/congratulations-emilie-townes-named-dean-vanderbilt-divinity-school

 

Research.  Among its many other entries, our Research link takes you to material on "Pinkster," a Dutch-derived Pentecost festival transformed by enslaved blacks in the US Northeast into a major holiday of African-influenced music, dancing, and feasting. - one of the clearest yet lesser known examples of African religio/cultural survivals in  North America.

 

 Employment opportunities.  Be sure to check the Newsletter link and also the Employment Notices link for postings of positions openings.