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Business Meeting
October 6, 2006
Minutes
The business meeting was called to order by Mark Roncace,
Vice-President, at 1:05 p.m. on Friday, October 6, 2006. James Tabor,
chair of the Department of Religious Studies at UNC-Charlotte, welcomed
the conference attendees on behalf of the department.
The minutes of the business meeting of October 22, 2005
were approved.
The vice-president read a note from Diana Pasulka,
president, who was unable to attend.
John Brooks, secretary-treasurer, reported that the
Association began the year with $759.74. The Association brought
in $170 in membership dues and spent $180 on student presentation awards
to end the year with $749.74.
P. Eddy Wilson, editor of the Association's online
journal, Thinking About Religion, reported that Volume Six is
nearly ready. The technical editor is finalizing the website, and the
volume should be available in the next week. Dr. Wilson called
upon members to submit articles for the next volume and to serve as peer
reviewers.
The vice president then presented the awards for student
papers. Awards went to
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Chris Moreland of UNC-Wilmington, for “The Emperor
Constantine’s Conversion to Christianity: An Analysis of His
Motivations;
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Sarah Rollens of UNC-Wilmington, for “Jesus as an
Apocalyptic Prophet: A Case Study in Current Historical Jesus
Research”; and
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Ginger Stickney of UNC-Charlotte, for “Violent Faith:
Construction of the Mormon Fundamentalist."
Elections for officers were held. In accordance
with the NCRSA by-laws, Mark Roncace, vice-president, was elected
president by acclamation. Chris Hoyt of Western Carolina
University was elected vice-president and program chair, also by
acclamation. John Brooks, whose four-year term expires in 2008, will
continue to serve as secretary-treasurer.
The president called for nominations for the location of the
next annual meeting. Fayetteville State University volunteered to host
the meeting. The date will be decided after consultation with the host
institution. Dr. Tabor asked that the host take into account the
Jewish High Holy Days.
Dr. Tabor also asked that the organization consider ways
of increasing its contribution to the expenses of the conference.
Although his department was happy to host the meeting, it involved a
substantial expense. Dr. Brooks explained that the minimal dues of the
Association did not yield enough money to contribute meaningfully to the
expenses of the conference. Long-term members pointed out that the
dues had not increased in many years. Dr. Brooks moved that the
Officers be charged to study ways to increase revenues, through an
increase in membership dues and/or a conference registration fee and
submit a proposal to the membership prior to the 2007 meeting. The
motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Dr. Brooks also moved that the Association award one
undergraduate and one graduate student presentation award. This
motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Dr. Roncace asked for a motion to thank the
UNC-Charlotte Department of Religious Studies for its hosting and
support of the annual meeting. This motion was seconded and passed
unanimously. Dr. Roncace thanked Dr. Tabor and Dr. Dan White,
Local Arrangements Coordinator.
Dr. White encouraged undergraduate students to continue
their pursuit of religious studies as a graduate student at
UNC-Charlotte. The program has an application deadline of May 1
for the fall and November 1 for the Spring.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned
at 1:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
John I. Brooks III
Secretary-Treasurer
North Carolina Religious Studies Association
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