ABOUT ASRS
The Adventist Society for Religious Studies (ASRS) is a Seventh-day Adventist scholarly community whose purpose is to provide intellectual and social fellowship among its members and encourage scholarly pursuits in all religious studies disciplines, particularly with reference to the Seventh-day Adventist tradition. It was formally organized in New York City, 1979.
2018 ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULE
Thursday, November 15
Colorado Convention Center - 203, 205 (street level)
Theme: "The Role and Relevance of the Adventist Religion Teacher/Scholar Today"
6:00 - 7:00pm
ASRS Registration and Reception (sponsored by NAD Ministerial Association)
7:00 - 7:15pm
Welcome
Tarsee Li, Oakwood University
Ivan Williams, North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists
7:15 - 8:30pm
Paper Session I: The Scholar and the Church
Katrina Blue, Pacific Union College, presiding
Richard Rice, Loma Linda University—
“Religion and the Adventist University: The Role of the Adventist Religion Teacher”
John Grys, Illinois Conference of SDA—
“Why Administrators Need Scholars”
8:30 - 9:00pm
Business Session I
Denis Fortin, Andrews University, presiding
Friday Morning, November 16
Colorado Convention Center - 401
(street level)
8:00 - 9:30am
Paper Session II: Theological Reflections
Donny Chrissutianto, Adventist International Institute of Advanved Studies, presiding
Adelina Alexe, Andrews University—“Objectivity, Finitude, and Authority in Postmodernism: Anthropological Insights from Charles Taylor’s and Richard Rorty’s Critiques of Epistemology”
Aleksandar S. Santrac, Washington Adventist University—“The Adventist Scholar Today and Bonhoeffer’s Intellectually Relevant, Prophetically Vibrant and Ethically Transformative Gospel”
Charles Scriven, Kettering College—“The Rabbi and the Gadfly: Finitude and the Dialectic of Tradition and Critique”
9:30 - 9:45am
9:45 - 10:00am
10:00 - 11:40am
Business Session II:
Denis Fortin, Andrews University, presiding
Break
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Paper Session III: Biblical and Historical Reflections
Michael Campbell, Southwestern Adventist University, presiding
Acacia Chan, University of Texas, Austin—“Privileged Responsibility in Ancient Education and Reading Practices: An Appeal to the Past for the Benefit of the Future”
Jeff Dale, Emory University—“Coming to Grips with Scripture: The Bible as Both a Problem and a Solution in Our Polarized Climate”
Gilbert M. Valentine, La Sierra University—“The Religion Teacher as Prophet: Lessons from a Case Study in Imposing Orthodoxy”
Igor Lorencin, Friedensau Adventist University—“Hermeneutical Turn in Adventism?”
11:40 - 12:00pm
12:00 - 1:30pm
Business Session III:
Denis Fortin, Andrews University, presiding
Lunch
Friday Afternoon, November 16
Colorado Convention Center - 401
(street level)
1:30 - 3:10pm
Paper Session IV: Pastoral Reflections
Kevin Burrell, Burman University, presiding
Anne Collier-Freed, Kettering College—“Revitalizing the Body: Inviting the Triune God to Renew Adventists’ Practice of Hospitality”
Bruce Boyd, Burman University—“Equipping University Students to be Peacemakers”
Liang Chuanshan, Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies—“Toward An Adventist Perspective on Sinicization of Christianity: Making Gospel Relevant or Destroying It?”
Daryll Ward, Kettering College—“Ministers of Reconciliation”
3:10 - 3:30pm
3:30 - 4:30pm
Business Session IV:
Denis Fortin, Andrews University, presiding
Sectional Meetings:
Christian Theology and History: Martin Hanna, Andrews University, convener
New Testament: Erhard Gallos, Andrews University, convener
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Old Testament: Jody Washburn, Walla Walla University, convener
Philosophy and Ethics: Daryll Ward, Kettering College, and Roy Benton, Pacific Union College, conveners
Practical Theology: Ernie Furness, Southeastern California Conference, convener
World Religions and Missiology: Paul Dybdahl, Walla Walla University, convener
4:45 - 6:00pm
Additional Meetings:
Black Theology Group: Kevin Burrell, Burman University,
convener
Women in Theology Group: Anne Collier-Freed, Kettering College, convener
NB! Buses will be leaving from the Convention Center at 5:30pm pm and return from the church at 8:00pm
6:30pm
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ASRS - ATS Joint Societies Fellowship Meal and Presidential Addresses
Mathilde Frey, Walla Walla University and John Reeve, Andrews University, presiding
ASRS Presidential Address, Tarsee Li, Oakwood University
ATS Presidential Address, Carl Cosaert, Walla Walla University
Sabbath Morning, November 17
Colorado Convention Center - 507
(street level)
9:00 - 10:30am
Panel Discussion
Calvin B. Rock, Protest and Progress: Black SDA Leadership and the Push for Parity (Andrews University Press, 2018)
Moderator, W. Edward Hucks II, Andrews University
Alexander Barrientos, Potomac Conference
David Hamstra, Andrews University
Olive Hemmings, Washington Adventist University
Ivan Williams, North American Division
10:30 - 10:45am
10:45am
Break
Devotional Address
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Niels-Erik Andreasen, Andrews University—“Adventist Ministry: What Matters Now"
