Regional Coordinator: Susan E. Hill 705 Wisner Drive Waterloo, IA 50702 USA 319-273-7177 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Region's Website

This is just a gentle reminder that the Upper Midwest Regional meeting is fast approaching! You can now register online.

April 1–2, 2011
Luther Seminary
Saint Paul, MN, USA

The officers of the Upper Midwest Region of the American Academy of Religion, the Society of Biblical Literature, and the American Schools of Oriental Research are pleased to announce the program for the annual regional meeting.

This year the SBL presents two plenary speakers:

• Calvin Roetzel, Emeritus Professor, University of Minnesota
  Friday, April 1, 1:00 PM
  Paul’s Second Thoughts as His Best Thoughts

• Mark Schuler, Professor of Theology, Greek and Archaeology, Concordia University
  Friday, April 1, 1:00 PM
  In Between: Paganism and Christianity at Hippos of the Decapolis

The AAR plenary speaker, Margaret Miles, Emerita Professor of Historical Theology, The Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, will speak on Saturday, April 2, at 9:00 AM, on A Complex Delight: The Secularization of the Breast, 1350–1750. An extended conversation with Miles will follow her talk at 10:15 AM.

We would also like to draw your attention to the Friday morning workshop, “The Spiritual Landscape of Teaching and Learning.” This is an interactive workshop with Matt Maruggi and Bev Stratton from Augsburg College that focuses on the exploration of the role of spirituality in the classroom. How does your location in the classroom, and teaching about the search for meaning through religious traditions, inform your own spirituality? How do the differing physical locations — seminaries, private colleges, public universities — and the diverse social locations of students provoke spiritual growth in you and your students? Lunch will be available for those workshop participants who sign up for lunch when registering for the conference.

Other program highlights include:

• A graduate student seminar on “Getting Published"


• A joint AAR/SBL panel and discussion on religious fanaticism


• A Conveners’ Luncheon on Friday from 11:30 AM–1:00 PM, sponsored by the AAR/SBL officers. Every year, conveners volunteer their time reviewing paper proposals and putting together sessions for the conference. This is an opportunity for us to say “thanks” for all of their hard work. In addition, this luncheon is for anyone interested in finding out about service opportunities in the region. If you are a current convener, or are interested in finding out more about how you can help, please register for the luncheon when you register for the conference. Lunch is free, but we need to know how many people to expect.

Details of the program, including descriptions of Friday’s special meetings, access to the registration page, and hotel information, are available here.

We encourage you to bring your own mug/water bottle, as we move toward a "greener" meeting.

Please feel free to contact Regional Coordinator, Susan Hill at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , with questions.

Sections at the Regional Annual Meeting

Joint Sessions:

• Multicultural Perspectives on Theology, Religion, and Biblical Interpretation
• Teaching the Bible and Religion
• Women, Religion, and Sacred Text

AAR Sessions:

• Ethics
• Historical Perspectives on Religion
• Native American Religions
• Philosophy of Religion/Systematic Theology
• Religion and Ecology
• Religion and Science
• Religion, Art, and Culture
• Religion, Gender, and Sexuality
• Religions in North America
• World Religions

SBL Sessions:

• Archaeology and Excavation Reports (sessions cosponsored by ASOR)
• Early Christianity
• Early Judaism and Judaic Studies
• New Testament
• Old Testament/Hebrew Bible
• Religion in the Ancient World