2018 Conference Presidential Address
This is a summary of Prof. Jenny Bloxam’s address at this year’s conference
The annual presidential address took place on February 9 during the annual business meeting of the Society’s 2018 conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Prof. Jenny Bloxam extended a warm welcome to the diverse scholarly assembly, observing that the program included graduate and undergraduate students, independent scholars, church musicians, and teaching faculty from five countries and eighteen states. Educational institutions represented range from large public and private research universities to small private colleges to seminaries to conservatories, some with faith associations, and others without.
Noting the love and effort put into realizing this conference by so many people, Prof. Bloxam first expressed gratitude to the hosting institution SEBTS, especially to Dr. Ken Keathley, Director of the Bush Center for Faith and Culture; his assistant Emily Harrison; Dr. Bruce Ashford and the Provost’s Office; and all the wonderful people who cared for those attending in myriad practical ways. She then gratefully acknowledged the generous co-sponsorship provided by Dr. Jeremy Begbie and the Duke Initiatives in the Theology and the Arts program, and thanked Kit Jacobson and the Duke Evensong Choir for the outstanding program they offered in the lovely historic Wake Forest Baptist Church.
Prof. Bloxam also singled out many SCSM members for their invaluable contributions to the conference organization. She applauded the superb work of Local Arrangement Chair Joshua Waggener, and expressed great appreciation to the program committee: Mark Peters (chair), David Heetderks, Deb Justice, and Richard Strauch. She thanked the graduate student prize committee members: Robin Wallace (chair), Joanna Smolko, and Cathy Ann Elias, as well as the new graduate student prize consultant, Peter Mercer-Taylor. Prof. Bloxam also commended all who proposed papers, presented papers, the session chairs, the panelists, and the tremendous keynote speaker, Dr. Steven Guthrie.
The Members-at-Large on the Executive Committee were lauded for their hard work, wisdom, and support, as were graduate student representative Megan Francisco and webmaster Adam Perez. Finally, special thanks were tendered to the two most important officers, secretary Tim Steele and treasurer Zig Reichwald, both completing their four-year terms.
Prof. Bloxam next announced that Zig Reichwald has kindly agreed to serve another four-year term as treasurer, and that Adam Perez will continue into another one-year term as Webmaster. Tim Steele has decided to “retire” as secretary at the end of 2018 after two four-year terms, and Effie Papanikolaou has graciously agreed to succeed him in this crucial role.
Turning to highlights from SCSM activities over the past year, Prof. Bloxam first noted the publication of the society’s first collection of essays, Exploring Christian Song (Lexington Press, 2017), and encouraged members to take advantage of the discount flyer and recommend the volume to their institutional libraries. All royalties will benefit SCSM. Another important milestone, achieved with the help of Cathy Ann Elias and Robin Wallace, was the creation of the graduate student paper prize guidelines along with a new consultant position to provide feedback to applicants who wish to receive it.
Another significant development in 2017 took place with the approval of the society’s application for 501(c)(3) status. We are now a tax-exempt, non-profit educational organization, with dues and donations tax-deductible to the full extent of the law! Prof. Bloxam expressed the hope that this new status would encourage members and friends to donate generously to the Graduate Travel and Graduate Prize Funds.
Special thanks were offered to Roberts Wesleyan College, who co-sponsored our well-attended reception at the 2017 convention of the American Musicological Society in Rochester. Finally, Prof. Bloxam praised the fine work of the ad hoc committee appointed to revisit the society’s constitution: John Paul Ito (chair), Ellen Olsen George, Tala Jarjour, and VP Mark Peter ex officio. Their thoughtful revisions to the Preamble and Purposes sections of the constitution were overwhelmingly approved by the membership this past November.
In summarizing plans for the year ahead, Prof. Bloxam expressed her desire to grow the society’s coffers, especially the Graduate Travel Fund, and figure out how to maintain and disburse it. Continuing to develop a committed and diverse membership base must be an important focus, with particular attention to creating institutional and lifetime membership categories. With the help of the Executive Committee and the officers, she hopes to undertake a review and update of the bylaws. The society will continue its annual tradition and host a reception at the 2018 AMS meeting in San Antonio; in other plans for outreach, Prof. Bloxam hopes to cultivate alliances with other scholarly societies devoted to Christianity and the arts.
Developing and refining our methods of communication — the website, the newsletter, and the Facebook page — remains a big priority, and will be much assisted by the new Communications Taskforce team of newsletter co-editors Chelle Stearns and Chad Fothergill, webmaster Adam Perez, and graduate student representative Megan Francisco.
Finally, Prof. Bloxam looked ahead with great anticipation to 2019 conference, the first to take place beyond U.S. borders thanks to Michael O’Connor, who will serve as the Local Arrangements Chair at St. Michael’s College/University of Toronto. In closing, she noted the upcoming biennial elections of the society this coming fall, in which the membership will choose three new members-at-large and a new vice-president, and urged everyone to join or renew their membership, be involved, and stay in touch with each other!
