At the recent gathering of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature (AAR/SBL) in Denver, CPB/Chalice Press and HELM hosted a reception for fifty-eight Disciples scholars and graduate students. Chris Dorsey, President of HELM, noted that “Chalice Press and HELM have partnered for decades to provide this unique opportunity for Disciples scholars and graduate students to reconnect and network during the AAR/SBL. We are excited to continue this tradition.”
In addition to an informal time for meeting with colleagues, those gathered shared where they are teaching or studying as well as professional milestones of the past year such as the publication of books or the completion of Ph.D. studies. Dorsey and Brad Lyons, CBP President and Publisher, also gave updates on the work of HELM and Chalice Press, respectively.
In speaking about the importance of taking time to meet with Disciples scholars, Lyons said that “The unsung heroes of Disciples education are the teachers who instruct the leaders of our congregations, lay and clergy. That education has, as its core, books — not just the Bible but many of the other books CBP/Chalice produces. Gathering them annually to thank them for their work and ministry, to learn about opportunities for future projects, to hear their feedback on what we do, and to introduce them to our newest publications is a wonderfully educational opportunity.”
The meeting of the AAR/SBL is the largest global gathering of academics in the field of religion, with attendance usually exceeding 10,000 participants. Over 1,200 events are offered during the course of the four-day conference, including academic sessions, receptions, workshops, and tours.