Minutes of the Annual General Meeting 2006

The AGM was held at Hulme Hall, University of Manchester, on the 4th April 2006 at 1.30pm. Apologies were received from Leonard Mars and Grace Davie. Twenty-five members were in attendance. Prof. Robin Gill, in the chair, welcomed members. The Minutes of the 2005 AGM were approved and there were no matters arising.

 

Chair’s Review

Prof. Gill noted that his term of office finished this year.  He recalled three successful annual conferences during his time as Chair, and noted an enjoyable study day last November at Kent University.  The theme was Religion, Film and Popular Culture.  Prof. Gill thanked Dr David Voas for his work in organising this year’s conference in Manchester. 

 

Convenor’s Report

Dr Peter Gee reported on his third year as convenor.  2005-06 was a busy year.  The Convenor’s work involved liaising with the BSA, maintaining the Study Group website, referring enquiries about religion onto appropriate Study Group members, and preparing the 2006 Register of Membership.    Dr Gee confirmed the new Register was complete and would be mailed to members by the end of April.  Finishing the Register in time is a challenge because members do not always respond quickly to the request for updated details.  Membership increased this year by approximately 30 people, most of whom were postgraduates. 

Dr Gee confirmed the Committee met at the November study day, but nearly all of Committee work is carried out by email to keep down costs.  He urged members to think about extra sources of funding to help the Group finance future conferences.  Dr Gee also drew member’s attention to the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s new stream for research on religion.

 Dr Gee agreed to stay on as Convenor for a fourth year.  A new member needs to be found to take over next year.

Treasurer’s Report

Dr Sylvia Collins-Mayo presented the Financial Statement for the Year 1st April 2005 to 31st March 2006 (attached). The 2005 annual conference in Lancaster contributed substantially to funds, However, the Group was currently running at a loss.  The biggest expenditure related to postgraduate support, which includes the annual Burwells conference (payment for both the 2005 and 2006 conference fell in this year’s accounts) and bursaries for the main conference.  Dr Voas secured ESRC funding for postgraduate bursaries this year, as well as support for the main conference. Other costs have been kept to a minimum.

Dr Collins-Mayo noted a deposit for the 2007 conference, and payment for the costs of printing and mailing the Register of Members, would be due shortly.   Dr Collins-Mayo reiterated Dr Gee’s request for ideas for extra sources of funding.

Publication Officer’s Report

Dr ‘Ben’ Pink Dandelion reported on publication progress under the Group’s agreement with Ashgate. Three volumes were due out shortly from previous conferences:  2001 conference - Materialising Religion (eds. Elizabeth Arweck and William Keenan), 2003 Reading Religion in Text and Context (eds. Elizabeth Arweck and Peter Collins), and 2004 Sociology of Spirituality (eds. Kieran Flanagan and Peter Jupp).  A book based on last year’s conference Women and Religion in the West is also in progress (ed. Kristin Aune).  All publications with Ashgate are now in hardback, but Dr Dandelion confirmed that members may obtain a 35% discount if orders are placed through him.  (Ashgate authors automatically are eligible for this discount too.)

Conference Organiser’s Report

Dr Jim Sweeney confirmed the November study day had been interesting.  He suggested regional study days might help make one-day events more accessible to members.  The Burwells conference continued to be very successful, 24 postgraduates attended this year.  Given current finances, Dr Flanagan and the Committee said they would give thought to grant applications to secure extra funding for future years.  Dr Sweeney thanked Dr Voas for his work organising this year’s conference.  Dr Sweeney has now finished his term of office as Conference Organiser.

The Post Graduate Liaison Officer’s Report

Dr Abby Day expressed appreciation on behalf of the postgraduates for the Study Group’s support.  She confirmed the importance of the Burwells conference as a source of academic and social support during postgraduate study.  Dr Day recommended that the Burwells conference should be extended next year to a two-day event, with delegates contributing to the costs of the second day. This year’s postgraduates were particularly interested in learning more about how to get published.  The socrel-pg email list was currently being used mainly as a source of information on jobs.

Future Conferences

Dr Jim Sweeney outlined plans for the annual conference in 2007.  Dr Gordon Lynch proposed the Study Group join with the UK Research Network for Theology, Religion and Popular Culture (TRPC).  The conference would be held at St Catherine’s College, Oxford, and the theme would be Religion, Media and Culture.  Lynn Schofield-Clark and Tom Beudoin are both prepared to attend as keynote speakers.  The conference would take place from the 2^nd to 4^th April, 2007.  This proposal was accepted by the Study Group.  The Study Group agreed to underwrite accommodation costs at St Catherine’s and any profit from the conference would be divided 60:40 in favour of the Study Group. 

Dr Sweeney mentioned colleagues in the Netherlands had suggested a conference in Amsterdam.  He noted that whist the Committee were attracted by this suggestion, it was felt that it would make the annual conference less accessible to members than a UK venue.

Dr Sweeney proposed the next study day be held at Heythrop College in London and that the theme be: Sociology and Theology – Debate revisited.  This was agreed by the Study Group.  The study day would take place on Saturday, 18^th November, 2006.

Elections

Dr Linda Woodhead was elected as Chair, and Dr Paul Chambers was elected as Conference Organiser. 

 

Relationship with the BSA

Dr Peter Gee reported that he had maintained good contact with the BSA.  Abby Day would be attending the next Study Group Convenors meeting at the forthcoming annual BSA conference

 

Date of Next AGM

The next AGM would take place during the Annual Conference in Oxford between  2^nd  and 4^th  April 2006.

 

Any Other Business

On behalf of the Study Group, Dr Kieran Flanagan thanked Prof. Gill for his work as Chair over the last three years.

The meeting closed at 2.25 pm. 

 

 

Sociology of Religion Study Group
Financial Statement for the Year 1st April 2005 to 31st March 2006
	1 April 04 - 31 March 05	1 April 05 - 31 March 06
Income
Membership subscriptions	£881.00	£1,089.00
Conference/Events	£1,097.59	£1,334.55
Publications Sales	£6.00	£0.00
Interest Receivable	£60.65	£9.33
Miscellaneous Income (Donations)	£74.45	£81.00
Total Income	£2,119.69	£2,513.88
Expenditure
Conference Events	£1,447.75	£3,317.99
Travel/subsistence	£1,053.54	£458.65
Prizes and awards	£0.00	£0.00
Print/Post/Copy costs	£705.63	£604.14
General Administration	£70.50	£99.88
BSA Management Fee	£0.00	£0.00
Miscellaneous Expenditure (labels and ink cartridge)	£65.00	£0.00
Total Expenditure	£3,342.42	£4,480.66
Net Surplus (Deficit)	-£1,222.73	-£1,966.78
Opening Balance 1st April 2005 Current Account		£1,201.89
Opening Balance 1st April 2005 Reserve Account		£2,983.14
Total Opening Balance 1st April 2005		£4,185.03
Net Surplus (Deficit) 1st April 2005 - 31st March 2006		-£1,966.78
Closing Balance 31st March 2006		£2,218.25