









































5

Minutes of the Atla Business 
Meeting
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Christina Torbert, University of Mississippi, Atla Board Secretary

The annual business meeting of the Association was convened by 
Board President Stephen Sweeney at 11:45 a.m. US Central time via 
Zoom.

President Sweeney spoke to the members attending about the 
Board’s adoption of new organizational ends, about the continu-
ity of those ends with the work done by previous boards, and about 
the resolution against racism and xenophobia. President Sweeney 
stressed the board’s decision to focus during the coming year on the 
need for racial diversity, equity, and inclusion; challenging racism; 
promoting antiracism; and dismantling White supremacy in the Asso-
ciation and in theology and religious studies institutions and libraries.

Christina Torbert presented the secretary’s report. Members of 
the 2020 Teller’s Committee were Karen Wishart, who served as chair, 
from Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of 
Toronto;  Steve Jung from Azusa Pacific University; and Lisa Grover 
from Denver Seminary. The Teller’s Committee received the elec-
tion results via email from Survey & Ballot Systems and verified that 
261 (or 44.69%) of the 584 eligible members cast valid ballots. The 
membership elected—as given here in alphabetical order—Kerrie 
Burn, Leslie A. Engelson, Michelle Spomer, and Karl Stutzman to the 
board class of 2020–23.

Kathy Harty moved to accept the secretary’s report, and Gerrit 
Van Dyk seconded. The motion was approved.

President Sweeney welcomed the incoming board members and 
thanked the three outgoing board members: Jennifer Bartholomew, 
Suzanne Estelle-Holmer, and Matt Ostercamp. President Sweeney 
announced the 2020–21 officers for the Board of Directors.

President Sweeney called for any new business, and there was 
none. The meeting was adjourned at 12:09 p.m. US Central time.

President Sweeney and Executive Director Bailey-Hainer 
answered questions submitted prior to the meeting and through the 
Q&A function of Zoom.


