has never had a constitution nor a formal list of members. Both associations
established a journal or newsletter. The AASR has published The Australian
Religion Studies Review since 1988, although published proceedings of
conferences date from the first conference in 1977 (Hayes 1977). The NZASR
continues to publish The Yana(Sanskrit for ‘vehicle’) as their newsletter, first
edited by Lloyd Geering in 1971, as well as publishing proceedings of the annual
conferences. In New Zealand, as well as providing opportunities for giving
research papers, the conferences offer a greater concentration on general matters
to do with teaching; departmental staff review their curricula, give notice of
changes, and discuss cross-credit arrangements. The women’s caucus of the
AASR, which meets at the association’s annual conference, is a small but strong
group, launched initially by Penny McKibbin (later Magee) to support women
in studies in religion and promote women’s studies within the area of religion.
The annual lecture held in memory of Penny Magee at the AASR conference
since 1999 has continued to highlight feminist issues and research on women
and religion.
Both the AASR and the NZASR sought affiliation with the larger body of
the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR). The AASR
joined in 1982, and in 1985, on its tenth anniversary, the AASR hosted the
Congress of the IAHR in Sydney. Members of the NZASR decided not to join
the IAHR in that same year, but the association encouraged its members to
join the AASR to attain affiliation with the IAHR. The AASR affiliation with
the IAHR lapsed after 1988, with the result that the NZASR began discussions
and finally affiliated with the world body in 1995. The IAHR held its first
regional conference in New Zealand in 2002. Paul Morris of Victoria University
was the first New Zealander on the International Executive Committee of the
IAHR, acting as a member without portfolio (2000–2005). Some links continue
between the AASR and the IAHR, but unofficially. Thus, for example, Morny
Joy of the University of Calgary, who served as President (1994–1996) and
Vice-President (1996–1998) of the Canadian Society for the Study of Religion
and is also a member of the IAHR executive (2005–2010), is a member of the
AASR and its women’s caucus, and gave the inaugural Penny Magee lecture
at the annual AASR conference in 1999.
The scholarly standing of departments and their networking and communi-
cation with international colleagues have been increased over the years through
the appointment of some new staff from overseas rather than locally, through
local staff taking up temporary positions as visiting researchers at overseas
universities during sabbaticals, and by postgraduate and postdoctoral students
taking up scholarships and fellowships for further study at overseas locations.
As well, both the AASR and the NZASR have been assiduous in inviting
international scholars to their conferences. The annual NZASR conference in
Hamilton in 1989 is a good example of this practice. The guest speakers were
Paul Morris from Lancaster University and Giora Shoham from Tel Aviv
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