On March 15, the Asia Project hosted the opening reception for the 27th annual meeting of Pacific, Asian and North American Asian Women in Theology and Ministry (PANAAWTM). The opening panel was hosted by Pacific School of Religion (PSR). PANAAWTM is the oldest and (arguably) most important organization for Asian American Women's Studies in theology and religion in North America. The theme of the 27th annual meeting of PANAAWTM was Abundant Life and Unjust Prosperity. The relevance of this theme has been heightened this year with the onset of the Occupy Movement.
The opening panel began with greetings from PSR Professor Boyung Lee, who is a member of the steering committee of PANAAWTM, and the chair of this year's organizing committee. PSR President Riess Potterveld graciously welcomed over sixty participants of this year's conference who traveled from all of the country and Canada. The remainder of the conference was held at the conference center at San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS).
Three renowned PANAAWTM scholars spoke at the opening panel : Gale Yee, Nancy W. King Professor of Biblical Studies at Episcopal Divinity School; Nadinne Cruz, an independent scholar/consultant on Pedagogies of Engagement in Higher Education; Rita Nakashima Brock, Executive Director of Faith Voices for the Common Good. Brock is the first Asian American woman to earn a Ph.D. in theology. The panel was moderated by Nami Kim, associate professor of religion at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA.