VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 12/13/22)—The American Baptist Churches USA Office of the General Secretary and the Theologians Commission will host the sixth pre-biennial theology conference around the theme “Holy Presence in a Post-Pandemic World” in an effort to foster ongoing, vigorous theological conversations among American Baptist theologians, pastor-theologians, and theological educators throughout the denomination. The conference will be held on Thursday, June 22, 2023, ahead of the 2023 American Baptist Churches Biennial Mission Summit, which will be held June 23-25, 2023 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Theologians Commission invites proposals of presentations that address (American) Baptist notions of the Holy Presence in a Post-Pandemic World. Scholars in social ethics, systematic theology, biblical studies, church history, missiology, and practical theology are invited to offer proposals for a 20-minute presentation. Additionally, panels of three participants may be proposed. Presentations that explore the views and perspectives of under-represented groups are encouraged.
Proposals should be 500-750 words in length, should include a brief summary of the argument to be made and beginning bibliography, and make explicit the paper’s connection to the conference theme. Proposals must include: the author’s full name, paper title, institutional affiliation, email, and telephone contact. Proposals are due by January 31, 2023.
Full papers may then be submitted for publication consideration for the American Baptist Quarterly (ABQ). Authors should attend to the audience as readers rather than listeners. Papers submitted for publication should be approximately 20 pages long (12-point, double-spaced) and must be fully footnoted. The deadline for submissions to the ABQ editors is August 1, 2023. Guidelines for authors will be distributed to conference presenters.
Submit paper proposals before January 31, 2023 to Rev. Dr. Amy L. Chilton at phillipsmemorialpastor@gmail.com. Notification of acceptance will be given by March 1, 2023.
The conveners regret that we are not able to pay honoraria or expenses. Presenters must register for the conference.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.