Call for Papers: Canadian Theological Society 2015 Annual Meeting

June 1-3, 2015

University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario

The theme for the Canadian Theological Society for 2015 is “Capital Theology: Religion and Politics in the 21^st Century”.  This theme invites reflection on the relationship between theology and politics.  The potential for such reflections is manifold and may involve theological engagement with political structures or specific policies, the public and political role of theological discourse as such, the relationship between theology and praxis, the role of the Church in public discourses, or the relationship of theology in Canada to politically dominant and marginalized groups alike.

This connects with the broader theme for Congress in 2015, which is “Capital Ideas.”  Ideas have the ability to empower and captivate.  Ideas foster dialogue and debate and help shape our realities.  They are essential in education, research, and public knowledge.

The Canadian Theological Society invites proposals pertaining to either of these themes.  We also invite proposals on any topic in theology.  CTS would like to encourage everyone to submit a proposal, although scholars whose papers are selected are expected to be members of CTS at the time of the conference (with the exception of invited panelists). We invite submissions in two formats:

1. 20/20 Presentations

We will again follow the 20/20 format used in previous years, inviting presentations of 20 minutes with 20 minutes of discussion to follow.  Typically the presentation will be an account of a larger research project.  Since members work in a variety of fields and specializations, attention should be given to presenting advanced work in an accessible way.

Submission

Submit a proposal that includes:

• Title of presentation;
• Proposal of a maximum 300-400 words (with word count), which includes an abstract, the problem your scholarship engages, and the contribution you plan to make;
• Requests for audio-visual equipment (A/V equipment will be available only if it is requested in the proposal);
• On a separate page, please include:
  • Presenter’s name, institution or professional affiliation, and contact information.

2. Panels

We invite panels on issues that are relevant to members, especially as related to the theme of the annual meeting.  Panel proposals should be developed to foster dialogue among the panelists and with those attending in the audience.  Thus, we discourage panels that consist only of reading several papers.

Submission

Submit a proposal that includes:

• Title of panel;
• Length of panel (40 or 80 minutes);
• Proposal of a maximum 300-400 words (with word count), which includes an abstract, the problem your scholarship engages, the contribution you plan to make, and how you plan to foster dialogue among panelists and audience (e.g., use and allotment of time);
• Requests for audio-visual equipment (A/V equipment will be available only if it is requested in the proposal);
• On a separate page, please include:
  • Convener’s name, institution, and contact information.  The convener will be the link between the panel and the CTS;
  • Names, institutions and contact information of all members of the panel;
  • Either the name and contact information of the moderator, or a request that CTS provide a moderator.

All proposals should be submitted in a Word or .pdf file by email attachment by January 30, 2015 to:

Timothy Harvie, CTS Program Chair.

We will confirm receipt of all proposals submitted by email.

Selection Criteria

In selecting proposals for 20/20 presentations or for panels, the committee will consider:

• The clarity and significance of the proposal;
• The quality of the contribution to scholarship;
• The relationship of the presentation to the thematic focus of the annual meeting;
• The contribution of the presentation to a diversity of perspectives and approaches;
• The potential for inspiring discussion and engagement among the members.

Our goal as a Society is to foster collegial discussion of members’ work and of the work of other Canadian theologians.  All presenters and attendees are encouraged to participate in as much of the program as possible.  We welcome all members, students, and other interested persons to join us this year at the annual meeting in Ottawa, Ontario.