Call for Papers: Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism in Global Perspective

By Morgan Crago August 3rd, 2020 in Announcements, Call for Papers, World Christianity

The journal Religions is issuing a call for papers for a special issue entitled "Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism: Contemporary Issues in Global Perspective." Proposals are due to the co-editors, Tim Grass and Brad Nassif, by August 31, 2020. See further information below.

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Since the 1990s, the Eastern Orthodox and Protestant Evangelical communities have had more direct contacts with each other than at any other time. This special issue of Religions will focus on current developments and issues relating to this encounter in specific regions of the world.

With the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, Western missionaries began flooding the former Soviet Union, Romania and other Eastern European bloc countries, often without consultation with existing Evangelical communities in those countries. Partly in response to this wave of Evangelical missions, a new paradigm of ecumenical relations emerged among professional theologians in America when the Society for the Study of Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism (SSEOE) was formed in 1990. Comparative theology, spirituality and missions formed the focus of the organization whose archives are now housed in Asbury Theological Seminary. In 1997, the World Council of Churches (WCC) began its first series of international dialogues between the Orthodox and Evangelical communities over concerns regarding Evangelical proselytism in Russia and Eastern Europe but also shared concerns regarding perceived theological trends within the WCC itself. Publications include Proclaiming Christ Today: Orthodox-Evangelical Consultation (1995); and Turn to God, Rejoice in Hope (1998). From 2000 to 2006, a second series of seminars resulted in the publication of Building Bridges: Between the Orthodox and Evangelical Traditions (2012). Theological and missiological subjects were explored, but financial constraints eventually ended these gatherings. In 2001, the Evangelical Alliance in the UK published Evangelicalism and the Orthodox Church. This was produced by a group of Evangelical and Orthodox theologians whose goal was to lay a foundation for mutual understanding by comparing and contrasting Orthodox and Evangelical beliefs and practices.

Since then, the main ongoing exchange between Orthodox and Evangelicals has been that initiated in 2010 by leaders within the Lausanne Movement and the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox churches, which resulted in the formation of the Lausanne-Orthodox Initiative. Unlike other dialogues, this focuses on exploring how the two traditions can co-operate in the mission of God. A selection of past presentations appears in The Mission of God: Studies in Orthodox and Evangelical Mission (2015). However, in spite of all the work that has been done, there remains scope for further scholarly investigation: for example, few regional studies have examined areas outside the Anglophone world, or the political and legal aspects of relationships between these traditions.

The editors aim to assemble a collection of scholarly essays on current issues and/or developments in Orthodox-Evangelical relations, at both global and national levels, which will inform ongoing dialogue. Essays may consider:

• regional meetings or other encounters between these traditions
• the history of relationships between them
• current missiological challenges
• political and legal issues
• comparative theology
• or other topics.

They may focus on (but are not limited to) relations in Russia, Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, Australia and Greece. Sensitivity to the nuances of difference between Eastern and Western Evangelicals and Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox communities is especially welcome. The suggested length of essays is from 3,000-6,000 words, but this is flexible. Articles should be submitted in English; if necessary, we encourage you to have it checked by a native English-speaker before submission.

Contributors to this special issue will not be liable to any author charge.

Expressions of interest in submitting an article to be considered for publication should be submitted as a MS Word file attachment to both co-editors, Dr Brad Nassif, at blnassif@yahoo.com, and Dr Tim Grass, at ehseditorial@gmail.com. The deadline for receipt of proposals is 31 August 2020. A positive response to your expression of interest, and listing on the journal’s website, should not be taken as guaranteeing ultimate publication. If we respond positively to your expression of interest, you will need to submit your article by 31 January 2021. It will then be peer-reviewed, and if it is accepted you may be asked to revise it in light of the recommendations made.

When you express interest in writing for this issue, please include the following:

• Name
• Address
• Email
• Institutional affiliation, if any
• Title of the article you propose to submit (15 words maximum)
• Brief synopsis (200 words maximum)