Opportunities to Reengage: Upcoming Conferences
As vaccines are distributed across the country, academics are beginning to reemerge from their Covid isolation. Many of us are eager to attend conferences, listen to the latest research, and to reconnect with peers and colleagues. CPT Today would like to highlight some of the upcoming conferences and events that we can look forward to during the summer and through the fall. We invite our readers to pass along any information pertaining to upcoming opportunities so that we can update this post accordingly. Please contact cpt@bu.edu with the name, date, and location of the event or conference you wish to share with us. The following conferences feature sessions that may interest students and scholars of Practical Theology.
The Northeast Regions of the AAR present: A Virtual Symposium
Online – April 9, 2021
(https://www.symposium2021.com)
Registration is open for this one-day, online symposium, jointly hosted by the Northeast regions of the American Academy of Religion. In lieu of individual regional meetings, this joint symposium will offer a wealth of scholarship from all across the Northeast, including keynote sessions from Mayra Rivera and Marla Frederick.
The Thomas H. Olbricht Christian Scholars’ Conference
Nashville, TN – June 9-11, 2021
(https://christianscholarsconference.org)
This conference features a wide range of interdisciplinary conversations, and includes a session on Practical Theology. While the Call for Papers is rather limited this year (due to Covid complications), this year promises to offer an exciting array of academic presentations relating to the conference theme, Recovery of Hope: A Vision for Healing, Trust, and Restitution.
The joint SBL/AAR Annual Meeting
San Antonio, TX – November 20-23, 2021
(https://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/AnnualMeeting.aspx)
(https://aar-conference.imis-inspire.com/a/)
This joint conference for the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature hosts an unbelievably diverse range of sessions, many of which may appeal to Practical Theologians. While the American Academy of Religion’s CFP is now closed, some may be interested in attending a co-sponsored session, hosted by the AAR Practical Theology Unit and the Association for Practical Theology titled “Learnings from the pandemic: Implications of Adapting and Inventing Ecclesial Practices for COVID” (https://aar-conference.imis-inspire.com/a/page/ProgramUnits/co-sponsored-session-pt-apt).
The Society of Biblical Literature’s CFP does not close until March 23. For those who are interested, CFPs have been posted for the Bible and Practical Theology session (https://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/Congresses_CallForPaperDetails.aspx?MeetingId=39&VolunteerUnitId=478), as well as the Homiletics and Biblical Studies session (https://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/Congresses_CallForPaperDetails.aspx?MeetingId=39&VolunteerUnitId=286).
The Academy of Homiletics Annual Meeting
Chicago, IL – December 2-4, 2021
The annual meeting for the Academy of Homiletics is only open to members of the Academy of Homiletics. However, doctoral students studying homiletics can apply to join the Academy here: http://www.homiletics.org. The theme for this year’s meeting is “A Celebration of African American Preaching.”