2016 Upper Midwest Region Call for Papers
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2016 Upper Midwest Regional MeetingLuther Seminary
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2016 Call for Papers
SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL: We are using Oxford Abstracts Registration Program. You may access the link to submit your proposal on our regional website after September 30: www.umw-aarsbl.org, or click here: https://aareligion.conference-services.net/authorlogin.asp?conferenceID=4016&language=en-uk.
The submission deadline is December 20, 2015. The submission deadline has been extended to January 8, 2016.
All presenters at the regional meeting (excluding undergraduate students) should be a member (whether student or full) of one of the three participating societies.
For Master’s Students: The region encourages MA students to present outstanding papers. Paper proposals from MA students must be accompanied by the nomination of a faculty advisor: Please include the name and contact information of the faculty advisor in your submission.
For Undergraduates: The Upper Midwest regional meeting includes undergraduate papers, reflecting the preponderance of undergraduate institutions in the region. The region welcomes the full scholarly participation of undergraduate members in the meeting. We request that undergraduates submit paper proposals for the Undergraduate Research Sessions only. Faculty members should nominate student papers, with a limit of two submissions per institution. Undergraduate students should complete the online submission form in the Oxford Abstracts Registration Program. Include the name and e-mail address of the faculty sponsor at the end of the paper abstract. The Undergraduate Research Sessions are convened by Bruce Forbes, Morningside College, Sioux City, IA.
JOINT AAR/SBL SESSIONS
Multicultural Perspectives on Theology, Religion, and Biblical Interpretation
This section seeks papers that address theology, religion, or the Bible from diverse racial, ethnic, and demographic perspectives in conversation with analysis of other forms of difference.
Bernon Lee, Bethel University, MN and Victor Ezigbo, Bethel University, MN
Teaching Religion, Theology, and the Bible
This section welcomes proposals on topics that explore pedagogical issues specific to the teaching of religion, theology and the Bible in undergraduate, graduate, or seminary settings. Analyses of educational theory, teaching practices, and the ways values affect teaching and learning are encouraged. In addition to papers, presentations may include opportunities to engage participants in activities or discussion.
Suzanne Hequet, Concordia University, St. Paul, MN
Women in the Bible
Submissions are sought on topics having to do with women and the Bible. This includes papers or creative presentations dealing with women who appear in biblical texts or with feminist, womanist, or mujerista readings of biblical texts. In addition, this section deals with the reception of biblical texts by a woman or women throughout history, or discussions of how a text has affected women at different points in time.
Susan Myers, University of St. Thomas, St Paul, MN
Martin Luther Study Group
The Martin Luther Study Group invites investigations of Luther's biblical exegesis, with particular attention to how his understanding of the Bible both influenced and was influenced by other religious groups/traditions. The group welcomes papers with a historical focus, as well as papers that connect Luther's exegesis and understanding of "the other," with contemporary interreligious and intercultural issues.
Bill Russell, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN
AAR SESSIONS
Ethics
This section seeks papers related to the integration of religion and ethics. Papers from both practical and analytical perspectives are welcome, as well as papers which explore the impact of religion on the personal ethics of individuals and/or the relationship between religion and social ethics.
Vanessa Williams, Fordham University, NY
Historical Perspectives on Religion
This section seeks papers dealing with the theological, cultural, intellectual, and institutional history of all religious traditions. Submissions using traditional historical or interdisciplinary methods are equally welcome.
Jim Kroemer, Concordia University, Mequon, WI
Religions in North America
This section seeks proposals analyzing religious traditions, practices, and communities in North America from a wide range of disciplinary perspectives.
Murphy Pizza, St. Catherine University/Minneapolis College of Art and Design/St. Mary’s University of MN
Religion and Science
This section encourages proposals that engage the intersection of religion and science as an academic discipline. A wide range of topics are welcome, especially those that look at current issues in religion/science debate, methodology, and the historical engagement of religion and science. Scholars from all disciplines are welcome to submit, both from the humanities and the sciences. In the spirit of creating themed sections, proposals that engage psychology, cognitive science, and religion are especially encouraged, but all relevant proposals are welcome.
George Tsakiridis, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
Religion and Ecology
Submissions are welcome on any aspect of the study of religion and ecology, including issues related to politics, globalization, environmentally related legal decisions, and religious responses to natural disasters. Submissions on the historical treatment of the environment by religious persons and/or groups are especially encouraged.
Nate Van Yperen, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN
Religion, Theology, and the Arts
Submissions are welcome on all topics examining the theoretical, historical, and practical interrelationships among religion, theology, spirituality, and the arts. In 2016, the session is particularly interested in receiving papers treating contemporary visual art with a focus on social concerns. We are open but not limited to papers treating the visual, musical, literary, and dramatic arts.
Kim Vrudny, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
Religion, Gender, and Sexuality
Submissions are welcome on all topics that explore the intersections between religious ideas and constructions of gender and/or sexuality. This section consolidates the Women & Religion and Religion & Sexuality sections.
C. Neal Keye, College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN
Philosophy of Religion/Systematic Theology
This section invites papers that examine the interface between philosophy and religion, including both philosophical positions within religion and philosophy of religion more generally, as well as constructive theological work in dialogue with both historical traditions and aspects of the contemporary context.
Joshua Miller, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN
Interreligious and Interfaith Studies
This section invites proposals that critically examine modes of response to religious pluralism and the relations between and among religious traditions and persons from multiple disciplinary perspectives. We welcome proposals that are interdisciplinary, incorporate alternative pedagogies of presentation, make use of new media, and reflect the dialogical nature of this field. In addition to encouraging critical analysis of local, region, national, and international interfaith organizational models and other praxis-oriented responses to religious pluralism, we also welcome papers that map the discourse of interreligious studies.
Hans Gustafson, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University and University of St. Thomas, MN
World Religions
Submissions are welcomed on any topics related to religious traditions other than Judaism and Christianity, or topics that involve comparative reflection on more than one religious tradition.
New Religions
This section seeks papers relating to religious movements less than 150 years old, as well as recent sects and movements emerging from historical traditions, worldwide, from a wide range of disciplinary approaches.
Murphy Pizza, St. Catherine University/Minneapolis College of Art and Design/ St. Mary’s University of MN
SBL SESSIONS
Old Testament/Hebrew Bible
The OT/HB session welcomes paper proposals that engage biblical texts across a broad range of approaches, including historical, literary, linguistic, theological, or interdisciplinary approaches, as well as proposals that address methodological issues relevant to the field of biblical studies.
Sean Burt, North Dakota State University, ND and Elaine James, St. Catherine University, MN
New Testament
Exegetical studies of specific texts, theological or thematic examinations, and methodological proposals are welcome.
Daniel Scholz, Cardinal Stritch University, WI
Early and Late-Antique Christianity
Welcomes papers on any topic dealing with the history, literature, thought, and practices of early Christianity, broadly conceived, from the first century through the post-Nicene era.
Mark DelCogliano, University of St. Thomas, St Paul, MN
Early Judaism
The Early Judaism section welcomes proposals concerned with aspects of Jewish literature, history, or culture in antiquity. We are especially interested in papers on topics intersecting with the disciplines of biblical studies, classical studies, and early Christianity.
Joshua Ezra Burns, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
Archaeology and Excavation Reports
All topics pertaining to the archaeology of the ancient Near East including excavation updates and summaries of work in progress. Session cosponsored by ASOR.
Mark Schuler, Concordia University, St. Paul, MN
Additional Information
Multiple Submissions
Scholars may submit only one paper proposal to one session of the Upper Midwest regional meeting.
Questions and Other Topics
Questions about the upcoming meeting or the appropriate section for proposals should be directed to Courtney Wilder, Midland University, wilder@midlandu.edu. Proposals for papers or topics not listed in the call for papers are to be brought to her attention.
Travel Grant for Graduate Students
The Upper Midwest region is pleased to announce the availability of a limited number of awards to graduate students for completed papers. The Upper Midwest AAR/SBL Student Travel Grant is competitive. Two hundred fifty dollars and two nights of housing at Luther Seminary during the conference will be awarded to a small number of graduate students on the basis of a submitted paper, of appropriate length for a 20-minute presentation. To apply, please submit papers to Murphy Pizza (mpizza@smumn.edu) and Elaine James (etjames@stkate.edu) with the subject line “Submission: UMW Student Paper Travel Grant Competition” by December 20, 2015.
SBL Members: Regional Scholars Program
the Society of Biblical Literature. Beginning scholars (less than four years from receiving a terminal degree) may request information on this program by emailing Michael Chan (mchan002@luthersem.edu).
UPPER MIDWEST REGIONAL OFFICERS
*SBL*
Regional Coordinator: Michael Chan, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN mchan002@luthersem.edu
President: Maggie Odell, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Vice President: Elaine James, St. Catherine University, MN
Program Committee: Eric Baretto, Luther Seminary, St Paul, MN
*AAR*
Regional Coordinator: Courtney Wilder, Midland University, Fremont NE wilder@midlandu.edu
President: William Russell, Collegeville Institute, Collegeville, MNVice-President: Murphy Pizza, St Catherine’s University, St Paul, MN and Minneapolis College of Arts and Design, MN, St. Mary’s University of MN
Program Committee: Terry Kleven, Central College, Pella, IA
Student Representative: Gwendolyn Gilson, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
