WESLEYAN THEOLOGICAL SOCIETY52st Annual Meeting

March 3-4, 2017Asbury Seminary

Wilmore, KY

THEME: THE CHURCH, THE PEOPLE OF GOD

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Sondra Wheeler, Martha Ashby Carr Professor of Christian Ethics, Wesley Theological Seminary

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:

Scott T. Kisker, Professor of the History of Christianity, United Theological Seminary

PROGRAM CHAIR:

Priscilla Pope-Levison, Associate Dean for External Programs, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

CALL FOR PAPERS:

The theme for the 2017 meeting is “The Church, the People of God”. John Wesley wrote in Thoughts Upon Methodism: “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist in either Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast to both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.” What does it mean for Wesley that his movement not be a sect? How did he and Charles understand the relationship of Methodism to “Church”? How have the inheritors of Wesleyan doctrine, spirit and discipline maintained or dispensed with the Wesley’s vision(s)? This meeting will provide the opportunity to explore the theme of “Church” in the work of John and Charles Wesley, the Wesleyan tradition, and the wider Christian heritage. It will also consider broader issues of ecclesiology and identity as People of God from various theological disciplines.

Paper topics might include but are not limited to the following: Consideration of biblical texts that relate to the People of God or the nature of the Church Exploration of the historical and theological influences on John and/or Charles Wesley’s

ecclesiologies Examination of ecclesiological themes in the hymns of Charles Wesley Consideration of the relationship of Methodism to instituted churches, including the role

and meaning of “sect” in various contexts The impact of schism on the Wesleyan/Methodist movement historically and contextually

The relations of various Wesleyan churches around the world to each other, to sibling movements or to other local Christian bodies

Examination of the place of “doctrine, spirit and discipline” in defining Wesleyanism or Methodism

Analysis of Wesleyan Methodism as “movement” or “church” in various historical periods and contexts

Consideration of contemporary global conflicts over the church’s relationship to culture Exploration of Church and sect from the perspectives of the social sciences and the voice

and role of the natural sciences in defining “Church” The role of polity, liturgy, catechesis, or preaching in shaping Wesleyan understandings of

Church Examination of oneness, holiness, catholicity, and apostolicity, as a marks of the church in

various Wesleyan traditions and in ecumenical dialogue

Completed paper proposal forms are to be sent to the section chair of the program section in which you wish to present by October 1, 2017.  Please submit your proposal to only one section. Proposal must be sent electronically via this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rt0ymY_Sbl5u01Q1IFxKQ6yY-rweJZwItBfNa14wnkM/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=mail_form_link

The link will take you to our paper proposal website where you will fill in the various information for the proposal—name, institution, section, paper title, paper proposal synopsis of 300 words, etc,.

See the WTS website for more information: http://wtsweb.org.

Persons interested in proposing new sessions or individual papers that do not fit neatly into our established sections are encouraged to do so. Please submit those to Priscilla Pope-Levison (popelevison@mail.smu.edu), also by the October 1, 2016 deadline.

If you have questions regarding submission to a particular section, please email the section chair. Section Chairs are listed here.

Biblical Studies:Bill Malas william.malas.jr@enc.edu 

Ecumenical Studies:Kelly Yates kyates@snu.edu

Intercultural Studies:Nell Becker Sweeden nbeckersweeden@georgefox.edu

Historical Studies:Kevin Watson kevin.watson@emory.edu

Moral Theology:Joseph Bankard

jabankard@nnu.edu

Practical Theology/Christian Formation:Mark Maddix mamaddix@nnu.edu

Science and Theology: Thomas Jay Oord tjoord@nnu.edu

SSPWT (Psychology and Wesleyan Theology): Brandon Arbuckle bmarbuckle@gmail.com Systematic Theology:

K. Steve McCormick

smccormick@nts.edu

Theological Education:Justus Hunterjhhunter@united.edu

Theology and Popular Culture: John Bechtold jbechtold@iliff.edu

Theology and Preaching: Tammy Condon tcondon@nazarene.org

Women’s Studies:Karen Winslow kwinslow@apu.edu