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Meeting Program Units

2023 Annual Meeting

San Antonio, Texas

Meeting Begins11/18/2023
Meeting Ends11/21/2023

Call for Papers Opens: 1/23/2023
Call for Papers Closes: 3/14/2023

Requirements for Participation

The Forum on Missional Hermeneutics


Program Unit Type: Affiliate
Accepting Papers? Yes

Call For Papers: The Forum on Missional Hermeneutics invites one-page paper proposals for two sessions: (1) "Re-Examining Acts 17:26 Missionally: Interpretation and Implications." In 'African American Readings of Paul', Lisa Bowens notes that Acts 17:26 "is the sine qua non for many African Americans in their understanding of who Paul is and what he believes” (p. 299). In light of the importance of Acts 17:26 for African American preachers of the 18th and 19th centuries, this session explores Acts 17:26, its relationship to the missio Dei, and implications for a socially located missional hermeneutics. Papers could, e.g., appeal to Acts 17:26 to clarify a biblical understanding of the missio Dei; exegete Acts 17:26 contextually in order to shape missional hermeneutics; and/or draw on Acts 17:26 to critique or clarify missional hermeneutics (exploring what the text says about God’s mission and the human response to it, or how it might inform a 'missional' framework for biblical interpretation); (2) "Missional Peacemaking: Engaging Polarization in Ecclesial and Educational Contexts." Increasingly, political and religious communities are characterized by polarization. Disagreements have become so acrimonious that community members find it difficult, if not impossible, to converse civilly and productively. Deep divisions often persist within congregations and other ecclesial bodies, as well as in church-related institutions of higher education (despite their educational mission to cultivate openness to new ideas). This session explores how missional theology might help address political and/or religious polarization, whether in congregations (and/or ecclesial governance structures) or church-related higher education (at a variety of levels). Papers should articulate a clear understanding of missional theology—and how it might address the problem of polarization. Proposals may include institutional case studies; analyses of polarization; and/or exegetical/theological exploration.

Program Unit Chairs

John R. Franke
Michael Barram

Propose a Paper for this Program Unit

If you are a SBL member, you must login before you can propose a paper for this or any other session. Please login by entering your SBL member number on the left in the Login box.

For all other persons wanting to propose a paper, you must communicate directly with the chair of the program unit to which you want to propose. Chairs have the responsibility to make waiver requests, and their email addresses are available above. SBL provides membership and meeting registration waivers only for scholars who are outside the disciplines covered by the SBL program, specifically most aspects of archaeological, biblical, religious, and theological studies.

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