Call For Papers

Spirituality Topic Session

Deadline for submission is September 1, 2012.

Administrative Team: Marian Maskulak (Convener), Thomas McElligott, Patrick Kelly, SJ.

The Spirituality Topic Session invites paper proposals for the 2013 convention that

1. develop a thought-provoking position on an interesting proposition that falls within the field of Christian spirituality;

2. articulate clearly the approach to the subject as it embodies and illustrates the writer’s understanding of and approach to the field of Christian spirituality as an academic discipline. Of particular focus should be experience, reflective critical analysis, and a constructive understanding of a lived faith;

3. connect with the convention’s theme of Conversion.
   
   Possible – not exclusive – topics include the following:
   • the role of conversion in light of the Christian community’s need for continual reformation (semper reformanda) – i.e., the need to convert before we reform
   • the ripple effect or interplay between an individual’s conversion and the impact of that conversion on others – conversion is a powerful experience for an individual and stories of conversion can be powerful for others
   • the idea of penance as a lifelong process rather than a moment
   • the question of converting from what? to what?
   • the use of concrete examples from the Christian spiritual tradition (e.g., Benedictine, Dominican, etc.) to illustrate on-going conversion
   • the use of art and ritual space to bring the idea of penance/conversion to the community’s life
   • the distinction between conversion and transformation
   • how conversion relates to issues such as the female homicides in Ciudad Juárez
   • contrasting perspectives on conversion from two different eras in Church history, such as ancient, modern, or postmodern (e.g., conversion in Augustine and Don Gelpi)

Proposals should be between 200-500 words and include the author’s name, institution, and contact information. The deadline for submission is September 1, 2012. Notification of acceptance for presentation will be given by September 21, 2012. Authors of accepted papers will be required to submit a 100 word précis for the program posted on the web. A maximum of three papers will be selected for the session.

Proposals should clearly state the topic to be developed in the paper, the conclusion as currently envisioned, and the approach to the subject that will be taken. Instead of an individual paper, you may wish to propose a panel on which three speakers would each speak for about twenty minutes on a common topic. You may also wish to propose a team of two persons who propose the same topic from two different points of view. Please articulate in the proposal any audio-visual support required. Recall that CTSA policy limits presenters to one speaking role on the convention program, with the exception of underrepresented constituencies. Presenters should ordinarily be CTSA members in good standing. Please send proposals to Marian Maskulak at maskulam@stjohns.edu.