American Catholic Life and Thought

2025 Call for Papers

John Morgan, University of Dayton

morganj16@udayton.edu

Matthew Minix, Thomas More University

minixm@thomasmore.edu

 

The American Catholic Life & Thought section welcomes any and all historically-informed papers addressing the 2025 convention theme “The Locus of the Theological Vocation” 

 

Nonetheless, this section especially encourages proposals based on the following topics:

  

Evaluations of how one’s social, geographical, and academic location affect one’s theological reflection, scholarship, and topics within American Catholicism today.

 

Analyses of how the work of theology changes when one moves between contexts, such as exiting academia, working in parish ministry, in a hospital, or some other environment where theology is practiced in the United States of America today. 

 

Assessments of how the work of teaching impacts the method or content of theology. This could be contrasted with other public forums where theology can be practiced publically, such as modern media (podcasting, tiktok, etc.)  

 

Examinations of how theology’s evolving context impacts the life of the Church and the academy in the United States of America in the 21st century.  Specifically, what might the American Church look like if there are fewer professional or academic theologians in the future? How might a diminished presence of theology affect higher education?

 

Consideration of what new loci or overlooked species might serve as new habitats for theology in the present of future.  Specifically, how might we continue to practice theology and allow it to impact our lives in a world where there are not as many academic jobs in theology?

 

Proposals should be approximately 250-500 words in length, and include a title, one’s institutional affiliation, any anticipated AV needs,

 

Please email your proposals to Matthew Minix at minixm@thomasmore.edu and John Morgan at morganj16@udayton.edu by December 15, 2024.  Finally, feel free to email either of the co-conveners with any questions, comments, or concerns.  Scholars will be notified of acceptance or rejection before the end of January.