Johnson University Hosts 2025 Conference

Category: General, SCJ Conference

The 24th annual SCJ conference returns to Johnson University Tennessee in Knoxville, on April 11-12, 2025 (Friday, 8:00 AM-8:00 PM; Sat, 8:00 AM-1:00 PM). Plenary and select study group sessions will be made available via Zoom.

The theme is Tending God’s Garden: The Environmental Mandate. Featured speakers include: Sandra Richter, Professor of Theology, Robert H. Grundy Chair of Biblical Studies, Westmont College, who will present: “Embracing Eden: The Old Testament, Christians, and the Environment” and Embracing Eden: Environmentalism as Local”; Paul Blowers, Dean E. Walker Professor of History of Theology and Society, Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan, will present: “Oikonomia and Stewardship: A Legacy of Christian Theologies of Creation”; and Mark Sneed, Professor of Bible, Lubbock Christian University, who will present: “God’s Ecological Concerns in the Divine Speeches of Job.”

Related papers or papers on other biblical, theological, or historical topics are sought for parallel sessions from experienced scholars as well as from student scholars (M.A/M.Div.). Send your paper title (no abstract needed) to Jeff Painter, Conference Parallel Paper Coordinator, at jeff.painter@scinternational.org absolutely no later than January 17, 2025. The first 35 paper topics submitted are guaranteed a slot. After that it will depend on rooms available and cancelled papers.

Contact the leaders of these twelve study groups by December 10, 2024, regarding opportunities in particular areas of interest:

• Acts and the Early Church (Judith.Odor@gmail.com)
• Men and Women in Christ (lgguy@my.milligan.edu)
• Christian Leadership (cbeard@johnsonu.edu)
• Christian Spiritual Formation (myoung@faulkner.edu)
• Ecclesiology & Social Ethics (shauncbrown@yahoo.com)
• History and Theology of the Stone-Campbell Movement (jgorman@johnsonu.edu)
• Life, Letters, and Legacy of Paul (rrodriguez@pts.edu)
• Old Testament in Ancient Near Eastern Context (adamlbean@gmail.com)
• Pastoral Theology and Leadership (jestep@dts.edu)
• Patristics (dwkiger@milligan.edu)
• Synoptic Gospels (zechariah.eberhart@point.edu)
• To Ph.D. or Not: A Panel of Predecessors (james.sedlacek@scinternational.org)

All Student Paper Competitions closed on January 6, 2025. Student Paper Competitions occur in three categories: Junior/Senior; M.A./M.Div., and Restoration (Isaac Errett Award from the Disciples of Christ Historical Society). Contact Adam Bean (adamlbean@gmail.com) to indicate your interest and to obtain the competition rules (also available on the SCJ website) for the undergrad and grad competition, and also receive information on the $2500 scholarship available to both undergrad and grad winners. For the Isaac Errett competition, contact new coordinator Lisa Barnett (lisa.barnett@ptstulsa.edu) The winner receives a cash award of $500. Both undergrad and grad papers require a faculty sponsor; The Isaac Errett does not. Not ready yet? Encourage a student and plan ahead for 2026!.

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