Plans Announced for 2021 SCJ Conference at Lincoln Christian University

The 20th annual Stone-Campbell Journal Conference is slated for Lincoln (Ill.) Christian University next April 16-17. If necessary, due to COVID-19, the conference will function virtually. The plenary sessions (and perhaps more) will be available virtually regardless.

The theme “Violence of God in the Old Testament” will be developed by featured speakers Eric Seibert, professor of Old Testament at Messiah University, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Michelle Knight, assistant professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Ill.; and Mark Hamilton, Onstead Professor of Biblical Studies at Abilene (Texas) Christian University.

Seibert will present “Solving the Problem of God’s Violent Behavior in the Old Testament: Is Jesus the Answer?” and “Preaching and Teaching from Violent Old Testament Texts: Pitfalls and Possibilities.” Knight will present “Sexual Violence at Gibeah (Judges 19).” Hamilton will present “No Shalom for the Wicked? Peace after War in the Book of Isaiah.”

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. Send your paper title (no abstract needed) to Jeff Painter, conference parallel paper coordinator, at jeff.painter@scinternational.org no later than Jan. 25. The first 35 paper topics submitted are guaranteed a slot, after which availability will be limited.

Twelve study groups welcome inquiries, no later than Jan. 5, 2021:

• Acts and the Early Church (Judith.Odor@gmail.com)  

• Biblical Teaching on Women (jdmiller@milligan.edu)               

• Christian Education (jestep@lincolnchristian.edu)    

• Christian Leadership (cbeard@johnsonu.edu)

• Ecclesiology & Social Ethics (shauncbrown@yahoo.com)

• History and Theology of Stone-Campbell Movement (jgorman@johnsonu.edu)

• Jewish Scripture as Christian Scripture (dstark@faulkner.edu)

• Life, Letters, and Legacy of Paul (jordan.stanley@asburyseminary.edu)

• Old Testament in Ancient Near Eastern Context (jabembry@milligan.edu)

• Race and Social Justice (paul.axton@gmail.com)

• Synoptic Gospels (danny.yencich@gmail.com)

• Theological Reflection (stephen.lawson@slu.edu)

Inquiries regarding study groups may be directed to the coordinator of the study groups: todd.wuske@scinternational.org.

Student paper competitions will occur in three categories:  Junior/Senior; MA/MDiv; and Restoration (Isaac Errett Award from the Disciples of Christ Historical Society). Contact Les Hardin (lhardin@johnsonu.edu) immediately 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 $2,500 scholarship available to both undergrad and grad winners. Papers are due Jan. 5. For the Isaac Errett competition, contact Doug Foster (fosterd@acu.edu). The winner receives a cash award. Submissions are due Jan. 25, 2021.

The conference hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 16, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 17.

Registration for the conference is open from Feb. 15 to April 5, 2021.