Systematic Theology

2026 Call for Papers

Sudabée Lotfian-Mena

Hector Varela-Rios, Villanova University (PA)

hector.varela.rios@villanova.edu

David Dawson Vázquez

ddawsonvasquez@gmail.com

In accordance with the Convention theme, the Systematic Theology Section invites proposals that consider faith (both academically and in everyday life, that is, throughout the breadth and width of Christian theology) in our turbulent, global times. Said otherwise, we seek to explore what toxic/corrupt/sinful Christian worldviews mean considering healthy/liberative faith and what is at stake for theologians from the dawn of Christianity up to today, from all/any context(s) and multiple theoretical, empirical, and/or practical approaches. While all proposals are welcome, we will likely preference those that are particularly invested in the conference theme and its overarching concepts (“power,” “boundaries,” and “order”).

• 1.     Historical/contemporary alliances between empire and Christianity (e.g., in Constantinople, in La Conquista, or in Nazi Germany) and theological lessons learned.
• 2.     In honor of the 1700^th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, alliances between faith and nationalism throughout church history (councils, magisterium, Vatican governance).
• 3.     Critiques of Christian nationalist arguments by revisiting Augustine’s City of God and/or other sources from the tradition (including Holy Scripture).
• 4.     Theological method as response to the method(s) of Christian nationalism(s), especially when the latter is led by non-ecclesial actors, e.g., governments, NGO’s, non-profits, corporations, print/social media.
• 5.     Theological convergences/divergences between Christian and non-Christian (or even allegedly non-religious) ‘nationalisms,’ e.g., Zapatismo, Zionism, DHS/ICE narratives.
• 6.     Non-Western theology (e.g., Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, Buddhist) and Christian nationalism.
• 7.     Theological aesthetics (i.e., perception, symbols) and Christian nationalism.
• 8.     ‘From-below’ faithful efforts to mitigate Christian nationalism (e.g., faith-based organizations, comunidades de base, devotional practices)
• 9.     Theological education in a Christian nationalist country; teaching Christian nationalism in a conservative Christian institution.
• 10.  Book panels (e.g., Jesus and John Wayne; Burying White Privilege; After Evangelicalism; The Christian Imagination; When God Became White; Religion, Politics, and the Christian Right, or other)

Proposals should be around 250 words in length and include the proposer’s current institutional affiliation and position. Proposals should be emailed by December 15, 2025 to David Dawson Vázquez (ddawsonvasquez@gmail.com), Sudabée Lotfian-Mena (lotfians1@udayton.edu), and Héctor M. Varela Rios (hvarelar@villanova.edu). Scholars will be notified of their proposal’s status by mid-January. Please see the Convention’s Call for Papers and the CTS website for more details at https://collegetheologysociety10.wildapricot.org/. Scholars who are invited to present their work at a national convention of the CTS must be current members in order to appear in the program.  No person may submit more than one proposal for consideration nor will submissions to multiple sections be considered. However, one section may share papers to another if they feel fit is better elsewhere. Failure to observe these policies may result in the proposing scholar's disqualification to present a paper at the Annual Convention.