The present Covid-19 pandemic has been the cause of massive social, economic, and religious dislocation. Its longer-term implications remain unclear. At this difficult time theologians have a responsibility to draw upon the sources of our faith to provide insights from our religious traditions from which people both inside and outside the church may draw hope and meaning.

The Conference, Theologising in the Shadow of a Pandemic, organised by the SCD Theology Research Network is on 18 -19 February 2022. It is expected to be a face to face conference held at the Sydney College of Divinity.

Call for Papers

Papers are invited for concurrent sessions of the conference, addressing different aspects of the topic. Preference will be given to specifically theological engagement with the topic—systematic, political, liberation, feminist, liturgical, ethical, pastoral, biblical, patristic etc. Presenters will be given a 30 minute slot, 20 min for the paper, 10 min for discussion.

Possible issues:

• How has the pandemic shaped our experience of being church?
• Where is God to be found in suffering?
• How does the pandemic affect our understanding of divine providence?
• Who are those most affected and how should we respond?
• What possibilities does the pandemic create for people of faith?
• What voice can theologians find to speak to a secular audience in relation to the pandemic?

Proposals, 300 words or less, should be sent to Neil Ormerod at neilo@scd.edu.au by Monday,1 November 2021. All proposals will be considered by the conference organisers for inclusion in the conference schedule.

Organisers:

1. Assoc Prof Doru Costache, Sy Cyril’s Coptic Orthodox Theological College
2. Dr Xavier Lakshmanan, Australian College of Christian Studies
3. Assoc Prof Peter Laughlin, Australian College of Ministries
4. Prof Neil Ormerod, SCD Research Office