2nd Call for Papers: 1st International Conference on Congregational Education in the 21st Century
Reflection, Relevance, and Resilience in a Changing World from a Protestant Perspective
Date: 29th September – 1st October 2025
Location: Joensuu, University of Eastern Finland
Submission Deadline: 15th of March
Submission Details:
We invite scholars and practitioners engaged in Congregational Education, including areas such as confirmation, pastoral care, public theology, and other forms of church-focused education, to submit their research, case studies, and conceptual papers.
Schedule:
1stth of December 2024 – 15th of March 2025 Abstracts (300-600 words) submission window
31st of March 2025 Decision on acceptance for presentation
15th of January– 30th of April 2025 Registration
15th of June 2025 Summaries submission (3000 words)
Please submit your abstracts to icce21 [at] uef [dot] fi by 15th of March 2025. All submissions should be in Word. Papers will be peer-reviewed, and authors will be notified in a timely manner. We aim for a high-quality peer-reviewed publication based on selected presentations of the conference. Please indicate your interest when submitting.
Description of the conference
Congregational Education, often referred to as Christian Education or Religious Education within the context of parishes or other clerical institutions, combines theoretical-moral and technical-practical sides of knowledge and encompasses the processes and practices of imparting Christian beliefs, values, and practices to individuals and groups, within a congregational setting. This form of education is often directed to all groups of age and embraces among other approaches non-formal education and of lifelong learning (cf. Leganger-Krogstad 2019, p. 60). The question of what form of Congregational Education the 21st century needs has been hotly debated around the world (cf. Harris & Moran 1998, p. 167), and to some extent scholars and ministries are still perplexed today. As we are about to close the first quarter of the 21st century, churches and societies across Europe stand at the crossroads of unprecedented challenges and transformations. The ever-advancing secularization, the scars of pandemics, and the specter of war in- and outside Europe have reshaped our societies and congregations in ways we are still coming to understand. In these turbulent times, protestant churches across Europe remain an enduring bastion of faith, hope, and community for many people and are therefore a relevant object for Reflection, Relevance, and Resilience in a Changing World from a Protestant Perspective. However, to navigate this complex and moving landscape, Congregational Education must evolve, adapting to the demands of the ‘Zeitgeist’ while remaining true to its fundamental mission. Amidst the backdrop of ongoing social uncertainties and intricate complexities prevailing in Europe, we recognize a pressing need – and, indeed, a promising opportunity – for academic dialogue. These tumultuous times provide fertile ground for innovative thought, prompting us to both question established paradigms and forge new pathways in our respective fields.
The 1st International Conference on Congregational Education seeks to foster a collaborative research-based space for scholars, educators, and church leaders from across Europe. It aims to exchange ideas, share experiences, and derive empirical insights into the direction Congregational Education should take in this dynamic time. We wish to explore how Congregational Education can address the pressing challenges of this century while instilling a sense of purpose, resilience, and spiritual growth in its learners.
Conference foci
The multidisciplinary ICCE2025 conference invites academic contributions on all levels of congregational education from early childhood education to older adult education. Visit the webpage for examples of topics.
Keynotes
The conference will include 3 keynotes. TBA.
The conference will be hosted by the School of Theology, University of Eastern Finland.
Conference committee
Dr. Martin Ubani, Professor of Religious Education, University of Eastern Finland
Dr. Stefan van der Hoek, RWL Protestant University of Bochum, Germany
M.Theol., Heidi Toivanen, Doctoral Researcher, University of Eastern Finland
Dr. Eveliina Hellas, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences
Dr. Jarmo Kokkonen, Director of Education and Youth Work, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
Mikko Wirtanen, Specialist, Confirmation training and congregational education, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
M.Theol., Sini Niemelä, Doctoral Researcher, University of Eastern Finland
For further details, conference fees and conference updates, please check out our conference website or contact the conference organizers.
Homepage: https://sites.uef.fi/icce21
Email: icce21 [at] uef [dot] fi