Deadline: February 1, 2023

Gospel Witness: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

The Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education extends an open call for paper presentation proposals for its annual meeting. Those interested in presenting at AETE should submit a proposal title with a 200-300 word abstract and a 30-word biography to Thomas Seckler, AETE Executive Team member, at ztseckle@tiu.edu.

Christian evangelism has been practiced for centuries. Although the goal to communicate the gospel clearly has remained the same, the methodology has changed according to the historical and local context. Humans are being influenced by factors such as globalization, cultural change, and advances in technology. Many are exposed to various religious beliefs and/or secularism. The topic of evangelism is critical and should be examined closely in light of these present-day realities. Educational institutions, local churches, mission organizations, and academic societies benefit from research on evangelism.

Theme:

The AETE is celebrating its 50^th anniversary. The Conference Theme for this year’s annual meeting is “Gospel Witness: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education.” The annual meeting will offer an opportunity to honor the past, consider our present, and look to the future. 

Questions:

Participants are invited to propose a paper or panel discussion on a topic related to the conference theme. Many questions are relevant to the theme. Some of them include:

1. Gospel witness yesterday

a.     How has God used humans in the past to witness to others?

b.     What case studies reveal the historical work of evangelism?

c.     What lessons can we learn from those who have served before us?

d.     What changes have occurred in the teaching and training of evangelism?

e.     How has the AETE engaged in the research, teaching, and promotion of evangelism during its 50-year history?

2. Gospel witness today

a.     How are the changing realities across the globe affecting gospel communication?

b.     Which traditional practices continue to be effective in communicating biblical truth?

c.      What newer methodologies are allowing people to clearly understand and wrestle with the gospel message? 

d.     What case studies demonstrate effective gospel communication in contemporary cultures, both within and outside the borders of the U.S.?

e.     What is an assessment of current ways in which evangelism is studied and taught in higher education?

3. Gospel witness tomorrow

a.     What changes in globalization, culture, and technology are expected, and how can we effectively evangelize others in the years ahead considering these changes?

b.     What innovations or methods may assist the academy in teaching and training evangelism in the future?

The above list is not exhaustive. Other topics or questions related to the theme can be explored. The purpose is to examine the practices of evangelism in the past, present, and future. Interaction with others about these issues can influence the way evangelism is taught and carried out.

Submission:

We invite missiologists, scholars, and practitioners to submit paper proposals.

Paper proposal deadline: February 1, 2023. Notification of accepted papers: March 4, 2023. Papers accepted for presentation (including works in progress that invite discussion and feedback) should be 4,000 to 7,000 words in length including notes and references. They should conform to the style guide of the journal Missiology: An International Review, available at: http://asmweb.org/assets/pdf/Style-Guide-2011.pdf.  Following the Annual Meeting, final papers may be submitted to the editor for possible publication in Witness: Journal of the Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education.

Presentations:

Presentations at the meeting will be limited to 15-20 minutes, plus additional time for discussion. Please direct all submissions and questions to Thomas Seckler at ztseckle@tiu.edu.

Registration information for the Annual Meeting will be available on the website in the Spring 2023 (Conference – AETE.online).

We hope to see you at the meeting in June!