"Building on our Strengths"
Request for Papers
PLEASE NOTE: Although the deadline for the submission of papers has passed, the following information will be kept on the Conference website for reference purposes.
The Fifth Biennial Faith-Based Service-Learning conference for teaching faculty, co-curricular faculty, administrators, students and community partners interested in the interactions between spirituality and faith perspectives and service-learning will be held at Messiah College, May 31- June 1, 2008. Previous conferences brought together a diverse group of persons for rich conversations and mutual learning. Last year over 120 persons from nearly 70 institutions attended.
Please share this conference information and call for papers with your colleagues who might be interested. The conference is of particular interest to persons at faith-based institutions, but by no means limited. Conference participants are invited to submit papers and facilitate roundtables that discuss theoretical assumptions, community based research, model service-learning programs and pedagogical strategies that build on the strengths of faith traditions and community assets. A distinctive of the conference is the special emphasis given to the ways that particular faith traditions impact service learning and community based research. This year's theme lends itself to discussions about asset based community engagement and how service-learning can help students think about the intersection of faith and spirituality in community based learning environments. Paper proposals were due February 18, 2008.
Conference participants are invited to submit proposals for papers, workshops roundtables or presentations. These may be conceptual, empirical or descriptions of innovative programs. Roundtable proposal submissions for breakout sessions that actively include participants are encouraged. Breakout session proposals should be sent via the online web form on the conference website to Chad Frey no later than February 18, 2008. Persons whose proposals are accepted will be notified as soon as possible and the break out session abstracts will be printed in the conference proceedings. Selected papers may also be published in national service-learning journals. Listed below are some possible topics. Other suggestions are welcome.
- Creative programs working at spirituality, social justice, social policy, advocacy, and social change;
- Exploration of the strengths of faith traditions for service;
- Issues related to building effective asset based community partnerships with both faith-based and other organizations;
- Particular issues encountered in service-learning and/or community based research at faith-based colleges;
- Integrating evangelism and justice in service-learning;
- Descriptions of model programs and best practices;
- International service-learning;
- Institutionalizing service-learning at faith based colleges
- Moving from voluntary service to service-learning;
- Identification of particular perspective faith-based organizations bring to service-learning
