WESLEYAN THEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
50th Annual Meeting
March 6-7, 2015
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon, Ohio
THEME: FIFTY YEARS OF WTS:
THE PAST AND FUTURE OF WESLEYAN-HOLINESS IDENTITY
PLENARY SESSION SPEAKERS:
Doug Strong, Dean of the School of Theology and Professor of the History of
Christianity, Seattle Pacific University
Beth Felker Jones, Associate Professor of Theology, Wheaton College
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:
Richard P. Thompson, Professor of New Testament, Northwest Nazarene University
PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS:
Douglas M. Koskela, Associate Professor of Theology, Seattle Pacific University
Richard P. Thompson, Professor of New Testament, Northwest Nazarene University
Jason E. Vickers, Professor of Theology and Wesleyan Studies, United Theological
Seminary
CALL FOR PAPERS:
The theme for the 2015 meeting is “The Past and Future of Wesleyan-Holiness Identity.” As
the Wesleyan Theological Society celebrates its 50th Annual Meeting, the time is ripe for looking
back and looking forward. In particular, this meeting will explore various aspects of the
Wesleyan-Holiness tradition as reflected in the work and membership of WTS. How has the
Society (and its membership) embodied the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition over five decades?
What has the Society contributed to the self-understanding of our tradition? In what ways has
Wesleyan-Holiness identity shifted since the inception of WTS? What will it mean to claim
Wesleyan-Holiness identity for the future? Our aim is to examine the legacy of our tradition,
generously and self-critically, in order to move forward faithfully for the next fifty years.
Paper topics might include but are not limited to the following:
 Consideration of biblical material on the nature of holiness
 Exploration of biblical themes/passages of emphasis in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition as
well as other themes/passages that have potential for shaping the tradition in the future.
 Assessment of the reception of John Wesley (as evangelist, as theologian, as spiritual
father) in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition
 Examination of markers of Wesleyan-Holiness identity in various historical periods
 Consideration of the relationship between Wesleyan-Holiness ecclesial bodies and the
broader Christian tradition
 Assessment of distinctly Wesleyan and/or Holiness contributions to the WesleyanHoliness tradition, and how those distinct contributions continue to shape our heritage
 Analysis of global expressions of Wesleyan-Holiness identity
 Consideration of “blind spots” in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition from social, historical,
or theological perspectives
 Exploration of the relationship between Wesleyan-Holiness theology and various
philosophical movements
 Analysis of the engagement with science in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition
 Examination of practices of Christian formation in Wesleyan-Holiness ecclesial bodies at
various historical periods
 Consideration of the past and future of the relationship between the academy and
Wesleyan-Holiness ecclesial bodies
Completed paper proposal forms are to be sent to only one section chair of the program
section of preference listed below by September 1, 2014. Proposal forms are provided on
the next page. See the WTS website for more information: http://wesley.nnu.edu/wts.
Persons interested in proposing new sessions or individual papers that do not fit neatly into our
established sections are encouraged to do so. Please submit those to our program co-chair, Doug
Koskela (kosked@spu.edu), also by the September 1, 2014 deadline.
Biblical Studies:
Bill Malas
william.malas.jr@enc.edu
Eastern Nazarene College
23 East Elm Ave.
Quincy, MA 02170
Ecumenical Studies:
Kelly Yates
kyates@snu.edu
Southern Nazarene University
6729 NW 39th Expy
Bethany, OK 73008
Intercultural Studies:
Nell Becker Sweeden
nbeckersweeden@georgefox.edu
George Fox Evangelical Seminary
12753 SW 68th Ave.
Portland, OR 97223
Historical Studies:
Kevin Watson
Kevin.watson@emory.edu
Assistant Professor of Wesleyan and
Methodist Studies
Candler School of Theology
Emory University
1531 Dickey Drive, RARB 262
Atlanta, GA 30322
(404) 727-4194
Moral Theology:
Joseph Bankard
jabankard@nnu.edu
Northwest Nazarene University
623 S. University Blvd.
Nampa, ID 83686
Practical Theology/Christian
Formation:
Mark Maddix
mamaddix@nnu.edu
Northwest Nazarene University
623 S. University Blvd.
Nampa, ID 83686
Science and Theology:
Thomas Jay Oord
tjoord@nnu.edu
Northwest Nazarene University
623 S. University Blvd.
Nampa, ID 83686
SSPWT (Psychology and Wesleyan
Theology):
Brandon Arbuckle
bmarbuckle@gmail.com
105 Music Village Blvd.
Hendersonville, TN 37075
Systematic Theology:
K. Steve McCormick
smccormick@nts.edu
Nazarene Theological Seminary
1700 E. Meyer Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64131
Theological Education:
Justus Hunter
jhhunter@mail.smu.edu
429 East Polk Street B
Richardson, TX 75081
(270)996-7716
Theology and Popular Culture:
John Bechtold
jbechtold@iliff.edu
3696 S Depew St #202
Lakewood, CO 80235
Theology and Preaching:
Tammy Condon
tcondon@nazarene.org
International Board of Education
Church of the Nazarene
Global Ministry Center
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
Lenexa, KS 66220
Women’s Studies:
Karen Winslow
kwinslow@apu.edu
Azusa Pacific University
Graduate School of Theology
P.O. Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
PAPER PROPOSAL FORM
DUE SEPTEMBER 1, 2014
2015 WESLEYAN THEOLOGICAL SOCIETY MEETING
“FIFTY YEARS OF WTS: THE PAST AND FUTURE OF WESLEYAN-HOLINESS IDENTITY”
Please add the information below and email proposal as an electronic document to the chair of
the one preferred section that you select (from the list at the conclusion of the Call for Papers).
WTS SECTION NAME:
TYPE OF PRESENTATION (SELECT ONE): Paper, Panel, Other (Specify):
PRESENTATION TITLE:
PROPOSAL SYNOPSIS (250–300 WORDS):
PRESENTER’S FULL NAME:
PRESENTER’S TITLE:
POSITION:
INSTITUTION (if any):
ADDRESS:
EMAIL:
WORK AND/OR HOME PHONE:
FAX AND/OR WEBSITE:
PRESENTATION NEEDS (Select all that apply): Audio, Video, Visual (e.g., PowerPoint), Other (Specify):
SUGGESTED RESPONDENT (INCLUDE EMAIL):
PERMISSION TO RECORD:
NAME AND EMAIL OF PROFESSOR ENDORSING PAPER/PRESENTER (for masters students only):
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