Mennonite Scholars and Friends
Institute of Mennonite Studies (IMS) coordinates the Mennonite Scholars and Friends (MSF) events at the American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature (AAR/SBL), which meets every November. We do this on behalf of Mennonite and Anabaptist-affiliated post-secondary institutions, and the many individual scholars participating in these events. The reception and forum are open to anyone who wishes to attend.
The MSF Program Committee invites proposals for short panel presentations on topics related to queer biblical studies,聽theology, ethics, and religious聽studies. Panel presentations will be 8 to 10 minutes in length. We invite panelists to reflect on Anabaptist/Mennonite contributions to these fields as well as challenges and opportunities that these fields open for Anabaptist/Mennonite scholarship. Topics to address could include the relationship between queer and Anabaptist methodologies; lessons for scholars from queer movements; queer readings of specific biblical passages, theological topics, or historical episodes; and neglected queer resources within the Anabaptist tradition. The MSF forum will be held in San Diego, Friday November 22, 7:00鈥�8:30 p.m. Send proposals of up to 200 words to MSF Program Committee coordinator Jamie Pitts,聽jpitts@ambs.edu, by April 1, 2024.
Program committee
A program committee oversees the annual forum. Current members include Jacob Cook, Rebecca Harris Melanie Howard, Kimberly Penner, Jamie Pitts (coordinator), Nindyo Sasongko, and Hyejung Jessie Yum. Questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome anytime and can be directed to IMS.
Supporting institutions
The following institutions have committed to paying an annual amount towards the cost of these events:
- Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
- Humanitas Anabaptist-Mennonite Centre
Brief history of Mennonite Scholars and Friends
The earliest forums were organized and sponsored by the Institute of Mennonite Studies (IMS) at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (bg真人). From the early 1990s to 2006, IMS and the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre (TMTC) oversaw a system in which, each year, a different post-secondary institution planned, hosted, and paid for the forum and reception. Around 2006, TMTC assumed primary responsibility for organizing the forums. A Program Committee was established in 2011 to plan the forums. Annually, 15 different institutions share the costs. All events listed below were held at concurrent sessions of AAR and SBL, except from 2008 to 2010, when these societies met separately. If anyone has information about the gaps in the list below, please contact us.