In addition to lectures, paper sessions, panels, workshops, bible studies and excursions, the conference will provide specific spaces of encounter for PhD students in the field of Diaconia.

See the call for papers here (pdf).

Researchers, and in particular PhD students, are invited to submit abstracts of maximum 200 words for a paper, panels or workshops until 20 March 2020 to conference@diaconiaresearch.org.

Your contribution should relate to one of the following main themes of the conference

• Youth, the Ecological Crisis and Environmental Justice – How can Diaconia make a Difference?
• Drifting Apart? Diaconal Responses to the Demographic Developments, Forced Migration, Crisis of Solidarity and Democracy
• Innovations and Leadership in Diaconal Studies as Practice-Based Research Area
• Biblical and Theological Paradigms for a Game-changing Diaconia
• Towards a Transforming Diaconal Leadership and Spirituality

About the theme of the conference

The development of society on both global and local level is increasingly described in terms of crisis. First and foremost, climate change is becoming more and more perceptible and posing new problems and challenges for humanity, to stakeholders and all those who bear responsibility. Neoliberal globalisation and economic policies have somehow contributed to increasing social inequalities and injustice, and a growth in unemployment and in precarity of income from employment. Furthermore, demographic developments and forced migration undermine solidarity and lead to tension between generations. The extent and speed of the changes has created fears that materialise socially and politically as radicalisation and right-wing popularism.

The agents of Diaconia observe these developments and the practice of Diaconia is itself part of them. How do diaconal organisations and churches meet these challenges? Do they contribute to finding new answers or are they afraid of losing what they are used to have? What does diaconal leadership look like in times of crises and change? How can diaconal leadership be re-imagined based on faith, hope and love? How can research contribute to innovate diaconal practices? How can learning from each other across the continents be stimulated in order for diaconal agents to become vital gamechangers? How can prophetic Diaconia contribute in advocacy efforts in order to prevent urgent needs in today’s world?

Submitting papers and contact information

The sign up will come soon, but please save the dates from 16 to 18 September 2020 for your participation in the Eighth Conference of the International Society for Research and Study of Diaconia and Christian Social Practice (ReDi) in Oslo/Norway.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with the organisers at ReDi at conference@diaconiaresearch.org or at VID at annette.leis-peters@vid.no