Call for Papers
Compassion: Thoughtful, Engaged, and Generous
A multi-faith, multidisciplinary conference for academics and activists
May 27 – 29, 2025
Vancouver School of Theology
Attend in person or via Zoom
With a special track led by the Charter for Compassion: The role of spiritual and religious communities in creating compassionate cities
Compassion can bridge social divisions, uplift people in distress, inspire collective action, and create resilient communities. It is the ability to recognize, empathize with, and respond to others. For many spiritual communities, compassion is both a core practice and an essential idea. Compassion Spiritual traditions say compassion affirms the connectedness of all being, grounds an imperative to care, or is an essential divine trait.
What do the spirituality and practice of compassion look like in our time? What do we need to address with compassion? What tensions surface when we do? How can we come together to act, within and across spiritual communities?
Suggested paper topics: Definitions of compassion, empathy, mercy. Complexities and challenges of practicing compassion. Compassion in scriptures and sacred stories. Compassionate organizations, communications, friendships, dialogues. Compassion in education, public policy, health care, politics, or economics. Compassion in spiritual community, leadership, or pastoral care. Compassion-informed protest, antiracism, or restorative justice.
Multidisciplinary approaches welcome. Conference papers can draw on theology, religious studies, biblical studies, Indigenous studies, sociology, political science, legal studies, philosophy, literature, history, the arts, gender studies, disability studies and more. They can focus on one or multiple traditions, and be grounded in any spiritual or non-theistic tradition.
Proposal Preparation Guidelines: Proposal with paper title, 150-200 word abstract, 50 word bio, and phone/email contact info due March 1 to nhayward@vst.edu. We will notify presenters of acceptance no later than March 15. Completed papers (3,000 words, accessible to educated non-specialists) are due May 15, and will be considered for publication in an anthology published by Wipf and Stock.
VST Graduate Student Essay Contest: Accepted papers by VST graduate students will automatically be entered into an essay contest.
Registration: $190 general/$90 students. Opens March 15. Financial aid available. Contact LDKaplan@vst.edu for details.
Questions? Contact Conference Director Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan-Kaplan LDKaplan@vst.edu or Conference Administrator Dr. Nicola Hayward, nhayward@vst.edu.