The Institute for Biblical Scholarship in Africa (IBSA) – West Africa invites you to submit a paper for presentation at its first meeting for 2022 scheduled to take place on June 18, 2022.
Venue: Online
Theme: The Bible and Family Relationships in Africa
The African society is largely considered communal in nature where family relationships are critical in life and nurture. The family is the hope of continuous human existence on earth. In that regard, it is seen in many contexts as the fulcrum of society. Subsequently, a healthy and well-nurtured family breeds a good moral society. However, due to economic and other challenges that many families are faced with today, attention to family relationships have been largely limited. This has given rise to increased social vices in society. It can be argued that since the establishment of Christianity in Africa in the 17th century, the Bible has become a key document used to improve the good virtues of family relationships in Africa. This call for paper presentation seeks propositions and responses concerning how to use/interpret the Bible for effective family relationships in Africa, particularly West Africa, to make the Bible more relevant and responsive to critical issues in the African context.
Areas to explore include but not limited to are:
- Family relationships in the Old Testament
- Family relationships in the New Testament
- Family relationship in the Early Church
- Challenges of African Family Relationships
- Prospects of African Family Relationships
- The Church and Family Relationships
- Society and Family Relationships in Africa
- The Living-dead and the Africa Family Relationships
- Rituals in African Family Relationships
- “Home away from home” and the Family in Africa
- The Bible, Marriage, and Children
- The Bible, Divorce, and African Traditions
- The Bible, In-laws, and the Family in Africa
Important dates
Submission of 150 words abstract – April 15, 2022
Notice of acceptance of abstracts – April 30, 2022
Submission of full (draft) article – June 5, 2022
Presentation at IBSA – West Africa meeting – June 18, 2022
All abstracts, draft papers, and inquiries should be sent to admin@ibsafrica.org