International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry (IASYM)
CALL FOR PAPERS
Annual Africa Conference of International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry (IASYM)
Venue: North West University, Mahikeng Campus
Dates: 28 – 30 August 2019
Conference theme: Transformative Youth Ministry in an African context
Dear colleagues,
On behalf of the International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry (IASYM), we invite you to submit an abstract for a paper at our annual 2019 Africa Youth conference. We are grateful to the Faculty of Theology, North West University for the generous invitation to host the International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry (IASYM) in 2019.
Introduction of IASYM:
The IASYM is focussed on furthering the academic study and research of youth and youth ministry, the formal teaching and training of youth ministry (at universities, seminaries, denominations, para-church organisations, local ministries, or wherever else it may occur), and on the growth and development of youth ministry as a recognised profession. Our goal is to raise the profile of youth ministry as a calling, career and/or professional enterprise, and to encourage the reflection on youth ministry as an academic discipline that will support youth ministry at this level.
Background for call of papers:
Southern African region’s history, as is with the rest of the continent, is marred with gross socioeconomic, political and religious injustices/discriminations as part of colonial legacy. Apartheid and different wars of liberation from colonial systems, as well as new democracies saturated with corruption, have left the region with multifaceted challenges, which calls on all sectors of society including the academy and the church to contribute towards transformative and collective wellbeing in Africa. Hence, more than 50% of Africa’s population are classified as youth, it is important to attend to Transformative Youth Ministry within the African context.
Another important factor that must influence the teaching and training of youth ministry is the recent call for the “decolonization of higher education” in South Africa from student movements and academics alike, which resonates with broader intellectual discourses. The discourses on “decoloniality” (Grossfoguel 2011) and also the “decolonial turn” (Snyman 2015: 266-291; Maldonado-Torres 2011) challenge the various theological disciplines, or better, afford us (again) an opportunity to continue to think critically about our own heritage and then also, our contribution today and perhaps tomorrow.
Therefore, if we accept that God’s mission has a church, we believe that the missional church, has an inescapable responsibility to contribute to transform the academic study and research of youth and youth ministry, the formal teaching and training of youth ministry (at universities, seminaries, denominations, para-church organisations, local ministries, or wherever else it may occur), and on the growth and development of youth ministry as a recognised profession. By doing this, transformative Youth Ministry will be able to contribute to a missional ecclesiology which in turn will contribute to socioeconomic, political and religious transformation in Africa in tangible ways and visa versa.
Youth Ministry might be viewed as one discipline which is missional by its very nature, and which epistemological core is a faith-based focus on the triune God. Youth Ministry has a correlational-hermeneutical approach to theology, meaning it correlates or compares various perspectives and initiates a dialogue between them. It is our understanding that Youth Ministry with a focus on congregations as faith-communities and basic building blocks of the church should be instrumental in the development of transformative Youth Ministry teaching and training.
Against the backdrop outlined in foregoing we introduce the theme: Transformative Youth Ministry in an African context. This theme is pertinent and relevant in our context. It affords researchers and practitioners of Youth Ministry an opportunity to wrestle with how we do teaching and training in a context marred with socioeconomic, political and religious injustices that perpetuate the marginalisation the church.
We therefore encourage colleagues to engage and reflect broadly, if possible inter and transdisciplinary, on the theme. We invite papers submissions, relating to the conference theme, whilst possible subthemes and questions could include, but are not limited to:
- Decolonisation or Africanisation of Youth Ministry
- New developments within the research and curriculum taught at institutions
The creative tension between academy and practise within youth ministry
How to submit a paper abstract:
Paper abstracts (single papers) should include your name, institutional affiliation and a 500-word max proposal outlining the issue, your argument, and the relevance. Papers should be submitted to Conference organisers: conference chair,
Prof Hannes Knoetze at Hannes.Knoetze@nwu.ac.za or conference secretary,
Dr. Hannelie Yates at Hannelie.Yates@nwu.ac.za
Deadline for abstract submission: 15 June 2019
Feedback to authors: 30 June 2019
Deadline for paper submission: 15 August 2019
The conference fee is R800. The program will also include the annual business meeting and a conference dinner Thursday evening, hosted by the Faculty of Theology NWU. Please contact the conference chair, Prof Hannes Knoetze at Hannes.Knoetze@nwu.ac.za or conference secretary, Dr. Hannelie Yates at Hannelie.Yates@nwu.ac.za or Ayesha.Dean@nwu.ac.za for further information or clarity on any of the logistical arrangements.
You are requested to pay your conference fee of R800 into the North-West University bank account before or on 20 August 2019.
The bank details are as follows:
Account holder name: North-West University/Noordwes Universiteit
Account Name: NWU Diverse
Account Number: 067 064 2313
Branch Name: ABSA Tomstreet
Branch Code: 632005
Swift Code: ABSAZAJJ
Email Address: esther.vanheerder@nwu.ac.za & Ayesha.Dean@nwu.ac.za
Reference: IASYM/SURNAME
We are looking forward to your attendance and hopefully your presentation at the next annual conference of IASYM.
Greetings
Hannes Knoetze
Hannes.Knoetze@nwu.ac.za Mobile 082 873 9122