EPISCOPAL ELECTIONS IN LATE ANTIQUITY (CA. 250 - CA. 600 AD) CFP

CALL FOR PAPERS

International Conference
26-28 October 2009

EPISCOPAL ELECTIONS IN LATE ANTIQUITY (CA. 250 - CA. 600 AD)

Hosted by the Faculty of Theology
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Keynote speakers include:

Pauline Allen (ACU, Brisbane), George Bevan (Queen’s, Kingston),
Philippe Blaudeau (Paris XII), Peter Bruns (Bamberg), Bruno Dumézil
(Paris X), Geoffrey Dunn (ACU, Brisbane), Rudolf Haensch (DAI, München),
David G. Hunter (Kentucky), Hartmut Leppin (Frankfurt), Veit Rosenberger
(Erfurt), Claire Sotinel (Tours), Raymond Van Dam (Michigan), Eckhard
Wirbelauer (Strasbourg), Ewa Wipszycka (Warsaw)

Organising Committee: Boudewijn Dehandschutter (Leuven), Johan Leemans
(Leuven), Peter Van Nuffelen (Exeter), Shawn Keough (Leuven), Carla
Nicolaye (Leuven – Aachen)

URL: Episcopal Elections and Episcopal Succession in Late Antiquity
Conference Secretary: Dr. Shawn Keough: shawn.keough@theo.kuleuven.be

It is well known that episcopal elections in the later Roman Empire were
often a complicated and complicating event, as the controversy (and even
violence) attendant upon the elections and successions of many bishops
indicates. This conference will approach the phenomenon of episcopal
elections and succession from the broadest possible perspective,
examining the varied combination of factors, personalities, rules and
habits that played a role in the process that eventually resulted in one
specific candidate becoming the new bishop, and not another. The many
diverse and even conflicting aspects of this phenomenon will be
addressed: the influence of doctrinal conflicts, the relationship
between Church and State, patronage, local habits and regional
differences, chronological developments, ethnic identity. Also relevant
is the development of images of the ideal bishop, especially the manner
in which such idealized representations shaped the outcome of contested
elections and affected the character and exercise of episcopal authority
in late antique society.

Proposals for papers approaching the broader theme by any number of
perspectives and methodologies are welcome: particular elections,
specific bishops, geographical surveys (e.g. a city or a province), and
concrete texts (e.g. legislation – both civil and canonical, or,
hagiography) are all legitimate points of entry shedding valuable light
upon a relatively little studied phenomenon.

English will be the primary conference language, although proposals for
papers in French and German are equally acceptable. Following the
conference there will be opportunity for participants to submit their
papers for peer review, as the conference organizers intend to edit the
conference proceedings for publication.

Paper proposals should be sent to the conference secretary by 15 May
2008. Proposals should consist of a title and an abstract of up to 300
words providing a clear indication of the paper’s thesis, sources and
methodology.

All those interested are encouraged to contact the conference secretary,
Dr. Shawn Keough [shawn.keough@theo.kuleuven.be].

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