International Conference on ‘Episcopal Elections in Late Antiquity’, 26-28 October 2009

The Faculty of Theology at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is pleased to announce an international conference on ‘Episcopal Elections in Late Antiquity’, 26-28 October 2009. The conference programme will include fourteen keynote lectures and eleven short paper sessions. Registration, travel and accommodation information is available on the conference website, and further information can be requested from the conference secretary.

Scientific Committee
Pauline Allen (ACU Brisbane), Jean-Marie Auwers (Louvain-la-neuve), Boudewijn Dehandschutter (Leuven), David Engels (Bruxelles), Hans Hauben (Leuven), Mathijs Lamberigts (Leuven), Johan Leemans (Leuven), Hartmut Leppin (Frankfurt), Peter Van Nuffelen (Exeter), Andrea Schmidt (Louvain-la-neuve), Stefan Schorn (Leuven), Ewa Wipszycka (Warsaw)

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

URL: http://theo.kuleuven.be/page/esla
Secretary: 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.

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