A Dialogic Unconference Hosted by the Christianity and Communication Studies Network (thecssn.com)
Date/Location/Time: Tuesday, November 17, 2026, on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm (lunch and dinner included).
The “What”? Since Mark Noll called attention to the “scandal of the evangelical mind” in his 1994 seminal publication, there have been sincere and sustained efforts to cultivate thinking and scholarship from an explicitly faith-informed, Christian perspective. Unfortunately, these efforts have had a very limited impact on non-academics in the Church—among pastors, parachurch ministers, and congregants. Some have suggested that Christian scholars have not taken advantage of publication outlets and other venues that pastors and lay Christians are more likely to read and engage. Others have suggested that the residual anti-intellectualism in the Church is as strong as ever, such that scholarship (even Christian scholarship) and intellectual activity more generally are viewed with considerable suspicion. To what extent is this a problem? What exactly is causing it? And what can be done to correct it?
In this dialogic unconference, we will address these and other questions as we engage the gap between Christian scholarship and the Church. More specific questions we will be discussing include:
- What practical steps can be taken to encourage local churches and church leaders to better value the “evangelical mind,” and to seek out and engage relevant Christian scholarship?
- How can Christian scholars, irrespective of discipline or field of study, more intentionally think through and write about the theological and practical discipleship implications of their ideas?
- How can Christian scholars make use of popular publication venues (e.g., newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals), non-academic conferences, and social media networking outlets to raise awareness of both the edifying potential and the practical utility of their work?
- How can Christian scholars both properly articulate and grow into what it means to be a “public intellectual” of the church (broadly speaking)?
- How can Christian scholars and intellectuals engage and overcome the populist and anti-elitist biases that have recently strengthened in the American church over the past couple decades?
The “Why”? The disconnect between Christian thinking and scholarship on the one hand, and non-academic ministers and congregants on the other hand, is a bigger problem than many realize. The church is robbed of important insights that can help Christians understand God better, understand their faith better, and practice their faith more intentionally and edifyingly. The Church is also left far more vulnerable to the spirit of anti-intellectualism and to the sorts of cultural co-optation that the Apostle Paul warns the church about in Romans 12:2. It’s important for Christian thinkers and scholars not only to cultivate sharper senses of what the problem is and how to engage it, but also to more fully grow into their proper role as a significant “part” of the “body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12-31).
The “How”? To attend, send an email to CCSN Executive Director Robert Woods (rwoods@theccsn.com) no later than March 1, 2026 with your interest in attending. Space is limited for this event to maximize one-on-one and small group discussions throughout our time together so we recommend that you reach out soon. The cost of the event (including lunch and dinner) is $140.00.
Pre-work: As with other CCSN dialogic encounters, there will be some basic pre-work required for those who wish to attend so we can maximize discussion during our short time together. This year’s pre-work will include reading Teaching and Christian Practices: Reshaping Faith and Learning (Eerdmans, 2011) along with the short papers described below to be submitted as part of the plenary panel/roundtable discussion (made available to participants during the summer of 2026).
Paper/Panel Presentations, and Edited Book. The panel format, given our dialogic format, will be different from traditional panels. Paper options include a short essay (approx. 1500-1700 words) and a long form essay (approx. 2500-3000 words) in response to this year’s pre-con theme. Papers will help to prime the pump for our discussion throughout the day and are potential chapters to be included in the edited book we will publish from the event. Your paper will be read by participants ahead of time as part of their pre-work and your “presentation” at the event will take place as part of a roundtable discussion that includes discussion and Q & A.
If you would like your paper to be considered as part of the panel, please submit a brief abstract (no more than 250 words) on or before February 10th to rwoods@theccsn.com. Papers will be due no later than August 15, 2026.
Previous Pre-conferences Hosted by the CCSN
Book published from 2024 Pre-con