41st ANNUAL MEETING
OF THE WESLEYAN THEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Kansas City, Missouri, March 2-4, 2006

Call for Papers

Proposal For WTS 2006
Friendship and Hospitality: Wesleyan Perspectives.

Our gathering in this august body as Christians in the Wesleyan/Holiness tradition is as much a 'friendship convocation' as it is for the benefit of theological, philosophical, psychological discussions and the interaction of Wesleyan/Holiness communion globally. The mystique 'friendship' is a profound and multifaceted aspect of life. And also is the grace of 'hospitality'. The giveness of friendship and hospitality is in the interaction between God and humans, between humans themselves, whether individuals or groups, and between humans and the creation of God in nature. This interact-on is ongoing.

From antiquity the concept of friendship and hospitality has been dynamic, profound and highly esteemed in both religious and secular thought. Thus the topic 'Friendship and Hospitality: Wesleyan Perspectives'. The task is for us to be bold and authentic as Wesleyan/Holiness practitioners and scholars to address the topic from our various disciplines of study, vocational activities and areas of special interest. Such reflections should provide insight and wisdom in the relationship God envisions to have with us and our relationships with each other.

Queries for reflection but not to be limited by them include the following:
Friendship and Hospitality within the Trinity. Friendship and Hospitality in the creation narrative. Friendship and Hospitality as the paramount virtue to human existence, human relations and the divine human encounter how was this evident between God and Adam? How was Friendship and hospitality practiced between God, Adam and Eve? How did Job understand and interpret the Friendship and Hospitality of God? The question may also be applied to Abraham and to David. There are other Old Testament prototypes pertaining to 'friendship and hospitality' that are instructive and positive such as David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi, the prophets and their relationships with God. Also, there is the wisdom that is gleaned from the poetic books and intertestament/apocrypha writings.

Jesus and Friendship and Hospitality: Jesus' life and ministry was emphatic about friendship and hospitality. How can we learn, appreciate and practice the value and relationship of friendship and hospitality from the ministry of Jesus. Consider how Jesus employed the language and image of friendship and hospitality to elucidate his message and person. The parables lend considerable insight to a quality of friendship and hospitality expected by Jesus. Another perspective on friendship and hospitality is rituals. What are authentic friendship rituals and what do we learn from them, e.g. foot-washing in the ministry of Jesus?
The twelve disciples of Jesus were from diverse backgrounds yet for three years they lived intimately in friendship and hospitality. How did they survive?

What do the various Biblical traditions in the New Testament reveal, instruct, and admonish regarding friendship, e.g. Pauline literature, Johannine literature, James, etc.
What did Wesley say on this topic and how did he interpret Scriptures relating to it? What have Wesleyan/Holiness writers written on the subject?

Friendship and Ecclesiology. What does it mean to be the Church in relation to friendship and hospitality? What is the relationship between being a christian and the practice of friendship and hospitality? How does the church nurture friendships and practice hospitality? What messages are given in the hymns on friendship and hospitality? Where does 'What a friend we have in Jesus' belong in our church calendar and liturgy?

Friendship and Hospitality have natured various enterprises including some now called 'faith based initiatives'. What is the history of friendship and hospitality in the growth and development of the Church? What is the friendship and hospitality between the faith of the church and other disciplines of academia?

The Wesleyan Theological Society. In what sense has WTS been validated by the quality of friendship and hospitality over the past forty years? Have friendships emerged that enhanced the society? Have friendships emerged that advanced the Kingdom of God?

We invite each person who would like to present a paper at our 2006 meeting to send a proposal of 250 words and a brief biographical sketch no later than September 1, 2005 to the appropriate area chair listed below: