Dis/Abling Church: Imagination, Intellectual Disability, and the Baptist Distinctive of the Priesthood of AllB. Scott Stephens (Logsdon Seminary)Research Interest Group. [
Paper] The last century saw the birth of theologies which moved away from the center. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, while it did not halt discrimination within churches, brought the experiences of the disabled into public view. In relation to this, many in our churches who are intellectually disabled continue to find themselves marginalized. One possible way forward, within the context of Baptist churches, lies in imaginatively engaging with the Baptist distinctive of the priesthood of all believers as a catalyst for religious educators to begin the process of “dis/abling” church.
Inside the Mirror: Five Domains of Theopoetic Critique on Theological EducationPatrick Reyes (Northeastern University)Research Interest Group. [
Paper] Beginning with an overview of the emerging literature on theopoetics, this paper considers the implications of a theopoetic critique across five domains of theological education: reading, writing, research methods, pedagogy, and publication. It argues that the theopoetic impulse to value embodiment and aesthetics asks more of current religious education practices than they currently provide. Suggestions are made for areas of growth that support a theological imaginary that is more fully incarnational and prophetic.
