American Independence and Identity at 250 Conference
| Dates: | Thursday, June 11, 2026 - Saturday, June 13, 2026 |
| Hours: | Hours coming soon |
| Ages: | Adults |
| In/Outdoor: | Indoor, Outdoor |
| Cost: | $$ see below |
| Category: | Lectures/Discussions |
Deadline March 4th, details below!
This special anniversary year is a fitting time and Gordon College a fitting place to consider American independence and identity, and how the United States has developed as a nation and as the world’s first constitutional liberal democracy.
In a time of increased political violence and division, we think it crucial to bring together Christian social scientists and historians to explore these important questions.
It has been some time since we have met in this setting, although the need is ever more pressing to gather to consider questions of democracy, unity, pluralism, the imago Dei, the love of neighbor, and the common good.
This conference will consider, among other things: means by which Christian political and social thought support a renewal of American democracy; lessons from America’s democratic neighbors and allies; linkages between economic stability and democracy; the impact of security on democratic status; and the impacts of culture and religion on capacities for civic unity—and disunity.
Our conference is funded in part by the Lilly Network and co-sponsored by Christians in Political Science, Gordon’s Center for Faith and Inquiry, the Center for Public Justice, and The Review of Faith & International Affairs.
The planning team includes the faculty of Gordon’s political science and international affairs program: Ruth Melkonian-Hoover (conference director), Paul Brink, and Chan Shin.
Of note: we will also have a session devoted to considerations of the purpose and continuation of the organization of Christians in Political Science (CPS).
Call for Papers, Panels, Roundtables, Workshops While we seek paper and panel proposals that address the state of democracy in the US (and comparatively), we also welcome proposals on other topics and research questions within the broad discipline of political science (American, theory, comparative, and international relations), and within related fields including history and sociology.
The planning team is also interested in non-paper panels, including meet the author sessions, roundtables on political and/or policy issues, workshops on teaching, and panels on the integration of faith and learning in general.
We will arrange panel chairs and discussants.
Deadline for submission of proposals is March 4, 2026.
Applicants will be notified of acceptance on a rolling basis but in all cases, no later than March 15, 2026.
| COST | ↑ top |
~$350, Details on registration to follow. Registration, lodging, and meals will be included in price.
| WEBSITE | ↑ top |
www.gordon.edu/humanities-social-sciences/events/democracy-conference
| LOCATION | ↑ top |
255 Grapevine Road, Wenham, MA, 01984 map
Phone: 978.867.4000
| RELATED LINKS | ↑ top |
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