Call for Papers: 2026 Annual Conference in Metro Atlanta
The Baptist History & Heritage Society (BHHS) invites paper and panel proposals for its 2026 Annual Conference, May 18–20, in metro Atlanta at Smoke Rise Baptist Church, Tucker, Ga.
The 2026 Annual Conference again will be held in collaboration with the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion (NABPR) and the Association of Ministry Guidance Professionals (AMGP).
BHHS invites scholars, clergy, laity, practitioners and students to submit papers and proposals in any area related to Baptist history and identity.
BHHS also welcomes proposals related to the theme of the joint plenary sessions, Church and Global Migration—examining how global movements of people have intersected with Baptist history and identity.
Potential topics include but are not limited to histories of Baptist missionary movements, global expansions and declines; Baptist churches serving as sanctuaries and places of belonging for immigrants and refugees; Baptist responses to immigration policy, nationalism and paternalism; the emergence of multicultural and bilingual Baptist congregations; and Baptist interpretations of biblical themes of exile, sojourning, diaspora and hospitality.
We invite proposals on these and other related topics connected to our theme to shed light on the many ways migration has shaped—and been shaped by—the Baptist story.
Proposals for themed sessions are also encouraged. These sessions should include two to three paper presentations focused on a unified theme and name a suggested moderator. Creative session proposals that diverge from the traditional paper format are also welcome. Each paper will be allotted 30 minutes, including discussion time.
Individuals may submit different proposals to multiple organizations (BHHS, NABPR, AMGP), but the same proposal may not be submitted to more than one organization. Please indicate in your submission if you are submitting a proposal to more than one organization.
Graduate students are especially encouraged to submit proposals. Graduate students must register for the conference, but the cost is reduced to a $5 administrative fee, regardless of whether a paper is proposed.
Graduate students who present papers and request travel funding from BHHS Executive Director Aaron Weaver (aweaver@thebhhs.org) will receive a $250 travel stipend.
Proposals are due January 15, 2026. Submissions should include the name(s) and contact information of the presenter(s), the title of the presentation and a 300-word abstract. Notifications of decisions will be sent by March 1, 2026.
Submit your proposal here.
For questions, please contact BHHS Executive Director Aaron Weaver at aweaver@thebhhs.org. Learn more at www.thebhhs.org/events.
BHHS is comprised of an extremely diverse group more than 600 Baptists located throughout North America including American Baptists, Canadian Baptists, Cooperative Baptists, National Baptists, Primitive Baptists, Seventh Day Baptists, Southern Baptists and many others. Members also include several dozen Baptists in other countries and on several continents. To read more about the work of the Baptist History & Heritage Society, visit www.thebhhs.org.
