CfP: Political theologies of tradition and rootedness, Oxford 5-7 April 2027

12 november, 2026

The call for Political Theologies 2027 is now open. The conference, convened by Dr Marietta van der Tol (Landecker Lecturer in the Faculty of Divinity), will be held at the University of Oxford in the first week of April. Submit your response by 30 November.

Political Theologies of Tradition and Rootedness | 5-7 April 2027 | University of Oxford

The seventh Political Theologies conference, to be held at New College, Oxford from the 5–7 April 2027, invites reflection on the significance of tradition(s) and rootedness as mediators of the past, the present and the future. 

Framing questions include: 

  • How does political theology engage and contest tradition?
  • How does political theology shape beliefs, practices and imaginaries of tradition, and how it is shaped by it in turn?
  • What makes tradition significant, useful or problematic as a source of community and as a source of knowledge?
  • What is the significance of tradition in the context of democratic resilience and geopolitical transformations? 

Those hoping to participate should submit a proposed title, abstract (200 words) and biography via the web form below. 

Decisions will be made and communicated in December, with conference briefs of 2000 words due by 15 March 2026.

A full version of the Call for Papers can be downloaded below. Prospective presenters should read this before submitting a proposal.

About Political Theologies

The Political Theologies conference series is convened by Dr Marietta van der Tol, Landecker Lecturer in the Faculty of Divinity, Senior Postdoctoral Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge, and an active member of the Cambridge Interfaith Research Forum. The location alternates yearly between Cambridge and Oxford. 

Political Theologies 2027 is sponsored by the Alfred Landecker Foundation, the Inez and Julius Polin Institute for Theological Studies at Abo Akademi, and the McDonald Centre at the University of Oxford. 

Further information