Meeting Information
The Christian Sociological Association (CSA) holds annual academic conferences, bringing together scholars, professors, and students at various colleges to foster fellowship, scholarly exchange, and professional development. These conferences offer a vital platform for scholars to present their research, exchange ideas, and advance their scholarship through peer feedback and collaborative discussions.
Our members and conference attendees represent various Christian backgrounds, and CSA strives to foster an inclusive and respectful environment. These gatherings provide a unique opportunity for attendees to engage in concentrated discussions on the integration of the sociological vocation with the Christian calling and to enjoy stimulating and supportive Christian fellowship.
Our members and conference attendees represent various Christian backgrounds, and CSA strives to foster an inclusive and respectful environment. These gatherings provide a unique opportunity for attendees to engage in concentrated discussions on the integration of the sociological vocation with the Christian calling and to enjoy stimulating and supportive Christian fellowship.
46th Annual Meeting Information
Postponed Until 2026
After careful consideration, the CSA leadership has made the difficult decision to cancel this year's conference at Messiah University. Ongoing international travel challenges have made it difficult for many of our members outside the U.S. to attend, and abstract submissions have been lower than expected. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
We are deeply grateful for your engagement and submissions. We plan to reschedule the conference for 2026, retaining the same theme and call for papers. For those who have already made travel arrangements or paid fees, please contact Dr. Matt Vos, CSA President, at [email protected]. Thank you for your continued support of the CSA. We look forward to seeing you at the rescheduled conference in 2026.
After careful consideration, the CSA leadership has made the difficult decision to cancel this year's conference at Messiah University. Ongoing international travel challenges have made it difficult for many of our members outside the U.S. to attend, and abstract submissions have been lower than expected. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
We are deeply grateful for your engagement and submissions. We plan to reschedule the conference for 2026, retaining the same theme and call for papers. For those who have already made travel arrangements or paid fees, please contact Dr. Matt Vos, CSA President, at [email protected]. Thank you for your continued support of the CSA. We look forward to seeing you at the rescheduled conference in 2026.
The 2026 conference is held in honor of Dr. Tony Campolo’s life and work, and in recognition of
his inestimable impact on generations of Christian sociologists and anthropologists.
his inestimable impact on generations of Christian sociologists and anthropologists.
2026 Conference Theme: Objectivity Versus Advocacy: Navigating Tensions in Christian Sociology and Anthropology
Since the inception of their respective social scientific disciplines, sociologists and anthropologists have navigated the tensions between descriptive and explanatory scholarship on the one hand and applied and clinical scholarship on the other. A focus on objectivity can sideline the potential world-benefitting impact of scientific knowledge, while a focus on advocacy risks resembling the applied nature of social work and prioritizing practical applications over the advancement of scientific inquiry as its primary goal. Fidelity to the beliefs, values, and norms intrinsic to the Christian faith can further complicate these tensions.
Sociologists and anthropologists at private Christian colleges and universities may be constrained by institutional theological creeds that conflict with scientific objectivity and evidence and even conflict with the Christian understandings of other scholars in their academic field. Conversely, Christian social scientists at public institutions frequently pursue scholarship in tension with secular norms that reject both an imago Dei conception of personhood and a telos-oriented view of history in favor of a materialistic and mechanistic worldview.
The Christian Sociological Association and the Network of Christian Anthropologists invite presentations that explore various ways in which Christian sociologists and anthropologists navigate the tensions inherent in the relationship between scientific objectivity and empathetic advocacy in the social and behavioral sciences.
We are pleased to feature presentations from scholars representing diverse Christian traditions, denominations, and perspectives, reflecting the richness of our shared faith and academic engagement.
Direct conference program questions through our website: Contact Us
To receive updates, sign up for our newsletter.
Since the inception of their respective social scientific disciplines, sociologists and anthropologists have navigated the tensions between descriptive and explanatory scholarship on the one hand and applied and clinical scholarship on the other. A focus on objectivity can sideline the potential world-benefitting impact of scientific knowledge, while a focus on advocacy risks resembling the applied nature of social work and prioritizing practical applications over the advancement of scientific inquiry as its primary goal. Fidelity to the beliefs, values, and norms intrinsic to the Christian faith can further complicate these tensions.
Sociologists and anthropologists at private Christian colleges and universities may be constrained by institutional theological creeds that conflict with scientific objectivity and evidence and even conflict with the Christian understandings of other scholars in their academic field. Conversely, Christian social scientists at public institutions frequently pursue scholarship in tension with secular norms that reject both an imago Dei conception of personhood and a telos-oriented view of history in favor of a materialistic and mechanistic worldview.
The Christian Sociological Association and the Network of Christian Anthropologists invite presentations that explore various ways in which Christian sociologists and anthropologists navigate the tensions inherent in the relationship between scientific objectivity and empathetic advocacy in the social and behavioral sciences.
We are pleased to feature presentations from scholars representing diverse Christian traditions, denominations, and perspectives, reflecting the richness of our shared faith and academic engagement.
Direct conference program questions through our website: Contact Us
To receive updates, sign up for our newsletter.
Previous Meetings
2025: Postponed to 2026
2024: Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA
2023: Eastern University, St. Davids PA
2022: Redeemer University, Hamilton Ontario
2020-21: Pandemic Cancelled Meetings
2019: Eastern University, St. Davids PA
2018: Lee University, Cleveland TN
2017: Northwestern College, Orange City Iowa.
2016: Union University, TN (Conference Program)
2015 - Eastern University, St. Davids, PA
2013: Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL.
2012: Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA
2011: St Olaf College, Northfield, MN
2010 - Eastern University, St. Davids, PA
2009 - Northwestern College, Orange City, IA
2008 - St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
2007 - Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY
2006 - Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA
2005 - Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
2004 - Union University, Jackson, TN
2003 - Summer Institute of Linguistics, Dallas, TX
2002 - Asbury College, Wilmore KY
2001 - Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN
2000 - Lee University, Cleveland, TN
1999 - Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, CA
1998 - Ilkley Group/ACTS, Thatcham, England
1997 - Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
1996 - Berry College, Rome, GA
1995 - Messiah College, Grantham, PA
1994 - Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA
1993 - Lee College, Cleveland, TN
1992 - Mt. Vernon Nazarene College, Mt. Vernon, OH
1991 - St. Olaf College, Northfield MN
1990 - No meeting held
1989 - Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, OK
1988 - Ilkley/ACTS, Oak Hill College, London, England
1987 - Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
1986 - Grove City College, Grove City, PA
1985 - St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
1984 - Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA
1983 - Eastern College, St. Davids, PA
1982 - Tabor College, Hillsboro, KS
1981 - Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
1980 - Houghton College, Houghton, NY
1979 - Bethel College, St. Paul, MN
1978 - Asbury College, Wilmore, KY
1977 - Greenville College, Greenville, IL
1976 - Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA
2024: Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA
2023: Eastern University, St. Davids PA
2022: Redeemer University, Hamilton Ontario
2020-21: Pandemic Cancelled Meetings
2019: Eastern University, St. Davids PA
2018: Lee University, Cleveland TN
2017: Northwestern College, Orange City Iowa.
2016: Union University, TN (Conference Program)
2015 - Eastern University, St. Davids, PA
2013: Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL.
2012: Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA
2011: St Olaf College, Northfield, MN
2010 - Eastern University, St. Davids, PA
2009 - Northwestern College, Orange City, IA
2008 - St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
2007 - Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY
2006 - Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA
2005 - Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
2004 - Union University, Jackson, TN
2003 - Summer Institute of Linguistics, Dallas, TX
2002 - Asbury College, Wilmore KY
2001 - Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN
2000 - Lee University, Cleveland, TN
1999 - Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, CA
1998 - Ilkley Group/ACTS, Thatcham, England
1997 - Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
1996 - Berry College, Rome, GA
1995 - Messiah College, Grantham, PA
1994 - Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA
1993 - Lee College, Cleveland, TN
1992 - Mt. Vernon Nazarene College, Mt. Vernon, OH
1991 - St. Olaf College, Northfield MN
1990 - No meeting held
1989 - Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, OK
1988 - Ilkley/ACTS, Oak Hill College, London, England
1987 - Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
1986 - Grove City College, Grove City, PA
1985 - St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
1984 - Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA
1983 - Eastern College, St. Davids, PA
1982 - Tabor College, Hillsboro, KS
1981 - Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
1980 - Houghton College, Houghton, NY
1979 - Bethel College, St. Paul, MN
1978 - Asbury College, Wilmore, KY
1977 - Greenville College, Greenville, IL
1976 - Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA