Philadelphia
2018

International Congress on Calvin Research

International Congress on Calvin Research

In 2018, the International Congress on Calvin Research will be hosted at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, USA. This conference is held globally every 4 years to promote a worldwide scholarly discussion of the latest advances in theological and historical research on Calvin.

Our Speakers

Herman J. Selderhuis

Dr. Selderhuis is Professor of Church History at the Theological University Apeldoorn, Director of Refo500, and President of the International Congress on Calvin Research.

Scott M. Manetsch

Dr. Manetsch is Professor of Church History and the History of Christian Thought at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

John Witte

Dr. Witte is the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Law, McDonald Distinguished Professor, and Director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory Law School.

Barbara Pitkin

Dr. Pitkin is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies at Stanford University.

Olivier Millet

Dr. Millet is Professor of French Literature of the Renaissance at the University of Paris-Sorbonne.

Elsie McKee

Dr. McKee is the Archibald Alexander Professor of Reformation Studies and the History of Worship at Princeton Theological Seminary.

In-Sub Ahn

Dr. Ahn is Assistant Professor of Church History at Presbyterian General Assembly Theological Seminary (South Korea).

Cornel Zwierlein

Dr. Zwierlein is Heisenberg Fellow at Bamberg University, and Associate at Harvard History Department and at Max-Weber-Kolleg Erfurt

Peter A. Lillback

Dr. Lillback is President of Westminster Theological Seminary and Professor of Church History.

Event Schedule

Sunday, August 26th

6:30 pm
Registration & Refreshments
7:30 pm
Welcoming Address

Dr. Peter Lillback and Dr. Herman Selderhuis

8:00 pm
Plenary Lecture

Calvin’s Distinctive Political Ideas Compared to His Protestant Colleagues

Dr. Scott M. Manetsch

9:00 pm
Refreshments

Monday, August 27th

8:00 am
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:45 am
Welcome & Announcements
9:00 am
Plenary Lecture

Calvin and Politics According to the Mosaic Harmony

Dr. Barbara Pitkin

10:00 am
COFFEE BREAK
10:30 am
Plenary Lecture

A Comparison of Calvin and Other Exegetes on 1 Samuel 8

Dr. Olivier Millet

11:35 am
Short Paper Presentations

3 Parallel Sessions

12:10 pm
Short Paper Presentations

3 Parallel Sessions

12:40 pm
LUNCH | The Carriage House
3:00 pm
Plenary session with reports of the Presidium
3:30 pm
Short Paper Presentations

3 Parallel Sessions

4:05 pm
Short Paper Presentations

3 Parallel Sessions

Tuesday, August 28th

8:00 am
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:45 am
Welcome & Announcements
9:00 am
Plenary Lecture

For the Dead or for the King? Prayer and Piety in Reformed and Roman Catholic Traditions

Dr. Elsie McKee

10:00 am
COFFEE BREAK
10:30 am
Plenary Lecture

Calvin’s Use of Augustine in His View on Church and State

Dr. In-Sub Ahn

11:30 am
Short Paper Presentations

3 Parallel Sessions

12:05 pm
Short Paper Presentations

3 Parallel Sessions

12:40 pm
LUNCH | The Carriage House
3:00 pm
Short Paper Presentations

3 Parallel Sessions

3:35 pm
Short Paper Presentations

3 Parallel Sessions

Wednesday, August 29th

8:00 am
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:45 am
Welcome & Announcements
9:00 am
Plenary Lecture

Sex, Marriage and Family in John Calvin’s Geneva

Dr. John Witte

10:00 am
COFFEE BREAK
10:30 am
Short Paper Presentations

3 Parallel Sessions

11:05 am
Short Paper Presentations

3 Parallel Sessions

11:40 am
Short Paper Presentations

4 Parallel Sessions

12:30 pm
LUNCH | The Carriage House

Thursday, August 30th

8:00 am
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:45 am
Welcome & Announcements
9:00 am
Plenary Lecture

What is a Good Political Order According to Calvin?

Dr. Cornel Zwierlein

10:00 am
COFFEE BREAK
10:30 am
Short Paper Presentations

3 Parallel Sessions

11:05 am
Short Paper Presentations

3 Parallel Sessions

12:30 pm
Closing Remarks

Dr. Peter Lillback and Dr. Herman Selderhuis

Explore the Area

Westminster

In 2018, the Congress will be held at Westminster Theological Seminary, the historic bulwark of Reformed theology in America. Tour the quaint campus to see the halls walked by Reformed scholars like John Murray, Cornelius Van Til, Ned Stonehouse, E.J. Young, Edmund Clowney, and other distinguished faculty.

Hotels

Westminster has secured a discounted group rate at the nearby Hilton Garden Inn and Holiday Inn Express for conference attendees. Visit our registration page to reserve your room at the discounted rate.

World Heritage City

While at Westminster for the Congress, you can use the opportunity to explore Philadelphia, recently named America's first World Heritage City. Enjoy a cool afternoon by walking through the city's historic district to see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and much more.

Museums

You can visit some of Philadelphia's majestic museums while in the city. Peruse the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Franklin Institute, the National Constitution Center, or the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

Restaurants

After working up an appetite, you can enjoy a meal at one of Philadelphia's amazing eateries, from Parc in Rittenhouse Square, to The Little Lion in the historic district, to Pat's Cheesesteaks in South Philly. And don't forget ice cream at The Franklin Fountain!

Submit Your Proposal

We welcome the submission of short proposals that present new research on Calvin and the history of the Reformation. The deadline for submission is March 1, 2018. You will be informed of whether your proposal has been accepted via email before April 15, 2018.