Heresies, Heterodoxies, and Process–Relational Theologies

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to a Special Issue of the journal Religions on the topic “Heresies, Heterodoxies, and Process–Relational Theologies.”

In recent decades, formal charges of doctrinal deviance, excommunications, defrockings, and the use of mandatory statements of faith for faculty in church-related colleges have expanded in frequency and attracted media attention within a range of conservative denominations. Use of these tools and processes has spread from denominations with a long and robust history of church discipline (such as Methodists) to denominations who previously eschewed creeds and emphasized the role of individual conscience (such as Baptists). Faced with political polarization on social issues, and often prompted by organized factions of doctrinal conservatives within the institution, denominations have responded with efforts to expel or bring into line those who challenge current orthodoxies. While these incidents may not directly target process or relational ideas, they often overlap with commitments arising from a process–relational conception of theological or ethical topics. High-profile dismissals of faculty from conservative church schools, and the removal from ministry and membership from scholars and clergy connected with process–relational communities and conversations, demonstrate the significance of this topic.

This Special Issue aims to accomplish the following goals:

• Provide a variety of perspectives on the categories of heresy and heterodoxy from a process–relational perspective;
• Recount and reflect on how process–relational ideas can prompt charges of heterodoxy and heresy;
• Interpret historical and recent events in the policing of orthodoxies through a process–relational lens;
• Explore conceptual, practical, and ethical dimensions of a process–relational response to disciplinary actions in defense of orthodoxies.

Interdisciplinary contributions from the fields of theology, ethics, philosophy, history, sociology, and comparative studies on this topic are solicited. In accordance with the aims and scope of the journal, this Special Issue will foster critical reflection about the intersection of heresy and process–relational theologies, and it will provide a venue for constructive conversation on current controversies.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, constructive or systematic arguments, and research reviews are welcome. Contributions may address issues and examples arising within (but not limited to) the following:

• In what ways, if any, is heresy a meaningful concept within a theology informed by process thinking?
• What concepts in process–relational theology offer the greatest challenges to doctrinal commitments binding on clergy or faculty in various denominations?
• How might process–relational thinking inform responses to institutional charges of heterodoxy and to the policing of theological thought more generally?
• In what ways might a process–relational view of religious institutions, their legacies, and their role in disseminating and interpreting the objects of faith illuminate the resurgence of heresy accusations in the 21st century?

Prof. Dr. Donna Bowman
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• process theology
• heresy and heterodoxy
• theological dissent
• church discipline
• religious institutions
• open and relational theology