Call for Conference Papers: deadline of July 1, 2022

April 7, 2022

The Board of the Unitarian Christian Alliance is pleased to announce a general call for papers to be presented at the second annual UCA conference in Springfield, Ohio, October 14 – 16, 2022. (Watch this blog for the opening of registration.)

  • The submission deadline is the end of the day (U.S. Eastern Standard / New York time) of July 1, 2022.
  • Submissions will be blind-reviewed by a committee of three.
  • We are looking for scholarly (or at least: informed, insightful, and well-argued) papers which are also accessible to an educated lay audience on topics which can advance the cause of unitarian Christianity.
    • Topics may include but are not limited to: biblical theology, systematic theology, biblical studies, textual criticism, history of theology, history of unitarian Christianity, apologetics, Christian philosophy, analytic theology.
  • Authors may submit even if they are neither a member of the UCA nor a unitarian Christian.
  • Paper submissions should conform to the Chicago Manual of Style (Notes and Bibliography style, with footnotes and bibliography).
  • The main text should be no longer than 6,000 words, so that the presentation is no longer than 45 minutes. 
    • Submitted papers longer than 6,000 (in the main text – so not including footnotes) will be automatically rejected. 
    • Authors should plan on about 10 minutes of audience Q&A after their talk. 
  • Papers may be read, although authors are encouraged to present the material in an engaging way. 
    • Conference presentations will be video-recorded and may be posted on the UCA YouTube channel, and our social media committee may also snip out interesting “sound bites” for short videos. 
    • By submitting a paper, you agree that your presentation may be filmed and used in these ways by the UCA.
  • Still, a fully written paper must be submitted; an outline or proposal is not enough. 
  • Authors of accepted papers will be expected to supply a PowerPoint or Keynote or Google Slides (etc.) presentation to accompany their talk by the end of Thursday, September 15, 2022. (This should be emailed to the address below.)
  • After removing any self-identifying features (e.g. your name, references to your other publications or other work), please email your submission to conference@unitarianchristianalliance.org. 
    • Our conference coordinator will ensure that the papers are suitable for blind review and then pass them on to the committee.
  • Results will be emailed to authors by the end of Friday, July 15, 2022.

Save the date: UCA 2022 Conference!

March 23, 2022

The UCA Board is excited to announce that our second annual conference will be hosted by the Lawrenceville Church of God in Springfield, Ohio!

The Board hopes to have online conference registration open online some time in the next few weeks.

Check-in for the conference will open at 4:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, October 13, 2022, and the conference will end with the last session after dinner on Saturday, October 15, 2022.

Attendees are invited to attend church on Sunday at our host church or at one of some nearby unitarian Christian churches; details to come.

If your unitarian group, ministry, etc. would benefit from an opportunity to gather in person (e.g. a board meeting), the host church has generously offered to make rooms available before the conference starts that Thursday. If your group is interested, please contact us at conference@unitarianchristianaliance.org.

Also watch this space for coming announcements about submitting a paper to be presented. (The deadline for submissions will be July 1, 2022.)

We hope to see you there!

Is Old Testament theology unitarian?

October 27, 2021

That’s the topic of this recent online debate between UCA member Dr. Dustin Smith and evangelical apologist Kelly Powers. Check it out:

In this post I offer a few quick thoughts after watching it. Most importantly, I thought Dr. Smith did a good job of laying out the strong case that the God of the OT is a single self, a someone, one “person” or intelligent agent. This is based on the whole way that these books refer to the one God, using singular verb forms, adjectives, titles, nouns, pronouns, and so on. He might have also added that the function of a personal proper name like “Yahweh” is to refer to a single person, and that the very concept of a god is the concept of a certain sort of self (i.e. a being with intellect and will, who does things for reasons). And also, in the OT God is sometimes portrayed as a human-like figure, which is a natural way of portraying God as a single self. It’s fair to say that specialists in OT theology, unlike popular apologists and a few other scholars, generally agree that the OT God is a single self. In addition to the sources cited by Dr. Smith, we could add the verdict of evangelical scholar and specialist in OT theology Dr. John Walton:

No Trinity . . . In the Old Testament, God’s revelation centered on the idea that there was one God as opposed to a community of gods. The metaphysical models that would make trinitarianism meaningful simply do not exist in the Israelite cultural context. In some passages in the Old Testament, [trinitarian] Christians can look back and catch glimpses of some nascent trinitarianism, but such hindsight interpretations cannot be construed as a revelation of God in the Old Testament context and do not factor into the theology of the Old Testament.

Old Testament Theology for Christians: From Ancient Context to Enduring Belief, 287-89.

Against this, Mr. Powers really only pointed a few unusual OT texts which arguably are consistent with God being multi-personal. But that’s not really an argument for his claim that the OT teaches God to be multipersonal, nor does it engage with the evidence pointed out by Dr. Smith. Mr. Powers gets distracted on the irrelevant point that the NT (allegedly) teaches Jesus’s pre-human existence. He seems never to have heard of illeism, and Powers’ Google-answer that the “plural of majesty” only starts being used in the high middle ages is . . . well, obviously mistaken. The plural of majesty appears in the 7th c. AD Qur’an. And Dr. Smith pointed out that it occurs in some much earlier Jewish writings as well. Powers clearly over-reaches in asserting that the OT clearly teaches that God is multipersonal.

I’m not sure why both debaters dismiss the fairly popular scholarly suggestion that in texts like Genesis 1:26 God is supposed to be addressing his “divine council.” But I suppose that since it is natural for a king or emperor to speak both for himself and for his court or administration, maybe it’s not easy to tell the difference between his doing that, and his self-magnification by using the royal “we.”

Powers, unfortunately, tries to get some trinitarian mileage out of the fact that something called echad (Hebrew for “one”) may be a compound thing, something composed of parts, e.g. one family, one bunch of grapes, or one pile of rocks. Well, sure. But we unitarian Christians are not saying that anything which is echad is simple (partless); that’s no part of our case that OT theology is unitarian.

I appreciated how Dr. Smith brought out the fact that no OT God-word was then understood to refer to a Trinity or three “Persons.” If you think about it, it’s incredible that this would be so if, as some apologists claim, these authors are thinking of God as a Trinity.

Overall, it’s a substantial and respectful debate. Powers planted his flag on there being no explicit unitarian OT text, in other words, a text which says in so many words that “God is a single self” (or, as Powers oddly says, a single “personage”). But a teaching needn’t be explicit to be clear; implications are often very clear. And using proper names, singular person pronouns, a singular verb tenses – that is how human language express the assumption that the thing in question is a self. A reader who only had the OT could only conclude that the unique God is a single someone, even though sometimes prophets and angels speak in the first-person on his behalf.

Popular apologetics is riddled nowadays with misinformation about Old Testament theology. I hope Dr. Smith continues to shine the lights of common sense and good scholarship onto this subject.

For more from Dr. Smith check out his Biblical Unitarian podcast.

Update: Dr. Smith is doing a helpful series of podcasts in which he slows things down and analyzes different parts of the debate, starting here.

A great weekend!

October 22, 2021

We already know things we can do better next year, but the consensus is that the first-ever Unitarian Christian Alliance Conference was a big hit, an encouragement and a blessing to many. When I wasn’t busy meeting and having meaningful conversations with many people, I did snap a few phone photos, mostly of the presenters.

Thanks again to all the speakers, volunteers, attendees, and Conference Partners who made this an unforgettable event. Over the coming months we will be releasing professionally-edited content from the conference on our YouTube channel. Stay tuned for further conference-related posts.

Thanks to Patrick Navas for the sweet group shot including my wife!

Williamsburg Christadelphian Foundation

October 12, 2021

We’re delighted to have the Williamsburg Christadelphian Foundation as a Conference Partner this year. They state that their mission is “to help individuals, families and groups (ecclesias) grow their faith.” 

Clearly inspired by James 2:14-26, this international ministry aims to grow faith in community by serving others, based “on Biblical principles expressed in the hope of the Gospel—the gift of His Son and the coming Kingdom of God.” What sort of service?

To the poor, we show faith through humanitarian assistance provided with outstretched hands and Christian integrity. To those whose faith is waning, we rekindle it through shared service and an uplifted spirit. To the young, we provide transforming programs to prepare and inspire lifetimes of faith.

Their six-month FaithLaunch 2 program (which is just starting in October 2021) aims to equip young adults 18-35 to embark on a life of discipleship, and they even have “a collection of prayer resources to help you in your personal prayer life.” You’ll want to explore their stable of podcasts, and videos as well.

Music is another aspect of their work, from original recordings of hymns, to virtual choirs, to a support network for those involved in music ministry. They also give vital aid to immigants, meet needs arising from the Covid-19 crisis, and their White Fields mission initiative has place “140 volunteers in 20 countries on 5 continents.”

WCF will be represented at the conference by Beth Lansing. Be sure to stop by their table to find out more about how this amazing organization is serving as salt and light in this broken world.

Spirit and Truth

October 6, 2021

I first encountered Spirit and Truth via their content-rich, long-running website biblicalunitarian.com. I returned to this often as I wrestled with disentangling my understanding of Scripture from distorting later traditions. And as far as I know, they coined and/or popularized the term “biblical unitarian,” a helpful and more accurate replacement for the moldly oldy “Socinian.”

Nowadays they are up to a lot more, including online fellowships, Jerry Wierwille’s Words of Wisdom podcast, teaching videos on the Bible and Christian living by John Schoenheit, and devotional blog posts by Rene Duggan and others.

You’ll be able to meet John and Jerry at the Conference; be sure to stop by the Spirit and Truth table to find out more about what they’re doing and how it can benefit you.

Finally, I must mention their amazing, ongoing REV project – an unabashedly unitarian translation and commentary. (Yeah, with phone apps too!) I leave you with their translation of John 8:58 and a sample of their very helpful and accurate comments on that much-misunderstood verse.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am the one.”

Comments: “I am the one.” Many Trinitarians argue that this verse states that when Jesus said “I am” that he was claiming to be God, (i.e., Yahweh, the God who revealed Himself to Moses in the Old Testament). But saying “I am” does not mean a person is claiming to be God. The Greek that is translated as “I am” is egō eime (ἐγὼ εἰμί), and it was a common Greek way for a person to identify themself. For example, only ten verses after Jesus said, egō eime (“I am”) in John 8:58, the man who had been born blind identified himself by saying exactly what Jesus said; egō eime (“I am;” John 9:9). Thus, Jesus and the man born blind both identified themselves by saying egō eime (“I am”), only ten verses apart. . . . Jesus said egō eime (“I am”), in a large number of places, but it is usually translated “I am he,” “It is I,” or “I am the one,” which are good translations . . . Examples of Jesus using egō eime include: John 13:19; 18:5, 6 and 18:8; Jesus identifying himself to the apostles on the boat: Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50; and John 6:20; and Jesus identifying himself to the Jews, saying egō eime, translated “I am the one I claim to be” (NIV84, John 8:24 and 8:28.). All these places where Jesus says egō eime but it is not translated “I am” shows that the translators understand that just saying egō eime does not mean the person is claiming to be God.

. . . It is also important to notice that many people misread John 8:58 and think it says Jesus saw Abraham. We must read the Bible carefully because it says no such thing. It does not say Jesus saw Abraham, it says Abraham saw the Day of Christ. A careful reading of the context of the verse shows that Jesus was speaking of “existing” in God’s foreknowledge. John 8:56 says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad.” This verse says that Abraham “saw” the day of Christ (the day of Christ is usually considered by theologians to be the day when Christ conquers the earth and sets up his kingdom—and it is still future). That would fit with what the book of Hebrews says about Abraham: “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). The Bible says Abraham “saw” a city that is still future. In what sense could Abraham have seen something that was future? Abraham “saw” the day of Christ because God told him it was coming, and Abraham “saw” it by faith. Although Abraham saw the day of Christ by faith, that day existed in the mind of God long before Abraham. Thus, in the context of God’s plan existing from the beginning, Christ certainly was “before” Abraham. Christ was the plan of God for man’s redemption long before Abraham lived.

Jesus did not claim to be God in John 8:58. In very strong terms, however, he claimed to be the Messiah, the one whose day Abraham saw by faith. Jesus said that before Abraham was, “I am the one,” meaning, even before Abraham existed, Jesus was foretold to be the promised Messiah. Jesus gave the Jews many opportunities to see and believe that he was in fact the Messiah of God, but they were blind to that fact, and crucified him.

Conference registration closes October 7

October 3, 2021

There’s still time for you to register here.

Living Hope International Ministries

Why the end of October 7 deadline? Because on October 8 we need to give our caterer a head-count. (Yes, the price of admission includes two dinners and a lunch, plus snacks and drinks!)

Atlanta Bible College

In recent days the Board and our wonderful conference coordinator Stacey have been tweaking the schedule and making sure we have all the right safety and audiovisual equipment. The speakers are putting the final touches on their cutting-edge presentations, and host Mark Cain has been honing his knock-knock jokes.

We’re very blessed this year to have an incredible line-up of unitarian Christian ministries serving as Conference Partners. By their generosity, we’re able to keep costs low for everyone and to help those to attend who would otherwise find the cost prohibitive. Stay tuned for some upcoming blog posts highlighting our 2021 Conference Partners.

Allegiance to the King

You can meet these amazing people at the conference at their tables at the back of the room and find out what they are doing to advance the cause of Christ in today’s world and how you can be a part of it.

Many will have books or other materials for sale and their table, and there will also be a book raffle, with all attendees receiving tickets to play with.

This year’s Conference Partners include: Allegiance to the King, Atlanta Bible College, Spirit and Truth, Living Hope International Ministries, Williamsburg Christadelphian Foundation, IntegritySyndicate.com, 21st Century Reformation Online, and the trinities podcast.

Hope to meet you or see you again there!

– Dale Tuggy, UCA Board Chair