Pastoral Counselling Conference 2026: Call for Papers

CALL FOR PAPERS

Pastoral Counselling Conference 2026

Theme: Stories that Shape Us, Care that Holds Us
Pastoral Responses to trauma, silence and mental health

This conference seeks to cultivate a community of pastoral practitioners who listen with humility, respond with dignity, and strengthen stories of resilience and hope. If your work explores how story, theology, and community intersect in the work of care, we warmly invite you to contribute.

CONFERENCE FOCUS
In contexts marked by historical trauma, social inequality, violence, burnout, and silence around mental health, ministers and pastoral caregivers are being asked to hold unprecedented levels of pain and complexity.
This conference invites contributions that explore:

• Approaches to pastoral counselling
• Mental health and the church
• Intergenerational and communal trauma
• Ethics, power, and dignity in pastoral practice
• The silence of the church and the recovery of voice
• Radical hospitality and belonging
• Community-based models of care
• Contemplative practices woven with narrative work
• Everyday resistance and resilience in faith communities

We particularly welcome proposals rooted in the South African and Global South contexts.

PRESENTATION FORMATS:
We invite submissions in the following formats:

• Workshop (45–60 minutes): Experiential and practice-based sessions that engage participants actively through storytelling, ritual, arts-based practice, or contemplative engagement.
• Paper Presentation (20 minutes): Theoretical, theological, or research-based contributions followed by discussion.
• Poster Presentations: Poster presentations provide an opportunity to share research, practice-based insights, and emerging ideas in a visually engaging format.

PROPOSALS SHOULD:

• Demonstrate engagement with pastoral practice
• Reflect ethical awareness of power and context
• Address lived realities within pastoral or community settings
• Offer practical implications for pastoral accompaniment
• Encourage dialogue and collective reflection

We value contributions that are thoughtful, grounded, and relational — not merely informational.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Please submit:

• Title of presentation
• 250–300-word abstract
• Brief biography (100 words)
• Preferred format (workshop, paper, or poster)
• Any technical requirements

IMPORTANT DATES

• Submission deadline: 25 July 2026
• Notification of acceptance: 20 August 2026
• Conference dates: 29 and 30 October 2026
• Conference registration closing date: 15 October 2026

Please submit proposals using this link – https://forms.gle/wEUMczcr85Sfb27R6

This Conference will be hosted by: Centre for Faith & Community – University of Pretoria, Department of Practical Theology and Mission Studies – University of Pretoria, Creative Conversations and Northfield Methodist Church

Venue: Northfield Methodist Church, Airfield Benoni.

This conference is a communal learning space. Your presence, attentiveness, and willingness to engage relationally are as valuable as the content you bring.

Thank you for helping create a space of ethical care, reflection, and hope.