Call for Abstracts
I. Description:
The Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology (EGST) is proud to announce the premier institutional event of the second Annual Graduate Conference 2026 that is centered on the theme: Faith, Justice, and Human Dignity. Rooted in EGST’s Strategic Pillar for Students’ and Alumni Services, this conference is built upon the biblical concept of fellowship, viewing our student and alumni body as a vibrant community of learners dedicated to mutual support and lifelong discipleship.
Centered on the theme of Faith, Justice, and Human Dignity, the conference moves beyond the mere exchange of information to intentionally foster Christ-like integrity, humility, and academic excellence. By gathering our community around these critical themes, EGST seeks to equip students and alumni with the theological foundation and professional knowledge necessary to clearly articulate and meaningfully address the pressing realities of justice and human dignity in our world today.
II. Aims of the Conference:
The primary aim of this conference is to create an interdisciplinary platform for dialogue, research, and exploration at the nexus of faith, justice, and human dignity. In line with EGST’s mission to equip Christ-like women and men, we seek to empower current students, graduates, and professionals to address contemporary development and societal issues through a rigorous theological lens.
Furthermore, this conference serves as a strategic investment in our community, aiming to foster a sustainable network of ambassadors. By enhancing mutual support and service delivery between the institution, students, and alumni, the conference ensures that our graduates are continually equipped to manifest God’s governance and mission in service to the church and society in Ethiopia and beyond.
Therefore, we are looking for abstracts from graduate students, alumni, practitioners, researchers, and theologians in the field for individual paper presentation, poster, round table panel, photo exhibitions, theological arts & performance, documentary & short-film screenings, and storytelling / case-study showcases.
III. Thematic Areas:
The conference accepts abstracts that explore the following thematic areas:
1. Biblical and Theological Foundations:
- Faith, justice and human dignity from a Christian perspective
- Biblical and theological reflection on justice and human dignity
- The sacredness of human life, Imago Dei, and social transformation
- Christian mission and the missional pursuit of justice
- Theological education for justice and human dignity
2. Governance, Leadership & Ethical Accountability:
- Christian leadership and social justice
- Servant leadership, governance and the common good
- Christian responses to corruption and abuse of power
- Church-state relations and justice
3. Social Inequities, Marginalization & Vulnerability:
- Faith, poverty, inequalities, and justice
- Christian response to inequalities and oppression
- Gender, dignity, and equality
- Faith and dignity of the vulnerable
- Faith, disability, and dignity
- Faith, ethics and social responsibility/ the common good
4. Peacebuilding, Restorative Justice & Migration:
- Forgiveness, Healing, and restorative justice
- Migration, displacement, and hospitality
- Healing Trauma and Rebuilding Fractured Communities
5. Environmental Stewardship & Climate Justice:
- Faith, climate change and environmental justice
- Eco-Justice, Environmental Stewardship, and Creation Care
IV Submission Guidelines:
- Abstracts should be approximately 250–300 words but not more than 300 words for scholars and practitioners with PhD and for PhD candidates.
- 2000 words of abstract for MA level scholars and practitioners.
- The Abstract should include:
-
Title of the proposed paper
-
Research question or central argument
-
Brief methodology or approach
-
Key findings or contribution
-
Author’s name and institutional affiliation
-
Academic CV
-
- Deadline for abstract submission: October 10, 2026
- Use the “Apply Now” button below to submit your abstract or email your abstracts to graduateconference@egst.edu.et
Contact: For any questions or concern, please email the conference organizers graduateconference@egst.edu.et
We seek to subject our thoughts and actions to God’s Word and affirm the power of Scripture to effect change in individual lives, churches and society.
We come together as a community of learners not for our sake only but also for the sake of others. We seek to grow in our understanding of God and his ways, so that we may help others to acknowledge his governance over the world with its rich possibilities for both individual transformation and for social and cultural renewal.
We believe that theological education speaks to and out of its local context as a dynamic interaction between the local context, the global context and Scripture.
We strongly believe that unity among the churches of Ethiopia is important and can be fostered through cooperative, inter-denominational graduate-level theological education. We also seek to partner with individuals, institutions, churches and organizations within and outside Ethiopia.
We value learning alongside people from different traditions and churches. Exposure to varying traditions challenges thinking about God and the diversity of his work in the world. While EGST promotes unity, it also appreciates and respects diversity.
We value the importance of worshipping God with our minds and strive for excellence both in our rigorous study of Scripture and in our critical analysis of context.
We seek to be people who model Christ’s values such as love, humility, compassion, justice, integrity, self-control, and holiness.
We seek to promote ecumenical relationships among churches in Ethiopia in order to enhance mutual understanding.