The Second Workshop of Doctoral and Junior Scholars in Church History on the Topic Reform and Tradition in the Church

The workshop The Second Workshop of Doctoral and Junior Scholars in Church History on the Topic Reform and Tradition in the Church, organised by the Centre for Research on Ecclesiastical and Religious History of the Institute of History of the CAS, will take place on 5 May 2026 at the ÚTAM Conference Hall, Prosecká 809/76, Prague 9. 

The shifting relationship to one’s own traditions and to reform – whether on an institutional or a personal level – has accompanied individual churches from their very beginnings. Many of them explicitly identify themselves with reformative origins; yet even these have not avoided subsequent development and reflection on their own roots and traditions. At present, such traditions are moreover the subject of intense debate both within the Church and beyond it. In this context, much is often suggested – perhaps all too vaguely – by the frequently invoked ecclesia semper reformanda.

Reflection on the discursive transformation of these concepts and their content, as well as on their concrete manifestations within particular churches, can thus contribute to a deeper understanding even of themes that may appear, at first glance, remote from church history. Emphasis will be placed both on theoretical and methodological questions concerning the use of these concepts, and on possibilities for comparison between different contexts and the diversity of scholarly approaches to these issues. Case studies are likewise welcome, offering exploratory perspectives that frame the proposed theoretical considerations, along with their historical-theological reflection, as well as discussions of sources and interdisciplinary approaches.

Call for Papers

If you are interested in participating, please send your proposals, along with a brief abstract, to trojan@hiu.cas.cz by 15 February 2026.

Workshop languages: Czech, possibly English