Wabash-Collegeville 2022

Application Deadline

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Event Dates

Monday, July 25, 2022 to Sunday, July 31, 2022

Gathering Location

Collegeville Institute Campus
https://collegevilleinstitute.org/
2475 Ecumenical Drive, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321

The Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research comprises a cluster of ten cottages, walled with windows opening to Stumpf Lake. The Collegeville Institute, located on Saint John’s Abbey grounds and just a short walk from the Abbey and St. John’s University is surrounded by 2450 acres of woods and lakes, a wildlife refuge, a bird sanctuary, and a wetlands restoration area.

Please be mindful that accommodations dictate sharing cottages as roommates (no sharing of bedrooms) and sharing bathrooms as roommates.

Leadership Team

Sophfronia Scott
Director of the MFA in Creative Writing
Alma College

Donald Quist
Director of the MFA in Writing
Vermont College of Fine Arts

Participants

Sarah Barton, Duke University
Bryson White, Santa Clara University
Lydia Hernandez-Marcial, Seminario Evangelico de Puetro Rico
Jennifer Leath, Queen’s University
Beth Ritter-Conn, Belmont University
Eric Smith, Iliff School of Theology
James Taneti, Union Presbyterian Seminary
Annie Tinsley, Shaw University Divinity School

Description

This writing workshop is for scholars of religion and theology who have written exclusively or primarily in the scholarly genre for other scholars of religion but long to share their knowledge or personal experience in a more creative way with a wider audience. Many scholars yearn to speak to a broader audience through creative nonfiction, blogs, op-eds, and memoir. Many scholars want to write with more clarity and imagination. Participants in this workshop will develop their writing voice in service to topics they care about, and for which they have passion and curiosity. A combination of plenary, small group and individual instruction, our week together will help scholars free the creative spirit, structure their writing more effectively, and speak on the page in a truer, more engaging voice. Our focus will be on releasing the professors’ voice to the public square, giving permission to be imaginative, and finding new ways of being inspired.

No previous experience publishing in creative writing genres is needed.

The Wabash Center, to support emerging projects on teaching, will provide non-competitive grants in the amount of $5000 for each participant. Please see the small grant description and proposal process on our website. Proposals for the non-competitive grants must be submitted by November 9, 2022.

Due to COVID precautions, workshop participants are asked to be fully vaccinated and to show proof of vaccination before arriving on the Collegeville Institute campus.

Workshop Goals

• To create a collaborative learning cohort of teacher-scholars to expand and deepen scholarly writing
• To navigate the intersecting challenges of creative writing as an academic  
• To develop new practices of creative writing in the service of teaching and scholarship of religion and theology  
• To explore strategies for the authentic voice while thriving in institutional, political and personal contexts 
• To write and receive feedback while also being in conversation with other creative writers

Participant Eligibility

• Tenure track, continuing term, and/or full-time contingency teaching full time in college, university, or seminary
• Must be teaching in religion and theology or related fields
• Job description or contract that is wholly or primarily inclusive of teaching 
• Teaching in accredited college, university, seminary in the United States, Puerto Rico or Canada 
• Personal commitment to participate fully in workshop with 100% attendance in all sessions
• Little to no experience with publishing in creative genres, but great interest in learning to write in creative genres

Application Materials 

Please complete and attach the following documents to the online application:

1. Application Contact Information Form 
2. Cover letter:  Describe why you are interested in expanding your scholarly writing into creative genres, and how you hope this workshop will support and/or enhance your endeavor. (300 to 325 words) 
3. Academic CV (4-page limit)