Dear colleagues,

The Medieval Institute appreciates your concerns and patience regarding the 55th International Congress on Medieval Studies as we have carefully considered emerging information and discussed how best to proceed. The health and safety of our attendees and our community are our first priority. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the most recent recommendations of the CDC and the WHO regarding social distancing and public gatherings, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Congress, which was scheduled for May 7-10, 2020.

Please see the Congress website for information about refunds, special and sponsored sessions approved for 2020, and other important details (wmich.edu/medievalcongress).

We look forward to seeing everyone next year.

Jana K. Schulman
Director, Medieval Institute
Western Michigan University

Doctoral and Postdoctoral Researchers Virtual Research Workshop: Call for Proposals

The International Medieval Sermon Studies Society (IMSSS) promotes and fosters the study of medieval sermons and preaching in Latin and vernacular languages within their social, literary, religious, intellectual, theological, catechetical, political, and historical contexts.

The current Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in lost opportunities for lively discussion of research projects that are often vital to the progress of early career scholars. In light of this, IMSSS seeks to provide a forum for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to receive input on their projects from peers and senior scholars in a virtual format.

We invite current PhD students and postdoctoral researchers to submit proposals for the first IMSSS Virtual Research Workshop.

 The purpose of the Workshop is two-fold:

• to assist PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in developing and improving their research projects
• to assist PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in building an international network of fellow students and renowned faculty

Early career scholars will have the opportunity to present their current research projects – or any aspects related to preaching – for discussion by their colleagues and senior faculty. One or two designated respondents, chosen for their topical expertise, will provide initial feedback and questions for further consideration. Open discussion will follow.

We invite proposals in two different categories: 

• Thesis Proposals: appropriate for advanced PhD students who have decided on a thesis topic and desire feedback on their proposals and broader ideas for their continuing work.
• Research Papers: appropriate for those with projects at any stage toward completion, from initial conception to completed studies. 

Candidates interested in attending and presenting their research should submit a brief statement of interest by November 30, 2020 to the Secretary of the Society: Jessalynn Bird ( [email protected] )

This statement should contain:

• name
• affiliation
• name(s) of advisor(s)
• project title
• brief project description (250 words)
• indication of current level of completion of degree and/or project

After receiving the proposals, we plan to organize two virtual workshops, tentatively in January and March. Those chosen to participate will be asked to send a more substantial project description to the designated responder(s) at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

We are delighted to announce that the first electronic election of the International Medieval Sermon Studies Society has been a success. Out of 85 members eligible to vote, 69 members voted. Anne Thayer has been reelected to the Council, and Jessalynn Bird, Pietro Delcorno, and Patricia Stoop have been newly elected.

The new Council has also met to elect its officers. Here is the new Council:

President: Anne Thayer

Vice Presidents: Linda Gale Jones and Patricia Stoop

Secretary: Jessalynn Bird

Treasurer: Pietro Delcorno

Councilors: Nirit Ben-Aryeh Debby, Beata Spieralska-Kasprzyk

Beginning in January 2021, Marjorie Burghart and Holly Johnson will replace Jonathan Adams and Ralf Lützelschwab as co-editors of Medieval Sermon Studies.

A big thank you to everyone who participated in our first electronic election and for your commitment to the IMSSS, and a big thank you to Kim Nguyen and Kim Rivers for making our first electronic election a success!

MEDIEVAL MONKS, NUNS & MONASTIC LIFE

Organizer: Professor Carolyn Muessig
Head of the University of Bristol's Department of Religion and Theology and Co-Director of the Centre for Medieval Studies

Registration is now closed 

If you have questions about the symposium, please contact us at [email protected]

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS INCLUDE CLAUDIA RAPP (AUSTRIA) AND BRIAN PATRICK McGUIRE (DENMARK)

The 2018 IMSSS symposium will explore the breadth and depth of sermon literature and preaching activity relating to monks, nuns, and monastic life, and serve as a microcosm of the religious and cultural landscape of the Middle Ages.

The symposium will be based in the beautiful grounds of the University of Bristol's Wills Hall, and will include a workshop at historic Downside Abbey, with its medieval manuscripts, incunables, and Centre for Monastic Heritage. We will also visit Wells Cathedral, as well as the medieval sites of Bristol. 

See the programme (PDF) or click on the image below

View information on rates for registration and accommodations

View information about the main site of our Symposium, the University of Bristol's beautiful Wills Hall

All details at:

This past July, Flagler College in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida, hosted the 20th biennial symposium of the International Medieval Sermon Studies Society, the first symposium to be held in North America.

St. Augustine is the site of the first North American mission, so the theme chosen for this year’s symposium was Preaching and New Worlds. Topics ranged from medieval perceptions of new worlds to images of missionaries in Italian Renaissance art and sermons to the translation of exempla into the Timucuan language, a language spoken by the Native Americans in La Florida.

IMSSS members came from all over the globe to attend the symposium, including France, Italy, Spain, England, Israel, Japan, Russia, and the United States. We all enjoyed the sunshine and Flagler College’s wonderful hospitality. Thanks to Tim Johnson for making this year’s symposium a great success!​

See full information about the IMSSS Symposium event at Flagler.edu.