SOTSSociety for Old Testament Study
A bright lecture room, chairs set out in rows before the lectern, morning sun through tall windows

A standing invitation

Call for Papers

While the Society issues a formal call for papers each autumn for the following year's meetings, there is no need to wait for it: papers may be proposed at any time. Proposals are welcome from any member who would like to read a paper or lead a workshop at a forthcoming meeting — at whatever stage of a career, and whether or not you have spoken at SOTS before.

Proposals
Open all year
Who may offer
Any member, any stage of career
Send to
The Secretary

There is currently an open call for papers for the 2027 meetings. To propose a paper, please send the following information to the Secretary (secretary.sots@gmail.com) by Saturday 31 October 2026.

  • Title of the paper and abstract (no more than 200 words):
  • Please indicate answers to the following:
  1. Are you requesting a 30-minute (20 paper + 10 discussion) or a 45-minute (30+15) slot?
  2. Would you be able to present it online at the Winter Meeting (7 January 2027)?
  3. Would you be able to present it in person at the Summer Meeting (6-9 September 2027)?
  • Please include your name, institution (if any), if this your first SOTS paper, and if you fit into the category of PhD student/early career researcher (within 5 years of PhD).

Papers may be on any theme related to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. For the Summer Meeting we particularly encourage proposals on reception history in the creative arts, though this is in no way to the exclusion of other topics, which remain equally welcome.

Please note that while in the past we have allocated 30-minute slots to PhD students and early career researchers and 45-minute slots to more established scholars, for 2027 anyone may opt for either length.

You are also welcome to propose other formats or approaches (e.g. joint shorter papers, panel discussions, interviews, book launches). In that case there is no need to fill in the form; simply email your idea to the Secretary.

The Programme Sub-Committee will notify those who submit proposals of its decision as soon as possible, and in any case by the end of 2026.



The Society's programme is made by its members. We welcome proposals at any time from any member who wishes to read a paper or conduct a workshop or other session at a forthcoming Meeting.

All members are warmly welcome to make such a proposal – at whatever stage of their career, and whether or not they have given a paper at SOTS before. Longer sessions, such as the main evening papers, are normally by invitation only.

While the Society issues a formal call for papers each autumn for the following year’s meetings, there is no need to wait for it: papers may be proposed at any time.

Making a proposal

No form, no deadline — a short email is the whole of it.

  1. 01

    Write to the Secretary

    Send a title and a brief abstract of the paper, workshop or session you have in mind to secretary.sots@gmail.com.

  2. 02

    The Sub-Committee reads it

    The Programme Sub-Committee, chaired by the Secretary, builds the programme for each meeting.

  3. 03

    You hear back

    Every proposal receives a reply. Accepted papers appear in the programme circulated before the meeting.

Propose a paper

The programme is made by its members

Proposals are welcome at any time, for any forthcoming meeting.

Propose a paperFuture meetings