Instructions for Speakers

1. One of the best ways in which we can disseminate the fruits of this gathering and continue the conversations which begin there, as well as maintaining the re-energizing of the ecumenical, inter-religious and faith-world dialogue that is so needed today, is obviously through the medium of publication. It is our intention to bring together in thematic collections the revised and expanded versions of the papers from all the conference sessions where the content and quality merit inclusion. We will therefore also be seeking to incorporate those contributions from the parallel paper sessions in the afternoons where the content and quality merit inclusion. Reviewers will be present in each session during the conference determining which papers will best suit these collections and further the conversations we hope this gathering will begin.

2. Please bear in mind when writing your paper that it should be in as near a complete and structured form as possible, including with attention to language so that errors are ironed out prior to delivery.

3. It is most important that all presenters bear in mind that, quite obviously, only a short and limited part of each paper can be delivered at the conference itself. There can be no exceptions to the time limits for delivery because the rich fullness of the Assisi 2012 program will simply not allow for people to run over time. So please bring only a version of your paper that can be delivered in the allotted time. As a good working rule, aim to have your paper for delivery complete at a length of between 1500 and 1700 words. You may prefer, instead, to talk to the main headings and key concepts, points, perspectives and arguments, PowerPoint style, of your paper. Session chairs will have to move onto the next paper at the allotted point of each session. Do not bring a longer paper – or you will find frustration when cut off after 15 minutes!

There is nothing more frustrating for an audience and other panelists than a speaker who runs over their allotted time. Session chairs will cut off any speaker who runs over time – there is no alternative with such a packed program. So be mindful of this, respectful to others presenting in the same session and you will find yourself more relaxed and able to enjoy presenting your paper because you know it can comfortably be delivered in the allotted time. You will also benefit because there will be ample time for questions concerning your own paper from a wide and diverse range of scholars from around the globe!

4. Some meeting rooms (mainly those for the plenary and parallel plenary sessions in Domus Pacis) will have PowerPoint facilities but most will not. Most presenters should plan on not delivering via PowerPoint.

5. Further details concerning consideration of papers for publication after the conference will be posted on this website. All submissions will be considered by a committee of reviewers on merit. Acceptance of a paper for presentation at the conference in no way guarantees acceptance of that paper for publication! To aid your preparations when writing in advance of the conference, we anticipate the expanded forms of each paper will be a maximum of 6000 words in length, including all footnotes and references. No papers exceeding the word limit can be considered.

6. These publications will be in English, although we hope others will assist in helping to disseminate the conference proceedings in other languages through volumes and journals as the opportunities arise. We will explore the possibility of parallel arrangements between the English-language publisher and publishers in different languages. This would require that publishers in those additional languages would be able to bear the cost of translating the English language volumes into other languages.

7. The font all submissions will need to be composed in is Times New Roman, with justified text and with footnotes (not endnotes) in the Chicago Manual style (in which most theological and religious studies writings appear), a guide to which can be found here:

http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html.

8. We encourage you to have friends and colleagues review your final papers before submission so that the submitted version is as polished as possible prior to consideration by the review committee. The publication deadlines mean that there will not be time for significant re-drafting of papers after submission, so the greater the quality and finished status of your paper at submission, the greater the chance it will have of being accepted for publication.