Essays invited for Lombard Prize

The World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), in association with Lombard, Odier & Cie, Bankers of Geneva, Switzerland, are calling for entries for the Lombard Prize.

Young theologians (no older than 30 years) are invited to submit an essay on any aspect of the theme of the WCRC’s 2017 General Council: Living God, Renew and Transform Us.

Essays are due no later than 15 April 2017, and the writer of the best essay will be brought to and recognized at the General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches to be held in Leipzig, Germany, from 29 June – 7 July.

Format and rules:

• The essay will illustrate a familiarity with the Reformed tradition and theology and demonstrate both theological imagination and a willingness to relate theology and the challenges to witness and mission in the church and world today.
• The essay will be written in English.
• The length of the essay will be between 5,000 and 6,000 words.
• The essay will be submitted electronically in Word format to: reformed.world@wcrc.eu
• The essay will be accompanied by a statement from the author declaring that she/he is the author of the paper.
• The essay will be accompanied by notes and a bibliography which clearly indicate sources quoted in the paper.
• Submissions are open to theological students or pastors 30 years of age or younger.
• The essay will be submitted no later than 15 April.

Jury: The jury consists of Reformed theologians. Their decision will be final and their deliberations confidential. The writer of the best essay will be brought to and recognized at the General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches to be held in Leipzig, Germany, from 29 June – 7 July (travel, room and board included). The second prize will be 600 euros and the third prize will be 400 euros. The three prize-winning essays will be published in a future edition of Reformed World, the official theological journal of the WCRC.

Background: The WCRC, in association with Lombard, Odier & Cie, offers a prize for a theological essay in memory of the late Georges Lombard, associate of the bank. The aim is to encourage theological work in the tradition of Reformed thought that responds to challenges of our time, bringing together elements of faith and theology in dialogue with justice and peace issues and mission in the world—all central themes of Reformed witness.