CFP: Conference of the Society for Christian Bioethicists

Call for Abstracts

The Society for Christian Bioethicists invites you to submit an abstract for its 2026 conference on the theme: “The End of Life, The Gift of Life: reflections on death and organ donation.” This conference will explore the complex ethical dimensions of death, human personhood, organ donation, and potential novel transplantation methods. The conference will take place online between February 20-22, 2026.

Papers will be presented in 20 minute sessions, followed by 10 minutes for Q&A. Anyone at any stage of their career may submit an abstract of ~250 words for consideration. Accepted papers will present normative ethical arguments about topics in bioethics that relate to the conference theme, topics such as:

● The Dead Donor Rule and its ethical implications

● Moral and theological considerations of death criteria (e.g., brain death, circulatory death)

● Issues of justice and equity in organ allocation and distribution

● The role of faith and conscience in end-of-life decisions and organ donation

● Ethical challenges of xenotransplantation

● The nature and harms of death and dying

● Animal ethics as it relates to xenotransplantation

● The use of new technologies in organ preservation and transplantation

● Pastoral and spiritual care for donor families and transplant recipients

● Historical perspectives on Christian engagement with death and bodily integrity

● Normothermic Regional Perfusion

We also welcome submissions related to any other topic that is of interest to Christian bioethicists, even if not related to the conference theme. Accepted papers need not make explicitly Christian arguments. While the society is committed to the Christian faith and religion in its constitution, anyone of any faith (or none) is welcome to submit papers. Submissions expressing any viewpoint will be fairly considered. We believe that informed and respectful disagreement can be of benefit to all.

This conference provides a unique inter-disciplinary platform for scholars and practitioners to share their research and engage in thoughtful dialogue with Christian bioethicists from a range of perspectives. We welcome submissions from a wide range of academic and professional fields, including but not limited to bioethics, medicine, neurology, theology, philosophy, law, and social sciences. Regardless of the discipline that a paper draws on, accepted papers will present normative ethical arguments about a question relevant to bioethics.

Submission Guidelines

● All abstracts must be written in English, as that is the conference language.

● All abstracts must be blinded for review.

● The abstract body should not exceed 250 words.

● Please include a clear title, your name, and your institutional affiliation (if applicable) in the body of your email submission.

How to Submit

Please email your abstract as a Word or PDF document to . There is no fee to submit an abstract or to present at the conference.

Important Dates

● Abstract Submission Deadline: December 1, 2025

● Notification of Acceptance: January 16, 2026