2023 Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting

The Catholic Biblical Association of America is now accepting paper proposals for CBA’s 2023 Mid-Atlantic regional meeting. This in-person event welcomes researchers (Ph.D.) and advanced doctoral students from the region to the Virginia Theological Seminary (Alexandria, VA) campus on May 12-13, 2023. The deadline for submitting proposals is April 1, 2023, with decisions announced on April 15, 2023.   

Researchers from various fields related to and including Hebrew Bible, Pseudepigrapha, Apocrypha, Qumran Scrolls, New Testament, and Early Christian literature, are invited to attend the event and present papers. Presentations should be 20 minutes in length, to be followed by 10 minutes of discussion. 

Proposals for papers (300 words) must be submitted to cba-office@cua.edu using the Proposal Form by April 1, 2023. Doctoral candidates are asked to submit a letter of recommendation from their advisors and the finished paper with their proposal. 

CBA’s 2023 Mid-Atlantic regional meeting will be hosted at Virginia Theological Seminary, located in Alexandria, Virginia. Event registration fees are $50 for those holding a PhD and $20 for graduate students. The event will begin at 8pm on Friday, May 12, with a keynote address. Parallel sessions begin at 9:00am on Saturday, May 13. Lunch and coffee breaks are included in registration.

 Proposal Form

• Courtyard by Marriott Alexandria Pentagon South
• 4641 Kenmore Ave, Alexandria, VA 22304•(703) 751-4510
• 1.2 miles from Virginia Theological Seminary
• Hilton Garden Inn Arlington Shirlington
• 4271 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA 22206
• 1.5 miles from Virginia Theological Seminary
• Hilton Alexandria Mark Center
• 5000 Seminary Rd, Alexandria, VA 22311•(703) 845-1010
• 1.9 miles from Virginia Theological Seminary
• Comfort Inn Pentagon City
• 2480 S Glebe Rd Bldg. 2, Arlington, VA 22206•(703) 682-5500
• 2.5 miles from Virginia Theological Seminary

After the decision by the national SBL in 2022 to eliminate its regional meeting system, CBA is planning a Mid-Atlantic Region Meeting, May 12-13, 2023 at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. I am inviting you to participate in a virtual exhibit accessible only to those attending the meeting. There is no fee to participate in the virtual exhibit, but we would ask you to extend a discount to those attending the meeting. The virtual exhibit webpage would be tied to this event's page and would include your link. 

• Please respond by March 17th if you  are interested in participating in the CBA Mid-Atlantic Region Meeting virtual exhibits.
• The link and discount information deadline is May 1, 2023 and should be sent to cba-office@cua.edu with the subject heading: Mid-Atlantic Region Exhibits.

All participants are expected to behave in accordance with norms for participation in academic conferences, and in particular are asked to note the following:

• Presenters should arrive to the meeting space in-person or virtually join the session at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the session to connect with the session chair. 
• Participants are expected to attend as many sessions as possible.
• Update the Zoom application prior to the event (current version is 5.11.3).
• All sessions will be recorded for archival purposes and some will be shared on the CBA website By agreeing to attend the virtual, you grant permission to CBA to record and broadcast your likeness.

Harassment of the Catholic Biblical Association (CBA) and its employees, members, or volunteers and other individuals attending (“attendee”) CBA operated, sponsored and/or affiliated events on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or other basis, including sexual harassment (as defined and protected by applicable law) is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment has been defined generally as including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature whenever: (1) submission to the conduct is either an explicit or implicit term or condition of employment; (2) an individual's reaction to the conduct is used as a basis for employment decisions affecting that individual; (3) the conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with the individual's work performance; or (4) the conduct has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

No employee, member, volunteer, or attendee should be subjected to sexual harassment or unsolicited and unwelcome sexual overtures, nor should any employee, member, volunteer, or attendee be led to believe that any benefit will in any way depend upon “cooperation” of a sexual nature.

Sexual harassment is not limited to demands for sexual favors.  It also may include such actions as: (1) sex-oriented verbal “kidding,” “teasing,” or jokes; (2) repeated offensive sexual flirtations, advances, or propositions; (3) continued or repeated verbal abuse of a sexual nature; (4) graphic or degrading comments about an individual or his or her appearance; (5) the display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures; (6) subtle pressure for sexual activity; and (7) inappropriate physical contact.

Sexual harassment does not refer to occasional compliments of a socially acceptable nature or consensual personal and social relationships without a discriminatory employment effect. It refers to behavior that is not welcome and that is personally intimidating, hostile, offensive. 

Other Unlawful Harassment or Conduct

Harrassment on any grounds is prohibited.

 Scope of Policy

This policy prohibiting harassment, whether sexual or of another nature, is not limited to relationships between and among employees, members and volunteers, but also extends to interaction with attendees and vendors.  No officer, director, members, or other volunteer shall subject any employee, member, volunteer, attendee, or vendor to sexual or other harassment of any nature, including that conduct described above.  Any forms of harassment as described in this policy are reportable immediately to the CBA Executive Director or the Chair of the Executive Committee. 

CBA will fully investigate all complaints and will maintain confidentiality to the extent possible. Anyone who is found to have engaged in harassment will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, which may include the following: (1) a written reprimand or censure; (2) a request for resignation; (3) removal of such person from the individual’s position within CBA; or (4) termination of the individual’s membership, employment, engagement, and/or participation in current and/or future CBA operated, sponsored and/or affiliated events.  No individual will be retaliated against for making a complaint or assisting with the investigation of a complaint.

Procedure for Investigation and Determination 

Any person who has experienced a serious harassment  or any physical assault should contact law enforcement officials immediately. Any person who desires to report a possible violation of the CBA Professional Conduct Policy at an CBA sanctioned event should promptly contact the CBA Executive Director or the Chair of the Executive Board. CBA has established Professional Conduct Investigation Procedures that provide guidelines for gathering information, maintaining confidentiality to the extent possible, reaching an initial determination, allowing for an appeal, and determining disciplinary action. An investigation may not be conducted without the consent and participation of the alleged victim.