The organizers inviite your faculty, students, scholars, and institutional leaders to the 2nd Annual TIDEL Summit & Showcase, taking place October 1–2, 2026, in New York City, at Union Theological Seminary and Teachers College, Columbia University.
The event brings together scholars, faith leaders, technologists, and nonprofit professionals for sessions, panel discussions, and interdisciplinary dialogue at the intersection of technology, theology, ethics, innovation, and public life.
Featured Scholars and Academic Leaders
Among the confirmed speakers are:
- Dr. Lisa Thompson, President, Union Theological Seminary
- Dr. Heidi A. Campbell, Professor of Communications, Texas A&M University; Founder, Digital Religion Studies
- Dr. Scott Thumma, Professor of Sociology of Religion (retired); Senior Consultant, Hartford Institute for Religion Research
- Dr. Andrea White, Associate Professor of Theology and Culture, Union Theological Seminary
- Dr. Teresa Smallwood, Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Professor of Public Theology, United Lutheran Seminary
- Dr. Adam Brett, Visiting Professor of Digital Humanities, United Lutheran Seminary
They will join other scholars, faith leaders, technologists, and nonprofit professionals in shaping the summit's interdisciplinary conversations.
Call for Papers Themes:
1. Reimagining Human Flourishing in the Digital Age Disruptive inquiry into how AI, automation, and digital ecosystems reshape identity, belonging, meaning-making, and spiritual life — and what it means to thrive when the boundaries between human and machine blur.
2. Racial Justice in the Digital Public Square Unapologetic interrogation of how technology amplifies or dismantles systems of racial power. Examining algorithmic bias, platform monopolies, digital redlining, and the urgent fight for an equitable, democratic digital public square.
3. The Futuring of Faith Communities: Digital Religion, Leadership, and Belonging Forward-looking inquiry into how digital culture, online ritual, hybrid community, and emerging tools are reshaping religious leadership, congregational life, and the meaning of belonging — and how faith communities can cultivate resilient, imaginative futures.
Key Dates
- Paper submission deadline: September 15, 2026
- Notifications to authors: by September 22, 2026
Submitting and Attending
Paper submissions are free, and selected presenters will receive complimentary registration.
Attendance is open to everyone — you do not need to submit a paper to attend. Registration is $150.
Information, full details, and registration: https://www.tidelconference.org/