In celebration of the upcoming 70th birthday of Dr. Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, we are pleased to announce a Call for Papers for a one-day festschrift conference to be held at Fuller Theological Seminary on February 25, 2028 (tentative). This conference, preceded by an edited volume, will honor Dr. Kärkkäinen’s extraordinary contributions to systematic/constructive theology, global theology, ecumenics, and comparative theology, reflecting a career that has significantly shaped Christian thought across continents. Scholars are invited to join this academic celebration by submitting papers that engage with, extend, and critically interact with the central themes of his life’s work. The event aims to foster interdisciplinary and cross-cultural conversations, mirroring the coherent, inclusive, dialogical, and hospitable vision of his scholarship.

Dr. Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen is a world-renowned theologian and Professor of Systematic Theology at Fuller Seminary (Pasadena, USA), as well as Docent of Ecumenics at the University of Helsinki. An ordained Lutheran minister with Pentecostal roots (sometimes called a Luther-costal), he has manifested rigorous scholarship which has consistently sought to build bridges— between his own Pentecostal-Charismatic tradition and the wider ecumenical Church, between Christianity and other world religions, and between the theological voices of the Global North and the vibrant, emerging theologies of the Global South. Over a prolific career, Dr. Kärkkäinen has authored or edited more than thirty books in English (and several in Finnish) and hundreds of scholarly articles, with his magnum opus being the five-volume series A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World (2013–2017). This ambitious series — completed in just five years — is interdisciplinary and global in scope, engaging not only with the breadth of Christian doctrine but also with science and dialogue with other religions (including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism) through a comparative theological approach. Such work exemplifies Dr. Kärkkäinen’s commitment to understanding theology in a pluralistic world in the third millennium.

Widely esteemed for his ecumenical, international, and contextual perspective, Dr. Kärkkäinen’s scholarship has been lauded as “top of its class” in both the West and the Global South. He has actively engaged theological contexts on every major continent: In Europe, his Finnish roots and doctoral studies at the University of Helsinki, combined with his ongoing role there, have positioned him as a key voice in Lutheran and ecumenical theology, influencing institutions and dialogues across the continent. His time teaching in Asia—at the Iso Kirja Bible College in Finland (with Asian extensions) and his extended work in Thailand—has deepened his insights into Pentecostal movements and contextual Asian theologies, impacting scholars and churches in rapidly growing Christian communities. In North America, his long tenure at Fuller Theological Seminary has made him a pivotal figure in evangelical and Pentecostal studies, where he mentors diverse students and collaborates on interfaith initiatives. Beyond these, Dr. Kärkkäinen’s work actively incorporates perspectives from Africa, engaging with vibrant Spirit-centered theologies and liberation themes in sub-Saharan contexts, and from Latin America, where he dialogues with base ecclesial communities and indigenous spiritualities. Even in Oceania, his pluralistic approach resonates with Pacific Islander theologies emphasizing community and ecology. His books, translated into multiple languages, are studied worldwide, fostering ecumenical unity and interreligious understanding in an increasingly interconnected global church. In the words of one noted scholar, Kärkkäinen is “one of the more important theologians to be reckoned with in our time” (Amos Yong).

Fittingly, the festschrift conference’s theme centers on Constructive and Comparative Theology in a Global Context, highlighting Dr. Kärkkäinen’s key contributions. We welcome paper proposals (from scholars of all backgrounds and regions) that resonate with this celebratory theme. Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

• Pneumatology, Ecclesiology, and Trinitarian Theology in Global and Ecumenical Perspective: Studies engaging the doctrine of the Holy Spirit within trinitarian theology and ecclesiology, including pneumatological questions arising in ecumenical, charismatic, and global contexts. Contributions may explore dialogue with Orthodox theology—particularly engagement with the work of John Zizioulas—or constructive developments in pneumatology that reflect Dr. Kärkkäinen’s sustained interest in the Spirit’s role in ecclesiology, communion, and theological method.
• Contextual Theologies from All Continents: Analyses of Christian theology as expressed in various cultural contexts — e.g. Asian, African, Latin American, European, or North American theologies — and their interaction within global Christianity.
• Interfaith Dialogue and Comparative Theology: Theological reflections on Christianity in dialogue with Judaism and other faiths (such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism), comparative studies of doctrines across religions, or theology of religions, in line with Dr. Kärkkäinen’s interreligious engagement.
• Ecumenical and Inter-Traditional Dialogues: Explorations of unity and diversity among Christian traditions (e.g., Pentecostal–Catholic dialogue, Lutheran–Evangelical interactions, Orthodox–Protestant perspectives). Studies of ecumenics that echo Kärkkäinen’s efforts to bridge church traditions are especially welcome.
• Constructive Theology in a Pluralistic World: Innovative constructive or systematic theological work addressing contemporary issues (religious pluralism, science and religions, social challenges, etc.), taking inspiration from Kärkkäinen’s method of building theology in conversation with modern contexts and global perspectives.
• Global Theology and Mission: Reflections on the future of global Christianity, world mission, and the changing “center of gravity” of the church, informed by insights from various cultures and regions (a theme prevalent in Kärkkäinen’s global surveys of theology).

Contributions should advance scholarly discourse while honoring Dr. Kärkkäinen’s commitment to inclusivity, rigor, and relevance.

Submission Guidelines and Key Dates

We invite abstracts of 300–500 words, including a tentative title, key arguments, and relevance to the festschrift themes, to be submitted by March 31^st, 2026. Abstracts should be sent via email to karkkainenfestschrift2028@gmail.com with the subject line “2028 Kärkkäinen Festschrift Abstract.” All abstracts will undergo a review by the organizing committee, with acceptances communicated shortly thereafter.

Authors of accepted proposals will send their papers (6,000-8,000 words including bibliography) no later than June 15^th, 2026, for peer review and inclusion in the edited festschrift volume. Selected papers will be published in a prestigious academic press, which will serve as a lasting tribute to Dr. Kärkkäinen’s influence in constructive, global, ecumenical, and comparative theology.

Selected authors will present their papers at the festschrift conference, a one-day in-person event at Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, California). This event is sponsored by the Center for Advanced Theological Studies (CATS), Center for Missiological Research (CMR), and School of Mission and Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary, and the Asia Research Center (ARC), in honor of Dr. Kärkkäinen’s remarkable, continuing legacy.

We look forward to receiving proposals that not only engage rigorous scholarship but also celebrate Dr. Kärkkäinen’s visionary work and impact on the worldwide church and academy.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out at karkkainenfestschrift2028@gmail.com!

Summary:

Deadline for Abstracts: March 31, 2026 (300–500 words)

Deadline for Paper Submission: June 15, 2026 (6,000-8,000 words)

Publication of Edited Volume: Second half of 2027

Festschrift Conference Date: Feb 25, 2028 (subject to change)

Festschrift Conference Venue: Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA.

Organizing Committee for Dr. Kärkkäinen’s Festschrift

Dr. Jacob Chengwei Feng, chengweifeng@fuller.edu, Affiliate Assistant Professor of Theology and Leadership, Fuller Theological Seminary; Adjunct Professor, Pepperdine University

Dr. Eve (Paraskevè) Tibbs, eve_tibbs@fuller.edu, Affiliate Professor of Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary

February 10, 2026