Please mark your calendars for the 2008 Sunstone West Symposium! It will be held on 14-15 March on the Claremont Graduate University campus in Claremont, California.

Most of you already know that CGU has recently named Richard L. Bushman to a visiting professorship in Mormon studies to begin fall 2008, with plans for a full-time academic chair as soon as fundraising is complete. We’re excited by the CGU School of Religion’s commitment to Mormon studies and appreciate their co-sponsorship of our Sunstone West symposium once again.

The Call for Proposals is mailing right now. Click here for a printable pdf version.

Here are the instructions:

Sunstone seeks to celebrate and explore Mormon experience, issues, and art through diverse approaches and from many perspectives. From scholarly paper to artistic expression, we strive for excellence in thought and quality in presentation.

We welcome proposals on all Mormon-related topics, but we are planning discussions in future magazine issues on topics such as the Mormon soldier experience, addiction and recovery, Mormons and the body (issues such as body image, fitness, obesity, plastic surgery, theology about the body), how technology affects Mormon life and experience, and LDS theology and practices regarding disability. Hence, we’d especially welcome symposium presentations on any of these topics.

FORMATS. Sessions may be scholarly papers, panel discussions, interviews, personal essays, sermons, films, dramatic performances, literary readings, debates, comic routines, art displays, or musical presentations.

PROPOSALS SHOULD INCLUDE: Session title; a one-hundred-word abstract; presenter name(s), background(s), and contact information; a summary of the topic’s relevance and importance to Mormon studies; description of any audio or visual equipment needs. If possible, please include a complete preliminary draft.

DEADLINE. Please submit proposals by 15 January 2008. Proposals submitted after the deadline will be considered on a time/space-available basis.

SUBMIT PROPOSALS. If submitting by email, direct proposals to symposium coordinator Allen Hill at allen@sunstoneonline.com. If submitting by fax or U. S. mail, direct them to Allen Hill, Sunstone Symposium Coordinator, 343 N. Third West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103; fax (801) 355-4043.

We hope you’ll propose a session or two! If not, we still want to see you there!