Invitation. Tabor College undergraduate full-time students are invited to submit a contest entry that engages Anabaptism broadly understood. Submissions may include essays, poetry, works of art or other media. Adaptations of work submitted for college courses are welcome.
Rationale. As a Mennonite Brethren institution, Tabor College was founded in 1908 by Anabaptist believers whose principles still shape our ethos today. This contest encourages the ongoing promotion of those ideas and values.
Presentation and Reward. Authors of the top three submissions will be invited to present their work at a spring event open to the public, at which time a panel of judges will consider the presentations and announce prizes. A maximum of three prizes will be awarded: top prize is a cash gift of $300, second place $200, and third place $100.
Content and Length. Essay submissions should include a scholarly reflection that is a minimum of 1200 and a maximum of 3000 words in length. Submissions in non-literary formats should be accompanied by an explanatory statement of 300 to 500 words. Prizes will be awarded for submissions that are especially well-crafted, creative, and Anabaptist-focused. Special consideration given to those who do primary-source research, notably concerning P. C. Hiebert and the peace witness during World War I.
Focus. Topics expressing Anabaptist witness might include, but are not limited to, issues of culture and society, biblical/theological concerns, and ethics. Participants may optionally wish to show how these traditional topics have been framed by the Mennonite Brethren experience. Here are some specific submission ideas (these are only suggestions):
Social Ethics: war, violence, justice, peace, poverty, hunger, pollution
Culture and Politics: national allegiance, Christians and the flag, response to current events
History: Mennonite Brethren experience, Mennonite Brethren cultural context
Biblical Texts: Romans 13:1-7, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), 1 Peter 2:21
Theological Issues: eschatology, Christology, church as community, role of Scripture for faith, methods for studying the Bible
Style Guidelines: Submissions should follow a recognized style sheet, such as Modern Language Association (MLA), Turabian/Chicago, or American Psychological Association (APA). A rubric is also available.
Submission. Submissions should be presented to the Director of the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, Peggy Goertzen, at peggyg@tabor.edu along with a printed and signed submission form.
Deadline: March 31, 2024, 5 p.m.