2026 CBE Student Paper Competition
CBE’s Student Paper Competition is an opportunity for students to submit and present a research paper at CBE International’s 2026 Conference, “Made Whole: Healing the Body of Christ,” in Chicago, Illinois, August 6–9, 2026. Three winners will be selected to present their papers at this event to an audience of Christian scholars, leaders, and advocates for women’s shared leadership and authority in the home, church, and world. All papers may also be considered for publication in one of CBE’s award-winning journals and blog. This competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students.
Submission Deadline • April 20, 2026 • 11:59 pm CDT
Submission Guidelines
To be eligible, you must:
- Currently live in the United States.
- Be a student (either undergraduate or graduate) enrolled at a college, university, or graduate institution.
- Submit a paper that is 2,500–5,000 words in length. Papers exceeding the maximum word limit (5,000) will not be considered.
(Note: This length does not include footnotes.)
- Submit a paper that is 2,500–5,000 words in length. Papers exceeding the maximum word limit (5,000) will not be considered.
Papers must:
- Address either:
An aspect of biblical gender equality related to the theme of the conference (Made Whole: Healing the Body of Christ – 1 Cor. 12:26)
OR
The biblical basis for shared leadership and authority of men and women in the home, church, and world (CBE’s Mission).
- Address either:
- Be double‐spaced, in 12‐point font, and have numbered pages.
- Align with CBE’s Statement of Faith and Core Values.
- Be free of plagiarism (including any wording generated by AI). Candidates who do not submit 100 percent of unique work will be disqualified.
- Papers previously written for a class that address one of the themes above are acceptable for submission.
Submission Deadline • April 20, 2026 • 11:59 pm CDT
If Selected
The three students selected to present will each be awarded a scholarship to attend the conference that covers the cost of conference registration, two lunches, and two plated dinners. The first-place winner will receive two paid room nights at the conference hotel; the second and third-place winners will each receive one paid room night at the conference hotel.
Students may also consider applying for a conference scholarship by March 2, 2026, to have their registration fee partially or fully waived. While you may apply for both the scholarship and student paper competition, you may only be awarded one (with the paper competition taking precedence).
Submission Deadline • April 20, 2026 • 11:59 pm CDT
Submit your paper by filling out the application form below. Final decisions regarding submissions will be emailed by June 19. CBE appreciates every submission.
Please do not contact CBE regarding the status of your submission unless you do not receive the automated email stating that we have received your submission. For any other questions, please contact conferences@cbeinternational.org.