Call for Submissions:

The Mad & Crip Theology Press invites submissions for a groundbreaking digital collection exploring the complex intersections of madness, faith, gender, and community within evangelical and other conservative faith spaces. This project centres the lived experiences of those who have navigated these intersecting identities, creating space for nuanced reflections on mental health, disability justice, and spiritual journeys. We seek to amplify diverse voices and experiences, particularly those historically marginalised within religious discourse.

 

This collection aims to weave together diverse narratives that honour the complexity of growing up in conservative religious spaces while navigating madness, gender identity, and the search for authentic community. We welcome reflective and honest contributions that speak to the full spectrum of experiences. Through sharing our stories, we hope to create connections and understanding among those who have walked similar paths—acknowledging both the difficult moments and the glimpses of beauty that emerge when we break silence together.

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* While this collection originated with a focus on evangelical experiences, we welcome submissions from those who have grown up in other conservative faith traditions, recognizing the similar dynamics and experiences that often exist across these spaces. We're expanding our call for submissions to include voices from other faith traditions that have historically conservative or traditional expressions. Whether your background is evangelical, orthodox, catholic, mormon, or another faith tradition with conservative roots - we want to hear your story.

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We Welcome

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• Personal essays and memoir pieces

• Poetry

• Short stories and creative narratives

• Academic-creative hybrid pieces

• Visual narratives and artwork

• Collaborative works

• Creative reflections in any format suitable for e-book publication

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Emerging Themes

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We encourage explorations of, but are not limited to these themes within evangelical spaces, and other conservative religious spaces:

• The journey of healing and transformation within and beyond these spaces 

• Navigating sanism and ableism within these spaces

• The intersection of gender expectations and mental health in these contexts

• Religious trauma and collective healing in conservative faith communities

• Mad pride and spiritual identity within and after evangelicalism/conservatism

• Disability justice perspectives on evangelical culture/conservative faith communities 

• The role of conservative faith communities in shaping or challenging beliefs

• Deconstruction, reconstruction, or leaving 

• Experiences of neurodivergence in these spaces

• Finding or creating alternative spiritual communities after evangelicalism and other conservative faith spaces 

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Submission Guidelines

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This collection welcomes submissions from women, non-binary, trans, and queer individuals who identify as female or have lived experiences aligned with this focus, who have grown up in evangelical spaces. We particularly encourage submissions from BIPOC, disabled, and neurodivergent contributors. We recognize the complex layers of oppression and resistance within evangelical spaces and seek to amplify historically silenced voices.

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Technical Requirements:

• Written submissions: 800-2,500 words

• Poetry: Up to 5 poems

• Visual art: High-resolution images with description

• All submissions should be original work or significantly re-worked for this collection

• Please include a short bio (150-200 words) with your submission

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Deadline: April 30th, 2025

Submit to: Editor Amy at amy@madandcriptheologypress.ca ​

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Publication and Contribution

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This collection is part of the Press's Digital Exclusives series and will be released as an accessible e-book. The Mad & Crip Theology Press is a 100% volunteer-run initiative (quite literally operated from Amy's kitchen table!). We believe in the power of community-driven publishing to share our stories and create change and publishing digitally is a way we can keep stories alive.

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Expected publication: Fall 2025

 

Editorial Process

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This collection will be edited by Amy Panton and Shauna Kubossek.

 

Amy Panton (they/she), brings their own lived experience of growing up evangelical while being mad, crip, queer and female in these spaces. Shauna Kubossek (she/her) also grew up female and evangelical.