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My blog posts revolve around my interests and vocation as a historian: the intersection of history and contemporary church life, the intersection of history and contemporary politics, serendipitous discoveries in archives or on research trips, publications and research projects, upcoming conferences, and speaking engagements.
The views expressed in these blogs represent the views of the authors, and not necessarily those of any organizations with which they are associated. |
 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_First_Methodist_chapel_called_%22The_Foundry%22_-_Capel_Cyntaf_y_Methodistiaid_Wesleyaidd_a_Adnabyddid_Wrth_%22Y_Foundry%22.jpeg One reason why eighteenth-century English Methodism was such a spiritual dynamo was that much of it was built through the labors of lay (non-ordained) people. In fact, one cannot understand the birth and growth of the movement without acknowledging that vital role of lay people.
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 One of the big surprises for me when I was a new doctoral student was the role of chairing a session. I had never before attended an academic conference let alone chaired a session. Yet there I was one day being asked to be a chair. On the advice of my supervisor, I said yes. And that was the start of over a quarter of a century of chairing sessions.
I make no claims about being a superpower when it comes to chairing sessions. Stated simply, I am not an expert. However, I have made a number of observations about chairing based on what I have seen others do, what I have done, and what I wish I had done. With that in mind, what follows are some bullet points of my thoughts on dos and don’ts of this unique and important opportunity in the life of academics. What also follows below assumes an in-person meeting. However, much of what is said can be adapted to an all-online conference. |
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