Bratislava and Nitra: Financing of Churches and Religous Societies in the 21st Century (October 14-16, 2009)

 The international scientific conference shall consist of two sections:
the first one will be held on Oct 14-15, 2009, at the Devín Hotel (4, Riečna Str., Bratislava), and the second one on Oct 16, 2009, at the Seminary of St. Gorazd in Nitra. We would be very glad, if you decide to take active part in both sections of our conference.
The first section, held in Bratislava, is going to be devoted to the topical issue of financing churches and religious societies, i.e. to the application of various models of church financing in particular countries, the experiences of practical state policies and the considerations about feasible modifications. Participating experts should analyse the development of the financial support of churches, as in the old, standard democracies of Western Europe, so in the arising, new democracies of the post-communist states of Middle and East Europe.
Presentation of specific methods of financing on other continents is also to be anticipated, as experts should outline historical, religious demographic, social, political and other connections between the rise and the routine practice of church financing in various countries, and share their precious experiences with their colleagues.
The second section of the conference, held in Nitra, is going to deal especially with the issue of church property restitutions: clarification of circumstances of gaining and losing church property in the course of history, ways of solution of the issue of restitutions in individual post-communist countries, evaluation of this process from the standpoints of states, churches, independent researchers, looking at the
situation and the economical merit of the restituted property, difficulties and good experiences.
The conference is aimed at the classification and comparison of the current method of financial support of churches and religious societies
in several countries and in Slovakia, with regard to gaining experience from approved practice, as well as to avoiding negative phenomena. To
share both experiences with overcoming problematic historical circumstances connected with church property and attitudes to restitutions in the modern age, as well as to exchange empirical and scientific knowledge or opinions, capable to support solution-making for state church policy in particular countries.
 
The conference language will be Slovak (or Czech, as the case may be) and English. Simultaneous interpreting will be arranged. The duration of
individual papers should not exceed 20 minutes.
 
The registration deadline is June 5, 2009. In case you accept our invitation and decide to participate actively in our conference, we ask
you most politely to fill in both attached forms – Application for Accommodation and Registration Form — and return them to our Institute e-mail: michaela.moravcikova@duch.sk, and also to the e-mail of the travel agency CK Emily Tours: emilytours@emilytours.sk.
The Institute for State-Church Relations intends to publish conference proceedings; be so kind to send us the definitive text of your paper (incl. a short summary) not later than September 5, 2009 to our email: michaela.moravcikova@duch.sk.
The organisers are going to provide board and lodging for lecturers during the conference for free. The accompanying persons should, however, bear their costs themselves. All lecturers are also free of paying any conference fee. The collective transport from Bratislava (Devín Hotel), to Nitra (Seminary of St. Gorazd) and back is going to be provided by the organizers free of charge. We can also arrange sightseeing both in Bratislava and Nitra for interested participants.
We hope that you decide to accept our invitation and so to enrich our conference by your active participation.
Marek Maďarič, Minister of Culture of the Slovak Republic
Michaela Moravčíková, Director of the Institute for State-Church Relations