Modern Language Association

The Conference on Christianity is allied with the Modern Language Association (www.mla.org) and organizes sessions each year at the MLA Annual Convention. The CCL also presents awards for lifetime achievement, book of the year, and the Lionel Basney Award for the year's best article in Christianity and Literature during the MLA Convention.

MLA 2008
Grace and Grand Laughter:
The Christian Vision of Marilynne Robinson

December 27-30
San Francisco, CA
The Conference on Christianity and Literature will host a seminar-style session called "Grace and Grand Laughter: The Christian Vision of Marilynne Robinson."

In Gilead, which received the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, Robinson's narrator observes that "grace has a grand laughter in it." This idea permeates Gilead but also more broadly seems to embrace much of Robinson's work. The session will explore the literary, theological, and cultural implications of this idea -- that belief and unbelief, suffering and blessing, past and present all participate in Christian joy -- has broad literary, theological, and cultural implications. What does it mean? How does her non-fiction engage this idea? How has film adaptation engaged this joy? Where does this joy break down in her works?

For more information, contact Scott LaMascus, scott.lamascus@oc.edu, or by mail at: Professor of English, Oklahoma Christian University, Box 11000, Oklahoma City, OK 73136.

Postmodern and Postsecular Fictions and Christianity

CCL will also host a session at the 2008 MLA Convention that addresses the interactions between writers from the last forty years and Christian belief / spirituality. For more information, contact Christopher Wielgos, Associate Professor of English at Lewis University, at wielgoch@lewisu.edu.

Allied Organization Approval

Recently, CCL was notified that it has been approved for another seven years as an Allied Organization of the Modern Language Association. This status allows CCL two sessions at each MLA convention. In order to be approved, CCL had to submit a detailed report (with supporting documentation) that addressed the following categories:

A brief history of the organization since the last review that included comments on the organization's general and particular significance, its activities, the stability or growth of its membership, a description and analysis of its programs at the MLA convention and any other relevant information.
Evidence of ongoing activity since the last review, e.g., publications and official communications to members.
Evidence that the organization has involved a large diverse portion of its membership in its activities, inlcuding convention programs.
A statement of the organization's purpose,and the date the organization was founded.
A copy of the ogranization's constitution or bylaws which includes the date of adoption.
Current membership numbers and a sample membership application.
Description of the dues structure.

MLA 2007

MLA 2006