Society Of Biblical Literature

Conferences. Sbl organizes three major annual academic conferences each year, one in the united states, one outside the u.s, and one virtual global conference. The major u.s. Meeting brings together more than half of its members as well as members of affiliate organizations to present over 1,000 scholarly papers of new research in hundreds of program unit sessions. The conference also provides an exhibit hall for academic publishers and a job service for academic institutions who interview and hire members. These annual conferences are held in order to accomplish sbl's strategic vision statements: organizing congresses for scholarly exchange; facilitating broad and open discussion from a variety of critical perspectives; and promoting cooperation across global boundaries.

Professions. Sbl offers a broad range of activities that support its members' professional development and advocate for the academic field in higher education. It hosts an employment service, provides workshops at its meetings, partners with related organizations, collaborates with organizations in humanities and higher education (such as the national humanities alliance and the american council of learned societies), and fosters participation through program units that enlist over 3,000 of its members as chairs, presenters, presiders, or panelists.

The society has approximately 7,500 members. The membership fee provides a myriad of member services. Members receive discounts on journals, meeting registrations, and books. Members participate in the governance and provide direction through their work on committees. Over 3,000 members participate as chairs, presenters, presiders, or panelists at the eleven regional meetings, the international meeting, and the annual meeting; over 5,700 members attend those meetings. The society of biblical literature is made up of a community of member scholars volunteering their time and talents to further biblical scholarship for many years to come and to pass along their knowledge to those who will follow in their footsteps.