The Washington Theological Consortium (WTC), together with the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington, Interfaith Power and Light, and the Center for Public Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary, are bringing together an interfaith group of scholars, community activists, and religious leaders to explore different approaches to faith-based engagement in the public sphere.

The event, entitled “Models of Faith-Based Engagement with Public Life,” will take place on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Wesley Theological Seminary, 4500 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016. It is free and open to the public, but RSVP is required at https://washtheocon.org/publiclife. Additional details are also available at that link.

“We are living in a time when people of faith are seeking moral clarity and effective engagement in public life. This event is designed to equip faith leaders and seminarians to strengthen their leadership and maximize their impact,” said Dr. Larry Golemon, Executive Director of the WTC.

The event will feature leaders of faith-based organizations and movements in the area. They will explore a range of strategies for faith-based public engagement, from community organizing to populist movements. Participants will also be able to take workshops on contemporary issues that invite significant responses from committed people of faith today.

A keynote will be offered by Dr. Rick Elgendy, Professor of Public Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary.

A group of panelists will present different models of faith-based public engagement:

• Government Collaboration with Faith Communities (Government and Faith-Based Model), presented by Rev. Kasey Kaseman, United Church of Christ
• Interfaith Moral Critique and Action (Bishop Barber model), presented by Dr. Beverly Goines, Disciples of Christ and Repairers of the Breach
• Local Faith-Based Organizing (Washington Interfaith Network model) presented by Imam Albert Sabir, Masjid Muhammad and WIN
• Interfaith Dialogue and Education (Interfaith Council Model), presented by Dr. Sousan Abadian, of the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington

Finally, four leaders will offer practical workshops for engagement based on important contemporary topics:

• Immigrant Rights, presented by Kathryn Doan, Congregation Action Network
• Environmental Defense, presented by Joelle Novey, Interfaith Power and Light
• Racial Justice and its Intersections, presented by Rev. Stacy Cole-Wilson, Baltimore-Washington Conference, United Methodist Church
• Gender Justice, presented by Rev. T.C. Morrow, National Religious Campaign Against Torture

Members of the media are encouraged to participate in the events, and interviews with Dr. Golemon, Dr. Elgendy, and any of the other panelists or workshop presenters are available upon request at [email protected] or by phone at (202) 832-2675.

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About the Washington Theological Consortium

Founded over 50 years ago, the Washington Theological Consortium is a community of theological schools and partners from diverse traditions that pursue ecumenical dialogue, interfaith understanding, and educational collaboration to better equip clergy and laity for the ministry of the Church in a diverse society. For more information, please contact Rev. Larry Golemon, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Washington Theological Consortium, at (202) 832-2675 or [email protected] or visit washtheocon.org.

Download a copy of this media release. | Download a copy of the event flyer.