Wesley and Newseum Co-Sponsor Religious Liberty Program

Wesley Theological Seminary has joined forces with Religious Freedom Center at the Newseum Institute to create a unique academic program beginning in the Fall 2016 semester. The two institutions are partnering to offer “courses designed to equip civic and religious leaders to navigate the intersection of religion and public life,” with a heavy emphasis on religious liberty, the Religious Freedom Center said in a statement on June 27.

“As unprecedented challenges arise from the nation’s rapidly expanding pluralism, civic and religious leaders require a thorough understanding of the guiding principles of the First Amendment,” according to the statement. Students will be equipped “to lead people of any religion or none and to negotiate religious and philosophical differences with civility and respect.”

The Rev. Dr. Robert Martin, who serves as dean of Wesley, said the program provided an opportunity for promoting Christian thought in the context of public discourse.

“There has been a significant rise of misunderstanding and conflict in public life this century,” Martin said. “There has never been a greater need to understand the role and power of religions to foster violence or peace. Wesley’s partnership with the Newseum meets this need head-on, providing excellent educational resources to return civility to the public square.”

In keeping with this pluralist vision, the Religious Freedom Center encouraged leaders from “all faith traditions, or none,” to apply to the program. However, since Wesley is deeply rooted in Methodism, the seminary made clear that it was “[c]entered in the Christian tradition” and works to “equip exemplary teachers, preachers and leaders to be prophetic voices in the church and the world.”

Those completing the program will receive graduate credit at Wesley through the seminary’s Center for Public Theology. Coursework will take place mostly online, but will require attending a three-day seminar at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., in October. Four courses will be offered:

• Foundations of Religious Freedom in the United States
• Religious Liberty and Contemporary American Public Life
• Religion and News Media
• The Human Right to Freedom of Religion

Wesley referred individuals interested in participating, but not already students there, to visit the seminary’s admission website in order apply.