AJC And Fuller Theological Seminary Explore Religion And The Political Process At Conference

American Jewish Committee
Thursday, 23 January 1997

In an effort to bring together Jews and Evangelical Christians for reflection and dialogue about religion and the political process, the American Jewish Committee and Fuller Theological Seminary will co-sponsor a major two-day conference on "Religious Convictions in the Public Arena: How People of Faith Can Be Citizens of a Pluralistic Republic."

The seminar, taking place at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, on January 27th and 28th, will bring together experts from the fields of politics, theology, higher education, and the news media to discuss such probing questions as: "Does the 'separation of church and state' protect or limit freedom of religious expression?" "How can the rights of religious minorities be protected without disenfranchising the majority?" "Does the religious right offer a positive model of political engagement, or signal a danger to religious diversity?" "Do politicians take the religious convictions of their constituents seriously?" "Do the media give fair and accurate treatment to American religious life?"

Rabbi A. James Rudin, American Jewish Committee Director of Interreligious Affairs, and Dr. Richard J. Mouw, President and Professor of Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary, are the conveners of the conference and program speakers.

Rabbi Rudin commented that "One of the most important questions facing America today is how to strike the proper balance between religion and politics. Are the two mutually exclusive? Does one cancel out the other? Can our elected leaders remain faithful to their religious commitments? Must people of faith surrender their beliefs when they enter the political arena? These questions are increasingly urgent as America becomes religiously more and more diverse.

"The American Jewish Committee is pleased to explore these critical issues with leaders of the Evangelical Christian community at Fuller, one of our nation's most prominent seminaries."

Dr. Mouw added that "Evangelicals and Jews have much to talk about in regards to how we can work together for the health of the larger society. We look forward to this opportunity for constructive dialogue."

Other speakers include Dr. Ronald F. Thiemann, John Lord O'Brian Professor of Divinity and Dean of the Divinity School of Harvard University; Cathy Mendelson Siegel, Executive Director, American Cinema Foundation; Dr. Neil M. Malamuth, Professor of Communication and Psychology and Chair, Communications Studies Program, UCLA; Richard Ostling, Senior Correspondent for Religion, Time Magazine; Martin S. Kaplan, Chair, Interreligious Affairs Commission, American Jewish Committee; and Dr. Stephen Monsma, Professor of Political Science and Chair, Division of Social Sciences, Seaver College of Pepperdine University.

Coordinators of this conference are Dr. James Butler of Fuller, and Rabbi Gary Greenebaum, director of AJC's Los Angeles office. The program was made possible, in part, by a grant from Phyllis and Leonard Greenberg of Boynton Beach, Florida.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org