Faith in the Public Square
Columbia Theological Seminary’s Center for Theology and Contested Publics exists to support research into the dynamics of public theology during a time when what counts as a “public space” is becoming pluralized, privatized, distorted, diminished, and demeaned. Its mission is to educate the church on how to understand itself and engage others during times of contestation and to empower persons called to speak into public spaces to do so more effectively and with greater theological acuity.
Equip communities of faith to speak wisely and faithfully in contested spaces
Empower individuals called to public witness with deeper theological insight
Foster dialogue where division reigns
“Surely one of the most unsurprising trends in the U.S. over the past few decades has been the increased presence of religious voices in public spaces. Whether for good (the Moral Mondays movement) or ill (White Christian Nationalism), religious language simply shows up more often and in more different ways than it once did. But what has driven this trend? And how have a range of significant forces—demographic shifts, the advent of social media, the rise of the “nones,” etc.—shaped such language? The Center for Theology and Contested Publics dives headlong into those questions, hoping that addressing such questions not only can give insight into this trend but can shape better religious voices for public spaces. I’m extremely excited that CTS has started the center and am honored to be its first director.”
— Dr. Mark Douglas, Director, Center for Theology and Contested Publics, J. Erskine Love Professor of Christian Ethics
