Dialogue Institute

Join the Dialogue Institute tomorrow night at Christ Church for a special screening of In Pursuit! Following the screening, Dr. David Krueger (The Dialogue Institute), Dr. Kirsten Lee (1838 Black Metropolis), and Farah Jimenez (The Philadelphia Education Fund) will engage in a conversation examining how Philadelphia’s past and present continue to shape the American story.

Tickets are going fast! 🎥 Reserve your spot now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-pursuit-philadelphia-and-the-making-of-america-tickets-1989015245141

Events Happening Soon! 📣

🎥 JUNE 16 AT 6 PM: In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America (Free Event) at Christ Church - 20 N. American Street, Philadelphia
🎤 JUNE 22 AT 7 PM: Speaker Series: Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? with John Fea (Free Event) at Christ Church - 20 N. American Street, Philadelphia
🗺️ JULY 11 AT 10 AM: Tour: Religion and Freedom in Historic Germantown ($20) starting at Vernon Park - 5800 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia

These events are open to the public for registration. We hope to see you there!

See our lineup of events and register here: https://religiousfreedomtrails.org/events

Events — Religion and History Tours in Philadelphia Our events engage scholars, community leaders, and the public in meaningful conversations about how religious ideas, values, and communities have shaped and continue to shape American identity, pluralism, and civic life.

Happening next week!📣You won't want to miss this free event hosted by the Dialogue Institute, In Pursuit of History, and Historic Christ Church and Burial Ground.

Get tickets: https://religiousfreedomtrails.org/events/in-pursuit-philadelphia-and-the-making-of-america

Join us at Philadelphia’s Christ Church Neighborhood House for a special screening of Episode 4 of the documentary “In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America.” Following the screening, producer Nathaniel Popkin will facilitate a conversation with Dr. David Krueger (Dialogue Institute), Dr. Kirsten Lee (1838 Black Metropolis), and Farah Jimenez (Philadelphia Education Fund) about religion, civic engagement, and the struggle for an inclusive democracy.

Episode 4 of “In Pursuit” examines Philadelphia as the young nation’s capital, where the ideals of self-government are tested in everyday life. As political divisions deepen and crises like the Yellow Fever epidemic strain the city, free Black Philadelphians build institutions and assert their rights, with leaders like Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and James Forten shaping a growing movement for equality and reform.

Join us at an upcoming speaker series featuring Dr. John Fea. The session will explore one of the most enduring and debated questions in American history: Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?

**This event is free and open to the public!**
When: Monday, June 22nd at 7:00pm
Where: Christ Church, 20 N. American Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

📣 Register here: https://religiousfreedomtrails.org/events/was-america-founded-as-a-christian-nation

This free speaker series will explore the intersections of religion, democracy, history, and national identity, while encouraging thoughtful dialogue about how we understand America’s past today. Dr. David Krueger of the Dialogue Institute at Temple University will facilitate the conversation.

Dr. Fea is a Distinguished Fellow at the Lumen Center and the author or editor of six books, including Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump and Why Study History?: Reflecting on the Importance of the Past. His work has appeared in publications including The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Christianity Today, and USA Today, and he has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, C-SPAN, and NBC News.

Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? — Religion and History Tours in Philadelphia Join us and author  John Fea  for a thought-provoking conversation exploring one of the most enduring and debated questions in American history: Was America founded as a Christian nation? Drawing from his book  Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?: A Historical Intr

Interested in connecting with the Dialogue Institute? We have plenty of opportunities available in the next month - join us!

https://religiousfreedomtrails.org/events

Join us at Philadelphia’s Christ Church Neighborhood House for a special screening of Episode 4 of the documentary “In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America.” 🎥

Following the screening, producer Nathaniel Popkin will facilitate a conversation with Dr. David Krueger (Dialogue Institute), Dr. Kirsten Lee (1838 Black Metropolis), and Farah Jimenez (Philadelphia Education Fund) about religion, civic engagement, and the struggle for an inclusive democracy.

Register here: https://religiousfreedomtrails.org/events/in-pursuit-philadelphia-and-the-making-of-america

Episode 4 of “In Pursuit” examines Philadelphia as the young nation’s capital, where the ideals of self-government are tested in everyday life. As political divisions deepen and crises like the Yellow Fever epidemic strain the city, free Black Philadelphians build institutions and assert their rights, with leaders like Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and James Forten shaping a growing movement for equality and reform.

The episode then follows the rise of abolitionism and public education, as Black and white reformers work together to expand opportunity and challenge injustice. Yet these efforts provoke fierce resistance, culminating in mob violence, the destruction of Pennsylvania Hall, and the stripping of Black men’s voting rights. In a city striving to create shared civic space, this program asks a central question: how can common ground be sustained when democracy itself remains unequal?

Join us at Ebenezer Baptist Church for an important conversation at the intersection of faith, history, and democracy.

A Faithful Struggle: Historically Black Protestant Churches Reflections at America’s 250th brings together leading voices to reflect on the legacy and future leadership of Historically Black Protestant Churches in building bridges across difference and protecting democratic values.

June 30, 2026
7 to 8:30 PM
Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta

Free event. Advance registration required. All are welcome.
Save your spot today. https://www.interfaithamerica.org/events/historically-black-protestant-churches-at-americas-250th/

What kind of nation are we? And what kind of nation do we want to be? We're answering these questions and more on Saturday, May 30th, 2026, at 'America Beyond 250: Reclaiming the Promise of Pluralism' - and you're invited to join! 📣

Our Executive Director, David Krueger, will join:
- Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (181st District of Pennsylvania)
- Bishop Dwayne Royster (Faith in Action)
- Maggie Siddiqi (Interfaith Alliance)
- Elizabeth Reiner Platt (Law, Rights, and Religion Project)
- Nick Fish (American Atheists)
- Philip Lindsay (Democracy Innovation Hub)
- Sean Connolly (Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust)
..and more for an exciting day of dialogue!

The event will take place at Arch Street Meeting House. Tickets to the dialogue portion of the event are $25 (plus processing fees) and include admission to the main program presentations and panels from 1:30–5:30pm, plus light refreshments before and during the event.

An optional walking tour of historic Old City Philadelphia, sponsored by the Freethought Society, can be added on for $10 and will meet at the Arch Street Meeting House at 10am. Coffee, tea, and light refreshments will be available.

Register today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/america-beyond-250-reclaiming-the-promise-of-pluralism-registration-1987197194302

America Beyond 250: Reclaiming the Promise of Pluralism What kind of nation are we? And what kind of nation do we want to be? We're answering these questions — and more.

Issue 61.1 of the Journal of Ecumenical Studies is now available via Project Muse! For each issue, the Diablogue features one author and makes a full-text PDF version of their article available on Project Muse for 60 days. 📖

In this issue, we feature Geneva Blackmer and Yitnaa Athanasius Akila’s "Aruna Gnanadason: Indigenous Wisdom, Indian Eco-Feminist Theology, and the World Council of Churches—Confronting Violence against Women and Shaping the Future of Ecumenism.”

Get access to the full article and hear from the authors on our blog: https://dialogueinstitute.org/diablogue-blog/2026/5/14/featured-jes-authors-geneva-blackmer-and-yitnaa-athanasius-akila

Featured JES Authors: Geneva Blackmer and Yitnaa Athanasius Akila — Dialogue Institute Issue 61.1 of the Journal of Ecumenical Studies is now available via Project Muse! For each issue, the Diablogue features one author and makes a full-text PDF version of their article available on Project Muse for 60 days. In this issue, we feature Geneva Blackmer and Yitnaa Athanasius