Wesley Theological Seminary

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Welcome to the Media Room!

For media inquires, please contact Sheila George, Director of Communications and Marketing, Wesley Theological Seminary at (202) 236-9952 (mobile/text) or sgeorge@wesleyseminary.edu.

Media Briefing: What You Need To Know May 13, 2019 Collapse

May 13, 2019:

Wesley Theological Seminary's 137th Commencement will take place, Monday, May 13, 2019 at Washington National Cathedral from 2-4 p.m. Eastern.

In addition to awarding degrees to our graduates (Doctor of Ministry, Master of Divinity, Master of Arts and Master of Theological Studies), there will be various awards for academic excellence and the annual awarding of the Society of John Wesley Award.

Our Commencement speaker will be University of Cambridge scholar, religious broadcaster and Wesley House Principal, The Rev. Dr. Jane Leach. Learn more about our Commencement speaker here.

The ceremony will be live streamed from 2-4 p.m. Eastern. Click to access live-stream. 

MEDIA ADVISORY

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Sheila George, Wesley Theological Seminary

sgeorge@wesleyseminary.edu, 202-236-9952.

 

LARGEST NUMBER OF DOCTORATE DEGREES IN A DECADE TO BE AWARDED BY WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY MAY 13; 11 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED AND RUSSIAN GRADUATES IN ATTENDANCE

 

WASHINGTON (May 10, 2019) — There is a ‘good news’ story in the United Methodist Church: the largest number of doctorate degrees in a decade will be awarded by Wesley Theological Seminary at its 137thCommencement Ceremony Monday, May 13, 2019 at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. . Wesley President David McAllister-Wilson will also confer degrees on two Russian students who will be in attendance.

 “This increase and the diversity of graduates is a sign that Wesley is where pastors all over the world turn in order to retool for ministry in a complex world, ”said McAllister-Wilson.

 

The 150 graduates of the Class of 2019 represents:

 

  • ·     11 countries: Canada, China, Congo, Cote de Ivorie, Fiji, Germany, Korea, Russia, Singapore, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe
  • ·     Over 18 Christian denominations 
  • ·     30 Annual United Methodist Conferences across the US

 

The Wesley doctorate-level degree is called a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) which is a professional, in-service program for pastors, missionaries and leaders of faith-based organizations. The scholarly doctorate-level of the degree for future professors is a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). 

Our Commencement speaker will be University of Cambridge faculty member and scholar, broadcaster, writer and Principal of Wesley House, Cambridge, UK, the Rev. Dr. Jane Leach. Learn more about her here.

 

WHAT:  Wesley Theological Seminary's 137th Commencement – website: wesleyseminary.edu

WHERE: Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C., 20016

WHEN:May 13, 2019, 2-4 p.m. Eastern. 

EVENT TO BE LIVESTREAMED at https://youtu.be/i5xuufnDW5k

 
May 13, 2019: 2019 Commencement for Wesley Theological Seminary
youtu.be
2019 Commencement for Wesley Theological Seminary

Media Inquiries:Sheila George at sgeorge@wesleyseminary.edu or (202) 236-9952 (mobile). 

 

Wesley Theological Seminary: A Brief History Expand

Wesley Theological Seminary: A Brief History

Our origin was in the 1881 meeting of the Maryland Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church. Enabling legislation of that year led to a charter on the campus of Western Maryland College in Westminster, Maryland. For more than half a century the seminary thrived there as the training center for ministers of the Methodist Protestant Church.

In 1939, with the union of the three major branches of Methodism, Westminster Seminary became one of ten schools of theology of the new Methodist Church.

In 1955, institutional and church leaders determined the seminary should move from Westminster to the present site in Washington, D.C. In 1958, the seminary took up residence at its new campus and was renamed Wesley Theological Seminary.

In 1968 the Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form The United Methodist Church. Simultaneously, Wesley Theological Seminary became one of 13 seminaries of the new United Methodist Church.

Wesley continues to celebrate its move to the city of Washington in the new millennium. In 2009, a new downtown presence and center of faithful learning opened with Wesley Downtown. At the 4500 Massachusetts Avenue campus, the revitalization of Oxnam Chapel in 2010 signaled the merging of traditional and contemporary liturgical space in an educational setting.

Across the courtyard, the library underwent major renovation in 2011. In the same year, the board of governors affirmed the seminary’s decision to build a brand new dormitory on campus. This new residence hall opened for residency in the 2013 fall semester.

Through varied strategic initiatives, taking advantage of both our location in Washington, D.C. and our connections across the globe, Wesley Theological Seminary is guided by its 40 year Vision and Mission Statements:

Mission
 
The mission of Wesley Theological Seminary is to equip Christians for leadership in the church and the world, to advance theological scholarship, and to provide a prophetic voice in the public square. 

Vision  

To play a key role in the continual renewal of the church.

 

Frequently Asked Questions & Stats Expand

Q. What is a seminary?

A. "A seminary, theological college, divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry.[1] The English word is taken from the Latin seminarium, translated as seed-bed, an image taken from the Council of Trent document Cum adolescentium aetas which called for the first modern seminaries." (Wikipedia)

Q. What kind of school is Wesley Theological Seminary?

Wesley is a graduate theological school of The United Methodist Church and a member of the Washington Theological Consortium, and theological education at Wesley reflects our joint commitments to our Methodist heritage and to the ecumenical movement.  Wesley Theological Seminary embraces a renewed global vision of ministry, as we learn from the experiences of Christians in other lands. We are open to dialogue with all the world's varied communities, and welcome cooperation with all who work for peace and justice.

Q. What degrees are awarded here?

A. Wesley offers four degrees including the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Theological Studies, and Doctor of Ministry.

Wesley offers a dual degree program with neighboring American University combining a Master of Theological Studies from Wesley and a Master of Arts degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution  from American University.

The Master of Divinity degree includes a field education (Practice in Ministry and Mission) placement, Spiritual Formation for Ministry, and an intercultural immersion. Optional specialties within the Master of Divinity degree include Student Pastor Program, emerging ministry, arts and theology, Community Engagement Fellows. Master of Arts and Master of Theological Studies offer many options for specialization (including African American Church Studies and Public Theology).

The Doctor of Ministry degree offers a wide range of tracks and small cohorts to optimize learning to meet the need of seasoned ministers. International Doctor of Ministry degrees serve the Global Asian Church and offer cohorts the opportunity to study in the heart of Oxford, England.

 

Commencement 2017 - May 7, 2018 Expand

May 7, 2018:

Wesley Theological Seminary's 136th Commencement will take place, Monday, May 7, 2018 at Washington National Cathedral from 2-4 p.m. Eastern.

In addition to awarding degrees to our graduates (Doctor of Ministry, Master of Divinity, Master of Arts and Master of Theological Studies), there will be various awards for academic excellence and the annual awarding of the Society of John Wesley Award.

Our Commencement speaker will be Mr. David Gregory, noted national and international journalist and author (more information coming soon). 

The ceremony will be live streamed from 2-4 p.m. Eastern. Click to access live-stream.

MEDIA ADVISORY: JOURNALIST DAVID GREGORY TO SPEAK AT 2018 COMMENCEMENT OF WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sheila George
Director of Communications & Marketing
Wesley Theological Seminary
(202) 236-9952 (mobile)
sgeorge@wesleyseminary.edu

MEDIA ADVISORY

LIVE STREAM AVAILABLE TODAY (starting at 2 p.m. Eastern) 

NOTED JOURNALIST DAVID GREGORY TO SPEAK AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL TODAY FOR WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY's 136TH COMMENCEMENT

(WASHINGTON) May 7, 2018 –  Internationally-known journalist David Gregory will address graduates at Wesley Theological Seminary’s 136th Commencement, Monday, May 7 at 2 p.m. at Washington National Cathedral.

One of the nation’s foremost journalists, Gregory is currently a political analyst for CNN. Over the last 25 years, his work has taken him across the country and around the world. He served as the moderator of "Meet the Press" at NBC News, the capstone to a long career at NBC. As a correspondent, Gregory covered the trials of OJ Simpson and Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, as well as other breaking news around the country.

At "Meet the Press," Gregory scored a string of exclusive interviews generating headlines across the world, including the interview with Vice President Joe Biden which represented a major shift by the administration on gay marriage. He also broadcast from Afghanistan after conducting the first interview with General David Petraeus once he took up his position leading US forces there.  He was a staple of the network’s special coverage at NBC, anchoring the breaking news of Osama bin Laden’s capture and death, and was a key player in election night coverage spanning four presidential cycles.

Gregory is the author of How’s Your Faith?, an examination of his own faith journey and those of others, including former President George W. Bush, who asked Gregory the question that became the title of the book.

Gregory lives in Washington, D.C., with his three children and his wife, attorney Beth Wilkinson. They are an interfaith couple: Gregory is a member of Temple Micah and Wilkinson is a member of Foundry United Methodist Church.  Gregory will be the first person of another faith to be the Wesley Commencement speaker.

The 136th Wesley Commencement is from 2 to 4 p.m. EDT, May 7, 2018, at Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016. The livestream link is: https://youtu.be/xkH6DFbtUM

WHAT: Journalist David Gregory, First Interfaith Commencement Speaker at Wesley Theological Seminary's 136th Commencement
WHERE: Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C., 20016
WHEN:May 7, 2018, 2-4 p.m. Eastern. 

Media Inquiries: please contact Sheila George at sgeorge@wesleyseminary.edu or (202) 236-9952.

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WES_082416_CPT_Public_Theology_Today_Page2_Slider2

September 29, 2016

Join us tonight for a special lecture by Dr. Robert P. Jones, author of "The End Of White Christian America" at Wesley Downtown, 900 Massachusetts Avenue NW, 6 to 8 p.m. - the event is free and open to the public.  Please see our Media Advisory in the Media Room for more information. This evening's event will be live streamed at http://bit.ly/1VL34Oy.

June 17, 2016

Wesley holds in prayer today our alumnus, student and friend, the Rev. Dr. Clementa Pinckney, who was gunned down with 8 of his church members one year ago today at the historic Mother Emmanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina. In addition, we also hold in prayer his family, especially his widow Jennifer and her daughters Eliana and Malana. To remember Clementa, Wesley announces today the dedication of the D. Min. in Public Engagement to his memory. As well, the Pinckney Scholarship is announced today to enable students to continue Clementa's example of dedication to public service and church leadership via the D. Min. in Public Engagement track. See our media release for more information.

 

 

 

 

June 7, 2016: Tonight, 6-8 p.m. "Faith in a public vocation: A conversation about politics, media and religion" with Mike McCurry and CNN's David Gregory

Join in the conversation tonight!

While the event is sold out, ask your questions of the panelists and follow live tweeting #PublicFaith and watch the event live streamed starting at 6:30 p.m. Eastern at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wesleytheosem

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 23, 2016

Our major news today: the announcement of the appointment of Dr. Carolyn J. Davis as Deputy Director of Wesley's Center for Public Theology. Welcome, Dr. Davis!

CarolynDavis_600x900WASHINGTON (May 23, 2016) - Wesley Theological Seminary today announced the appointment of Rev. Dr. Carolyn J. Davis as the Deputy Director of its newly created Center for Public Theology in Washington, DC.

Dr. Davis is a senior policy analyst at the Center for American Progress in Washington, providing expertise in religious liberty and reproductive justice for its faith and progressive policy initiative. She will join the administration at Wesley Theological Seminary on June 6, working with the Director of Wesley’s Center for Public Theology, Mike McCurry, a professor of public theology at the Seminary and former White House press secretary under President Bill Clinton.

The Center for Public Theology (CPT) at Wesley draws together courses, programs and events which examine ways that faith traditions impact policy and politics, especially in the nation’s capital. It is part of Wesley Seminary’s Institute for Community Engagement (ICE) which helps churches engage their communities with
the vision of “a transforming church that promotes communities where all people are cherished and flourish.” The Center for Public Theology is in its startup phase, funded with grants from the Henry Luce III Foundation and the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation.

“Dr. Davis brings an exciting and nearly unique combination of skills that will help to ensure the successful development of our new Center. She knows her way around Washington, she wants to see the church find its voice and its place in the public square, and she has impressive academic credentials,” said Rev. Dr. David McAllister-Wilson, the President of Wesley Theological Seminary.

"Carolyn will be an indispensable part of growing and expanding Wesley Seminary’s impact on the discipline of public theology,” said Mike McCurry, Director of the CPT. “Now more than ever we
need a strong voice from the church and its leaders in the turbulent atmosphere of the nation’s public discourse.”

Dr. Davis is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and holds a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University and a Ph.D. in religion from Vanderbilt University. She is an ordained Deacon in
the United Methodist Church and served Union United Methodist Church in Boston while teaching at Andover Newton Theological Seminary as a Lilly Faculty Fellow. Her academic specialties include expertise in applied public theology, particularly faithbased
engagements in policy debates over sexuality education, and discrimination against the LGBT community.

At the Center for American Progress, she has been instrumental in developing relationships between denominational officials, seminary and divinity school leaders, policymakers, and advocacy organizations. She is a frequent contributor to online discussions of public theology carried by Huffington Post, Sojourners, Talking Point Memo, ThinkProgress and Religion Dispatches.

"I am thrilled to be joining the Wesley community,” said Davis, on the announcement of her appointment. I'm eager to contribute to the success of the Center for Public Theology as it fulfills its urgent mission to engage leaders and restore the place of critical, socially just theological discourse in the public sphere."

Centered in the Christian tradition, Wesley Theological Seminary, through its Institute for Community Engagement (ICE), equips exemplary teachers, preachers and leaders to be prophetic
voices in the church and the world. Wesley Theological Seminary is located in Washington, DC with a main campus in upper Northwest adjacent to American University and a downtown location
at 9th and Massachusetts Ave NW where ICE is housed.

(media release dated 23 May 2016)

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May 6, 2016:

It's all about Commencement this week! Our 134th Commencement will take place, Monday, May 9, 2016 at Washington National Cathedral from 2-4 p.m. 

For the first time ever in Wesley's 135 years, a posthumous degree will be awarded to a student who did not complete his coursework - South Carolina Sen. Clementa Pinckney.  Pinckney (D) was a Wesley Theological Seminary D.Min. student at the time of his hate crime-related assassination with eight of his church members at a Bible study in June 2015 at the historic Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, S.C.

"Rev. Pinckney’s martyrdom completed his requirements for his degree," says Wesley President, the Rev. Dr. David McAllister-Wilson.  "The faculty voted unanimously to award the degree to his widow, Mrs. Jennifer Pinckney, at this year's 134th Commencement. At the time of his death, he was working on his thesis describing his dual role as a pastor and public servant. We believe he completed and defended that thesis that night.” (see full media release for more information)

In addition to awarding degrees to our graduates (Doctor of Ministry, Master of Divinity, Master of Arts and Master of Theological Studies), there will be various awards for academic excellence and the annual awarding of the Society of John Wesley Award.

 

 

 

Previous Media Releases 2016-2017 Expand
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Sheila George, sgeorge@wesleyseminary.edu, 202-236-9952.
 
GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCHER TO SPEAK AT 2017 WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY COMMENCEMENT
 
WASHINGTON (May 5, 2017) — Published author the Rev. Dr. Kyunglim Shin Lee will speak at Wesley Theological Seminary’s 2017 Commencement on May 8 at 2 p.m. at Washington National Cathedral. Shin Lee recently published groundbreaking research on the impact and best practices of international mission work, with an emphasis on the Christian church in Korea.
 
She will share her experiences and insights forged through more than 25 years of work at Wesley Theological Seminary. In her role as the vice president for international relations at Wesley, Shin Lee is recognized around the world as a global leader in mission work. 
 
“Dr. Shin Lee has led Wesley to truly become a global seminary,” Wesley President David McAllister-Wilson said. “There is nowhere I go in the world where Kyunglim has not already been and established close and trusting friendships. This is because of her deep faith and untiring effort. She has become one of the leading voices in the Christian community in Korea, in the U.S., and around the world.”
 
Shin Lee is the author of several books. Her most recent, published in Korean, is quickly becoming one of the most important resources in understanding and shaping the work of global missions. The book, released last month, is already in its second printing. 
 
Shin Lee is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church. She earned degrees from Methodist Theological Seminary in Seoul, Korea; Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Chicago and Wesley Theological Seminary. 
 
The 135th Commencement is 2-4 p.m. EST, May 8, 2017 at Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016. The livestream link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eybZGj-09uQ&feature=youtu.be.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Sheila George, sgeorge@wesleyseminary.edu, 202-236-9952 and/or Kristen Looney, klooney@newseum.org, 202/292-6473

D.C. PREMIERE OF NIEBUHR DOCUMENTARY MARCH 31; CO-HOSTED BY WESLEY’S CENTER FOR PUBLIC THEOLOGY AND NEWSEUM’S RELIGIOUS FREEDOM CENTER

WASHINGTON (March 17, 2017) – The Washington, D.C. premiere of the new documentary, “An American Conscience: The Reinhold Niebuhr Story,” will be co-hosted by Wesley Theological Seminary’s Center for Public Theology and The Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum Institute on March 31, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the Newseum.

For a special video invitation from the filmmaker Martin Doblmeier, please  go to https://vimeo.com/207017783

“In the swirl of politics here in Washington, we want the church to have a voice and Niebuhr gave us a map for that decades ago,” said Mike McCurry, director of the Center for Public Theology and former White House press secretary. “This movie illuminates that and seems relevant now more than ever. This film could not be more timely.”

Wesley’s Center for Public Theology seeks to equip faith leaders to be a voice in the public square. The partnership between the Center and the Religious Freedom Center made this premiere possible. The event is free and open to the public.

“It’s fitting that in the year of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation we reflect upon the words and deeds of Reinhold Niebuhr, who TIME Magazine called ‘the greatest Protestant theologian in America since Jonathan Edwards,’” said Rev. Nate Walker, director of The Religious Freedom Center. “The Religious Freedom Center is pleased to partner with Wesley Theological Seminary to reflect upon the roles that religious leaders can play in society, not only as first responders to oppressive agendas but as ethical agenda-setters.”

This event will feature a screening of the documentary followed by a panel discussion with filmmaker Martin Doblmeier; Mike McCurry; Josiah Young, professor of systematic theology at Wesley Theological Seminary; The Washington Post’s E.J. Dionne; Gustav Niebuhr, associate professor of newspaper and online journalism in the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University; Rev. Dr. Carolyn J. Davis, director of strategic development, Public Religion Research Institute.

To view the trailer of the documentary, please go to https://vimeo.com/201016991

Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) impacted presidents and civil rights leaders like Jimmy Carter and Martin Luther King, Jr., who often turned to Niebuhr’s writings for guidance and inspiration on the most volatile political and social issues of the 20th Century.  Many suggest at this particular moment in America’s political life, the voice of theologians like Reinhold Niebuhr is particularly salient.

"An American Conscience: The Reinhold Niebuhr Story” is directed, written and narrated by Martin Doblmeier, the creator of dozens of challenging, award-winning films on faith including Chaplains and Bonhoeffer. Rich in archival material, the documentary includes interviews with former President Jimmy Carter, Civil Rights leader Andrew Young, New York Times writer David Brooks, author Susannah Heschel and a host of internationally recognized historians and theologians.

This event will take place at the Newseum, 7th Floor, 555 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. While the event is free and open to the public, space is limited – please register at https://give.newseum.org/ni-rsvp-02

For media inquiries, contact Sheila George at sgeorge@wesleyseminary.edu or 202/236-9952, and/or Kristen Looney, Project Director, klooney@newseum.org, 202/292-6473.

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Wesley Theological Seminary's Center for Public Theology, located in the heart of the nation’s capital, gives churches and seminary students tools to help navigate the connections between faith and public policy. Our goal is to improve the tone of national political discourse by fostering a new ethic of civil discourse. We are non-partisan, but not disinterested, in the great issues of the day. Located in the nation’s capital and centered in the Christian tradition, Wesley Theological Seminary, with its Institute for Community Engagement and the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, equips exemplary teachers, preachers and leaders to be prophetic voices in the church and the world.

 

The Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum Institute is a nonpartisan national initiative focused on educating the American public about the religious liberty principles of the First Amendment. We envision a world committed to religious freedom as an inalienable right for all people. In carrying out this vision, our mission is to educate the public about the history, meaning and significance of religious freedom and to promote dialogue and understanding among people of all religions and none.

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Media Release

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sheila George, Director of Communications & Marketing
Wesley Theological Seminary, 202­236­9952, sgeorge@wesleyseminary.edu

A Very Personal Evening With CNN Political Analyst David Gregory and Mike McCurry; Their Lives in Politics, Media and Religion To Be Discussed At Live Streamed June 7 Event

(WASHINGTON) 7 June 2016 – David Gregory, CNN political analyst, and Mike McCurry, former White House Press Secretary, will hold a frank evening of conversation regarding their very public lives in media and politics and their private journeys regarding religion at “Faith In A Public Vocation: A Conversation About Politics, Media and Religion” June 7, 2016, 6­8 p.m., at the Institute for Community Engagement at Wesley Downtown.

This is the opening event for the Centre for Public Theology, a program of the Institute for Community Engagement at Wesley Theological Seminary Downtown. Mike McCurry is the Center’s Executive Director and Dr. Carolyn Davis, recently of the Center for American Progress, is the Center’s new Deputy Director. The Center plans to explore the intersection of faith and politics through events and special courses, such as the Certificate in Faith and Public Life, which will be launched in January 2017.

McCurry is best known as the former White House Press Secretary under Bill Clinton. He is currently the co­chair of the Commission on Presidential Debates and is the Distinguished Professor of Public Theology for Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.

Gregory, a journalist with NBC News for 20 years, has worked as White House correspondent, MSNBC anchor, and as moderator of the influential Sunday program "Meet the Press" for six years. He joined CNN as a political analyst in March 2016. His recent book is How's Your Faith?: An Unlikely Spiritual Journey, follows his quest to come to terms with his multifaith background and his exploration of other religious traditions in an effort to answer “ life’s most important questions: who do we want to be and what do we believe?”

 

 

 
 
 

The moderator for the event will be Wesley Theological Seminary President David McAllister­ Wilson, The panel will be joined by Rev. Ginger Gaines – Cirelli, Lead Pastor of Washington’s Foundry United Methodist Church. Located blocks from the White House, Foundry has over its 200­year history been a church for presidents, members of Congress and ambassadors. Gaines­ Cirelli will speak to the role of faith leaders in supporting those exploring their faith publically while being public figures.

There will be a period of Q & As with the audience in the room and on the Internet via #PublicFaith, 7:30 ­ 8:00 p.m.

The event will be held June 7, 6­8 p.m. at the Institute for Public Engagement at Wesley Downtown, 900 Massaschuttes Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20001. The event will be live­streamed at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wesleytheosem starting at 6:30 p.m. Eastern and interaction with the panelists will take place via #PublicFaith.

For media inquires, please contact Sheila George at sgeorge@wesleyseminary.edu or 202­236­9952. Additional information at wesleyseminary.edu/media­room

Wesley Theological Seminary is located in Washington, DC with a main campus in upper Northwest adjacent to American University and a downtown location at 9th and Massachusetts Ave NW where its Institute for Community Engagement is housed.

Centered in the Christian tradition, Wesley Theological Seminary, the Institute for Community Engagement and the Center for Public Theology, equips exemplary teachers, preachers and leaders to be prophetic voices in the church and the world.

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WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | 4500 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE NW, WASHINGTON D.C. | 202-885-8600

 

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Dr. Carolyn J. Davis Appointed Deputy Director of
Center for Public Theology in Washington, DC

CarolynDavis_600x900WASHINGTON (May 23, 2016) Wesley Theological Seminary today announced the appointment of Rev. Dr. Carolyn J. Davis as the Deputy Director of its newly created Center for Public Theology in Washington, DC.

Dr. Davis is a senior policy analyst at the Center for American Progress in Washington, providing expertise in religious liberty and reproductive justice for its faith and progressive policy initiative. She will join the administration at Wesley Theological Seminary on June 6, working with the Director of Wesley’s Center for Public Theology, Mike McCurry, a professor of public theology at the Seminary and former White House press secretary under President Bill Clinton.

The Center for Public Theology (CPT) at Wesley draws together courses, programs and events which examine ways that faith traditions impact policy and politics, especially in the nation’s capital. It is part of Wesley Seminary’s Institute for Community Engagement (ICE) which helps churches engage their communities with
the vision of “a transforming church that promotes communities where all people are cherished and flourish.” The Center for Public Theology is in its startup phase, funded with grants from the Henry Luce III Foundation and the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation.

“Dr. Davis brings an exciting and nearly unique combination of skills that will help to ensure the successful development of our new Center. She knows her way around Washington, she wants to see the church find its voice and its place in the public square, and she has impressive academic credentials,” said Rev. Dr. David McAllister-Wilson, the President of Wesley Theological Seminary.

"Carolyn will be an indispensable part of growing and expanding Wesley Seminary’s impact on the discipline of public theology,” said Mike McCurry, Director of the CPT. “Now more than ever we
need a strong voice from the church and its leaders in the turbulent atmosphere of the nation’s public discourse.”

Dr. Davis is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and holds a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University and a Ph.D. in religion from Vanderbilt University. She is an ordained Deacon in
the United Methodist Church and served Union United Methodist Church in Boston while teaching at Andover Newton Theological Seminary as a Lilly Faculty Fellow. Her academic specialties include expertise in applied public theology, particularly faithbased
engagements in policy debates over sexuality education, and discrimination against the LGBT community.

At the Center for American Progress, she has been instrumental in developing relationships between denominational officials, seminary and divinity school leaders, policymakers, and advocacy organizations. She is a frequent contributor to online discussions of public theology carried by Huffington Post, Sojourners, Talking Point Memo, ThinkProgress and Religion Dispatches.

"I am thrilled to be joining the Wesley community,” said Davis, on the announcement of her appointment. I'm eager to contribute to the success of the Center for Public Theology as it fulfills its urgent mission to engage leaders and restore the place of critical, socially just theological discourse in the public sphere."

Centered in the Christian tradition, Wesley Theological Seminary, through its Institute for Community Engagement (ICE), equips exemplary teachers, preachers and leaders to be prophetic
voices in the church and the world. Wesley Theological Seminary is located in Washington, DC with a main campus in upper Northwest adjacent to American University and a downtown location
at 9th and Massachusetts Ave NW where ICE is housed.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Sheila George, sgeorge@wesleyseminary.edu or call 202-236-9952
(cell).

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Seated in the nation’s capital and centered in the Christian tradition, Wesley Theological Seminary and our Lewis Center for Church Leadership, equip exemplary teachers, preachers and leaders to be prophetic voices in the church and the world.
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