Graham Bullock

On February 13, 2025, in collaboration with Davidson College’s Chaplain’s Office and Religious Studies and Political Science Department, the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative hosted a Deliberative Forum on Religion in Public Life. Attended by over 150 people, approximately half in person and half online, the event began with a roundtable discussion of five panelists with a diverse set of experiences and perspectives related to the topic at hand. They included Robert Destro, Professor of Law at Catholic University; William McKenith, Pastor at Reeves Temple A.M.E. Zion Church; Hadia Mubarak, Associate Professor of Religion at Queens University; Nancy Petty, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church; and Brian Silva, VP of Outreach at Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Moderated by Davidson College Associate Professor of Writing Jason Blum, the panelists covered a wide range of questions, including whether religion should have special legal status and the tensions between religious autonomy, equality, and anti-discrimination efforts. Following the panel, DCI-trained facilitators guided audience members through small group discussions that explored the topic further, building on the deliberation guide that was shared beforehand and at the event.

Feedback about the forum was very positive — nearly 90% stated in a post-event survey that they were very satisfied or satisfied with their small group discussion and would recommend the experience to a friend. As one participant wrote:

I left the discussion on Religion in Public Life with an appreciation for the ways in which religion intersects with public life and a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities that arise when trying to maintain respect for religious diversity in the public square. It was a thought-provoking experience that not only broadened my understanding but also fostered a sense of community and mutual respect among participants.

Check out the deliberation guide and recording of the panel discussion below:

What do four different courses on contemporary economic issues, sports communication, the philosophy of love and sex, and race on film have in common? In each one, the professors intentionally worked to embed more open, constructive, and authentic discussions about difficult and contentious topics related to the course’s content.

Curious about what they did, and how they did it? Then join us on Thursday, March 20 from 11:05 am to 12:15 pm to hear from these four professors at a Faculty Panel and Lunch hosted by the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative. The discussion will be held in the Davidson College Library’s Large Group Tutor Room.

Professors Maggie McCarthy (German Studies, Davidson College), Rebecca Alt (Communications, Lenoir-Rhyne College), Rebecca Harrison (Philosophy, Vassar College), and Shyam Gouri Suresh (Economics, Davidson College) will be sharing their work as members of the Deliberative Pedagogy (DeeP) Collaborative. Over 60 faculty members from 18 different institutions have participated in the Collaborative, which enables professors from across the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences to work together on developing and implementing innovative ways to stimulate deeper discussions in their courses. 

Are you a faculty member who is interested in exploring how you might do something similar in your classroom? Or perhaps you already do, and are interested in picking up some new ideas? Then come out for this amazing panel and conversation! You can participate either in-person or virtually. Lunch will be provided for all in-person participants, but seats are limited so sign up here today!

To learn more about the Deliberative Pedagogy Collaborative, the DCI’s Deliberation Across the Curriculum Program, and the upcoming panel, check out the attached flyer, this webpage, and these blog posts by faculty members who have participated in the Collaborative over the past two years.

We hope you can join us!