Starting in Fall 2026, a new center for Religion and Public Life will launch at Union Theological Seminary. The program focuses on exposing students to practical applications of their vocations in and beyond academia and ministerial work, in professional fields such as arts and popular culture, education, government, humanitarian action, journalism, and organizing. Deeply informed by research, theory, and practice, the goal is to have students be intentional in their service of a just world at peace.
The program has three parts to it, representing the commitments to education and service embedded in it. The first part is a student-centered exposure to theory, method, and practice in critical religious literacy. The second part is development of educational materials for broader publics, from secondary school students to professionals. The third part is the Religion Conflict and Peace Initiative, that seeks to educate students, both through classroom and experiential learning, about how religions mediate conflict, and can be instrumental in just peacemaking.
“To be affiliated with an icon of social justice movement building like Union is an ideal situation,” says Rashid. “There is a natural connection between Union’s history and the work we do, working towards a just peace.”
“It is a tremendous honor to return to Union and to have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues and students at this prophetic institution,” states Moore. “I look forward with great anticipation to what we will create together in the months and years ahead.”
Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, President of Union Theological Seminary, adds:
“From our founding nearly two centuries ago, Union has understood theological education as inseparable from public life. The launch of Religion and Public Life deepens that legacy by equipping students with the intellectual rigor, moral imagination, and practical skills necessary to engage the most pressing issues of our time. This center embodies Union’s enduring commitment to justice, interreligious engagement, and the formation of leaders who will serve a fractured world with courage, compassion, and hope.”