Summer Seminary
“Polarization, Pluralism and Practices of Deep Democracy: What Can Religious Communities Do?”
Summer Seminary offers a unique opportunity to build bridges across communities, foster respectful dialogue, and deepen understanding of the complexities surrounding religious diversity. We invite you to bring your lawn chairs and lemonade for an evening conversation on religious diversity, as we come together to explore the richness of various faith traditions. Hear from our panel of esteemed speakers representing different religious backgrounds as they share their perspectives on ‘life together’ and mutual respect. This summer’s theme is “Polarization, Pluralism and Practices of Deep Democracy: What Can Religious Communities Do?”
Questions we will explore:
- How do you navigate differences in belief with friends or family who have different religious backgrounds?
- How can congregations be more responsive to contemporary issues in public life?
- How can communities promote peace and understanding in a diverse religious landscape?
- What are the impacts of religious diversity on personal identity and mental health for Millennials?
- How can schools, universities, and community organizations contribute to fostering inclusive environments that respect diverse religious beliefs and practices?
Upcoming Dates:
Rev. Tembila Covington
Pastor Tembila Christine Covington’s educational background is a testament to her expertise and dedication, which she applies to her community work. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy from Shaw University, where she developed a deep understanding of the spiritual and philosophical underpinnings of community life. She also holds a Master of Science in Agricultural Education from NC. Agricultural & Technical State University, which equips her with the knowledge and skills to address the practical needs of the community. Rev Tembila Covington is the Exodus United Baptist Church pastor in Winston Salem, NC, where she applies her academic background to her pastoral duties and community leadership.
Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker
Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker became the new rabbi at Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem, NC on July 1, 2022. Rabbi Charlie arrived at Temple Emanuel with a history of working to bring a sense of spirituality, compassion, and learning into the lives of the community. He is a past President of the Southwest Association of Reform Rabbis and served on the steering committee of Peace Together. In 2022, he was honored as a Hero Against Hate by the Texoma Anti-Defamation League and currently serves as a Special Advisor to the ADL.
He previously served at Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) in Colleyville, TX since 2006. On January 15, 2022 Rabbi Charlie and three CBI congregants were held hostage by a gunman in the CBI sanctuary. After an 11-hour standoff, all the hostages were able to escape when Rabbi Charlie threw a chair at the gunman, distracting him long enough for everyone to get out of the building. Since then, he has spoken at the White House, testified before Congress, and has been published in numerous news sources.
Imam Khalid Griggs
Imam Khalid Griggs is the founding Imam of the Community Mosque of Winston-Salem. He is the Executive Director of ICNA Council for Social Justice, National Chairman of Muslim Alliance for Black Lives, MABL, and Board Member of Institute for Dismantling Racism. He is a national and international lecturer, community activist, author of Come Let Us Change This World: A Brief History of the Islamic Party in North America, author of a chapter in the book The Muslims of America, edited by Haddad and Smith. Imam Griggs is a criminal justice reform and social justice advocate.
Rev. Emily Hull McGee
Rev. Emily Hull McGee serves as senior pastor of First Baptist Church on Fifth, a delightful community of saints practicing bold love and boundless compassion in the heart of downtown Winston-Salem. Prior to her calling to Winston-Salem in July 2015 to serve as First on Fifth’s 12th pastor and first female senior pastor in the church’s 153-year history, Emily served for six years as Minister to Young Adults at Highland Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. She is a third-generation Baptist pastor in her family, following both her parents, her aunt, and grandfather into the ‘family business.’ In her past life, Emily was training to be an opera singer, with Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Voice Performance from Furman University and Northwestern University, respectively.
First on Fifth’s historic work on their facilities has drawn national interest among other churches and organizations grappling with their sacred space in light of changing resources. Emily has become a trusted speaker and guide for these communities in transition, speaking and writing about these vital expressions of faithfulness in the midst of cultural and ecclesial transition. Additionally, she enjoys serving on the Board of Visitors of Wake Forest University School of Divinity and as an officer on the Board of the Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty. Emily is married to Josh (owner and “sauce boss” of the Y’all Company, makers of small-batch Southern sauces and storytellers through meal and table), and their children are Liam, Annabelle, and Silas.
Rev. Dr. K. Monet Rice-Jalloh
Rev. Dr. K. Monet Rice-Jalloh is Associate University Chaplain at Wake Forest University. She focuses on curating spiritual well-being practices across a broad range of religious and philosophical ideologies. Rice-Jalloh joined the Wake Forest University community in July of 2012 and has had an expansive impact on religious, spiritual, and ethical affairs. She is the former vice president of the Association for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Life in Higher Education (ACSLHE), the nation’s principal leadership organization supporting higher education chaplaincies and religious and spiritual life professionals through education, collaboration, and research. Rev. K specializes in spiritual well-being with a current gravitational pull towards cultivating spiritual practices for descendants of enslaved Africans. Her doctoral research mirrors her specialty, as she leads the field of chaplaincy in Exploring Spiritual Well-being for Descendants of Enslaved Africans at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) of Higher Education.
Rev. Dr. Katherine Shaner
Rev. Dr. Katherine Shaner is the Associate Professor of New Testament at Wake Forest University. In classrooms, in faith communities, in the public square, Shaner challenges leaders to listen for the voices of people who are usually left out of the stories in our biblical texts and in our histories of justice. She works with archaeological materials from modern-day Turkey, Greece, and Israel to help better understand the full context of the earliest Christian communities. She teaches courses across the New Testament and early Christian history that explore the theological, social, and political implications of biblical interpretation for contemporary communities. Throughout her teaching and scholarship she examines the intersections of race, class, and gender as well as the ethics of contemporary biblical interpretation. Her course offerings include Women and Slaves in Early Christianity, Multicultural Biblical Interpretation, The Material World of the New Testament, Revelation, and introductory courses. Shaner’s book, Enslaved Leadership in Early Christianity (Oxford University Press, 2018), challenges readers to re-think common perceptions about how enslaved persons participated in early Christian communities. She is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and is a regular guest preacher and presider.
Dr. Neal H. Walls
Event Moderator
Neal H. Walls is Associate Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at Wake Forest University School of Divinity. A scholar of the Hebrew Bible and related ancient Near Eastern texts, Walls is fascinated by the breadth, depth, and complexity of Old Testament literature. He enjoys the privilege of helping students to become skillful interpreters of scripture, to appreciate the diversity of theological perspectives within the canon, and to reclaim the Old Testament’s abundant theological imagination for the church’s ministries today.
Walls is the author of The Goddess Anat in Ugaritic Myth (Scholars, 1992) and Desire, Discord and Death: Approaches to Ancient Near Eastern Myth (ASOR, 2001), and is the editor of Cult Image and Divine Representation in the Ancient Near East (ASOR, 2005). His current research projects focus on the ancient Near Eastern context for the religion and literature of ancient Israel. Walls is also engaged with issues surrounding religious pluralism, interfaith dialogue, and global Christianity. He especially enjoys leading pilgrimages and travel programs to Africa and the Middle East.