What is Christian Nationalism,
and Why Should You Care?
In this bewildering time of division, where misinformation is used to divide and alienate, and faith symbols and language are often hijacked, how do faith communities affirm Jesus’ message of love and inclusion? Over four seminars, we will explore a political ideology that has not only hijacked Christian religious symbols and language but also perverted the message of the Gospels and threatens freedom of religion and democracy.
Seminar Dates/Times
The seminars will be held at University United Methodist Church and begin February 1, 2026 (please note this change of start date). Coffee and pastries will be served from 9 a.m. until 9:15 a.m. Presentations will begin at 9:15. This schedule will repeat each Sunday morning, ending with the final session on February 15, 2026.
Location
All of the sessions will be in the multipurpose Grumman Chapel of University United Methodist Church, 150 East Franklin, Chapel Hill, NC. Approach the church from the Franklin Street side. Enter the church building via the garden located in the middle of the church campus. Immediately after entering the doors of the church building, turn left, ascend a ramp, and enter the hall across from the ramp. In a short distance, you will come to Grumman Chapel on your right. A dedication plaque marks the room.
Speakers
The Reverend Dr. Joey Shelton is an attorney with nine years of legal practice experience and an ordained Methodist Minister and educator with extensive experience in education at both Duke University and Millsaps College. His recent educational foci are Christian Nationalism and racial healing.
The Reverend Dr. Lester Ruth is a frequently published Research Professor of Christian Worship at Duke Divinity School. He recently developed a highly popular course on Christian Nationalism and Worship.
Parking
All city-controlled public street, lot and deck parking are free on Sundays. The city-owned deck on Rosemary is particularly convenient. You can park there, leave the deck through its south exit, take the Amber Alley cut-through and be on Franklin, directly across the street from the University United Methodist Church.
Live Webcasts
Click here to register to attend the seminars online as a webinar.
Once you’ve registered, you will receive an email with a link you can use to join the live webinar. You only need to register once for the series. You do not need to register for each webinar individually.
Webinar Recordings
We will record each webinar and make links to the recordings available to those who were unable to attend. If you would like to receive links to the recordings as they become available and have not registered to attend online, please send your request to .
If you registered to attend online, we will automatically send you an email with a link to each recorded webinar once the link is available. You do not need to request the links.
The links to the recorded webinars will only be active for a limited time. We urge you to attend in person, use the live webinar link, or to view the webinar recordings at your earliest convenience.
Mary Henley Lecture Series
Funds in support of these seminars are provided through the generosity of the Mary Henley Lecture Series.