American Christian Nationalism and Its Impact on Democracy
Join the AFN community for a 75 to 90-minute webinar series engaging with a number of National and Local Faith Leaders, Historians, Museums, and Movement workers to explore the impacts of American Christian Nationalism and its impacts on this great democracy.
Between February and October 2024, this particular webinar series is broken down into 75 to 90-minute webinars that include some of the following: history, exegesis of scripture, historical analysis of its impacts on our democracy, the psychology of nationalism, an exploration of rituals, liturgy, music, and more - followed by a Q&A and group discussion.
July 30 (Part 1) and August 13 (Part 2) Title: “Challenging Christian Nationalism through Shared Rural Values”
Presenters: Rev. Dr. Tanya Jeffcoat and Rev. Dwight Welch
Christian Nationalism is an ongoing threat to American democracy and many marginalized communities. Often rural communities are portrayed as the source of this problem. Rev. Dwight Welch and Rev. Dr. Tanya Jeffcoat argue that there are resources available in rural communities to combat the threat posed by Christian Nationalism, and that we can draw upon them to build healthier communities. Part 1 will be on July 30 and Part 2 on August 13.
Presenter Bios:
Rev. Dr. Tanya Jeffcoat grew up in rural communities in Arkansas and on various military bases. She received her Ph.D. in philosophy from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and is completing her Master of Divinity degree at Phillips Theological Seminary. After teaching a variety of humanities courses at universities in Arkansas and southern Illinois, she became a CPSP chaplain resident for two years at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, AR, and an ACPE chaplain resident for one year at DePaul Hospital in Bridgeton, MO. She has served three rural churches in Missouri: Ebenezer UCC in Augusta, Bethany UCC in Schluersburg, and currently St. Martin’s UCC in Dittmer.
Rev. Dwight Welch is campus minister for United Campus Ministry at Montana State University Billings. After graduating from the University of Montana, he obtained MA degrees in religion and philosophy at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. His MDiv is from Christian Theological Seminary. Ordained in the United Church of Christ, he has served campus ministries at University of Kansas, Southern Illinois University, and now MSU Billings. His work in rural ministry started in Wyoming but is now with college students and congregations primarily from eastern Montana.