In light of this week’s federal government shutdown, a talk scheduled for this Friday, featuring Shaun Casey, the head of the U.S. Department of States new Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives, has been postponed, according to an Oct. 1 Emory Press Release. A rescheduled date will depend on how long the shutdown lasts.
Casey was scheduled to give a talk about religion, sponsored by the Graduate Division of Religion along with the Laney Graduate School, Candler School of Theology and the Department of Religion, according to the press release. Carl Holladay, the C.H. Candler professor of New Testament of the Candler School of Theology, said Casey had notified the department during the weekend that it was possible his visit to Emory would be postponed in the event of a government shutdown.
According to the U.S. Department of State website, the Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives works with faith-based communities to advance American diplomacy and development objectives through initiatives to engage faith-based communities respectfully and responsibly.
Bobbi Patterson, professor of pedagogy in the Department of Religion, said that this is the first time the State Department has named an officer to increase inter-religious understanding.
She said she believes this is a significant moment in the State Department because they have acknowledged that religion is crucial to the future of the planet.
As a school with a nationally recognized religion department, Patterson said that she feels Emory is well positioned to be the first school Casey addresses.
“It may be that future relationships with the work of this officer and his goals will integrate with Emory, including the Carter Center. We are poised for such innovative steps,” Patterson said.
The State Department’s initiative has resonance with the Emory Graduate Division of Religion’s concentrations in Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding, according to Carol Newsom, C.H. Candler professor of Old Testament and director of the Graduate Division of Religion.
Holladay said the purpose of the program is “to explore the connections between religion and public, especially foreign policy.” Holladay said that naturally, they were disappointed by the postponement because excitement had been building around the talk.
Patterson said that Casey was simply “caught in the current government stalemate.”
– By Alyssa Posklensky
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