The Practice of Citizenship Series presents a public panel discussion: Christian Nationalism & Democratic Citizenship with Heath Carter

Join us for this Practice of Citizenship public panel discussion with Heath Carter of Princeton Theological Seminary and the WashU John C. Danforth faculty, J Kameron Carter, Archer Alexander Distinguished Professor, Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, Professor of Religion and Politics, and moderator, Marie Griffith, John C. Danforth Distinguished Professor in the Humanities. This timely conversation brings together leading voices in religion, history, and politics to examine the rise of Christian nationalism and its profound impact on modern democratic citizenship.

The panel will analyze how religious ideologies shape political belonging and the ongoing need for a pluralistic society. Whether you are a student, scholar, or engaged citizen, this discussion offers insight into the practice of citizenship.

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Event Schedule, October 14, 2026:

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm: Panel Discussion: Christian Nationalism and Citizenship, Knight Hall’s Emerson Auditorium

9:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Reception for all ticketed audience members in Knight Hall’s Frick Forum

Doors will open at 6:00 pm, and we encourage you to arrive early to allow time for walk from parking and ticket checks at the door.

Ticketing For Entire Series: Although this is a free event open to all, seats are limited and tickets will be required to attend the program and the reception immediately following. Emerson Auditorium accommodates general admission seating; your ticket does not designate a specific seat. Each attendee will need their own ticket in their name. If you have questions about tickets, please contact us at rap@wustl.edu or (314) 935-9345. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR SINGLE SERIES EVENT.

Waitlist: When we have reached capacity for our venue, you will be able to join the waitlist. If more tickets become available, you will be informed via email. You will have to respond to those instructions within 24 hours to claim the tickets.

Security: All attendees should be prepared for security measures, which may include bag checks. We encourage guests to leave large bags at home.

More Information: Please see the Frequently Asked Questions on the registration page.

About the Speaker:

Heath Carter is the Associate Professor of American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary. He earned his PhD in United States history from the University of Notre Dame in 2012. Prior to that, he received an MA from the University of Chicago Divinity School in 2005 and a BA in English and Theology from Georgetown University in 2003. 

Carter is the author of Union Made: Working People and the Rise of Social Christianity in Chicago (Oxford University Press, 2015), which was the runner up for the American Society of Church History’s 2015 Brewer Prize. He is also the co-editor of three books: The Pew and the Picket Line: Christianity and the American Working Class (University of Illinois Press, 2016), Turning Points in the History of American Evangelicalism (Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2017), and A Documentary History of Religion in America, 4th Ed. (Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018).  

He is currently finishing a book entitled On Earth as it is in Heaven: Social Christians and the Fight to End American Inequality (under contract with Oxford University Press), which retells the story of the American social gospel over the course of roughly one hundred years, of believers — women and men, Catholic and Protestant, black and white and Latinx — and how they cultivated a proud, if fractious, social Christian tradition that transformed not only the churches but also the nation as a whole. 

Carter’s insights have also been featured in a variety of more popular venues, including publications such as The Atlantic and The New York Times. Carter is also an editor-at-large for William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company and the co-editor, with Kathryn Gin Lum and Mark A. Noll, of the press’s award-winning Library of Religious Biography series. He is the senior co-editor, with Nancy J. Taylor, of Waymarks: Presbyterian and Reformed History for Today. Carter serves on the advisory boards of the Louisville Institute and the Hispanic Theological Initiative.