“Those who founded the nation’s first non-sectarian theological school in 1816 would be astounded by this gathering, which represents these ever-widening circles of inclusion.”

Harvard President Claudine Gay shared those words while addressing a crowd of nearly 200 Harvard Divinity School community members on Thursday during the School’s 208th Convocation. She pointed out that two centuries later, the School’s mission has evolved beyond “to quote early advocates, ‘the serious, impartial, and unbiased investigation of Christian truth’ to ‘a just world at peace across religious and cultural divides,’” noting that the student body now represents more than 40 different faith traditions—as well as those of no faith tradition.... Read more about At Harvard Divinity, Claudine Gay Sees ‘Aspirations for What We Can Achieve as a University’

"U.S. advocacy for religious freedom must be conflict-sensitive, so as not to render already vulnerable communities more vulnerable nor exacerbate religious dimensions of conflict," Susan Hayward, associate director of the Religious Literacy and the Professions Initiative, said while testifying before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.