Leading Across a Narrow Bridge: Supporting Faith Leaders in a Pluralist Democracy The United States is built on the messy process of pluralist democracy, which allows for wide diversity. In America's increasingly divided political and social context, however, many faith leaders are under pressure to move away from aspiration for a "beloved community" in favor of ideologically justified narratives of hatred, dehumanization, and threat. Some who persist in defending sacred texts have even been replaced by individuals who willingly utilize religious belonging as a political bludgeon. What knowledge, tools, or practices will support faith leaders in the dilemmas of ministering to a polarized community?
Chair Bio James Patton (MALD, The Fletcher School at Tufts University; MDiv, Harvard Divinity School) is President and CEO at the International Center for Religion & Diplomacy. He has conducted international development, conflict transformation and social reconciliation for over two decades in more than a dozen countries, building collaborative networks and programs with the entire range of social and political actors in complex conflict environments. He explores the relationship between religious motives, religious actors and key areas of instability around the world, seeking ways in which this key source of identity and motivation can be incorporated into strategies for reducing violent conflict.