Few expect the answer to fractured nations and polarized communities to begin with a quiet table and a handful of unlikely partners. Yet again and again, that is where hope has taken its seat. If you want to understand how divided people learn to trust each other again, don’t first look to political institutions or international agreements. Instead, focus on a table, a simple open table where people from every background, belief, and ideology sit down regularly, listen carefully, and begin working as partners. This is the story of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable. It began quietly in Washington, […]

This article is part of Better Together — a storytelling series from the Center for Public Justice highlighting how faith-based organizations have partnered with government to see their communities flourish. It’s troubling but far too common.  In many cities across the United States, churches struggle to partner with one another, and at times, even contend for congregants, resources, and recognition. Surprisingly, this happens with churches who share the same denominational affiliations, and, of course, with congregations who operate in vastly different traditions. But what if it didn’t have to be this way? Steve King, the former lead pastor of Cherrydale Baptist Church […]

This article is part of Better Together — a storytelling series from the Center for Public Justice highlighting how faith-based organizations have partnered with government to see their communities flourish. It started as a typical night out for dinner. But Chris and Scott Seaton had made plans not only for a meal but also to attend a book launch event in Washington, D.C. The book being released was Unleashing Opportunity: Why Escaping Poverty Requires a Shared Vision of Justice by Michael Gerson, Stephanie Summers, and Katie Thompson. It explores how Christians might understand and respond to some of the most pressing issues […]

Along with their assigned projects, CPJ interns participate in a weekly educational seminar—Public Justice 101—to learn the historical and theological foundations of a public justice perspective. Through this experience, Sanna gained a new framework for understanding politics—and she’s excited about it! She shared, “On my bus ride, I talked with a woman from California who was surprised to learn that there could be a combination of Christianity and politics that wasn’t Christian nationalism. She ended up googling CPJ, and even though she wasn’t a Christian, she was really excited by what we are doing! From creational norms to the different […]

From Public Schools to Faith-Based Institutions, Protecting the Freedom to Teach and Learn in Accordance with Religious Beliefs and Practice Last month, the Religious Liberty Commission (RLC) convened two hearings at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, both centered on the question of religious liberty in education—from public classrooms to private, faith-based institutions. These discussions highlighted growing tensions in how schools, educators, and families navigate faith in the modern educational landscape. Hearing Two: Religious Liberty in Public Education (September 8) This hearing brought together students, parents, faith leaders, and legal experts to discuss restrictions on religious expression in […]

On August 7, 2025, the White House issued an Executive Order (EO) titled Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking. At first glance, the order is sound stewardship: it emphasizes transparency, efficiency, and accountability. It seeks to prevent federal dollars being concentrated year after year in the same institutions. It urges agencies to ensure smaller and community-based entities can access funding. And it strengthens reporting and oversight so the government can better track whether programs are delivering outcomes. These reforms are positive overall. For many smaller nonprofits and faith-based organizations, the EO’s provisions offer hope. Often, grant systems favor large, established players […]