Join us at Philadelphia’s Christ Church Neighborhood House for a special screening of Episode 4 of the documentary “In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America.” Following the screening, producer Nathaniel Popkin will facilitate a conversation with Dr. David Krueger (Dialogue Institute), Dr. Kirsten Lee (1838 Black Metropolis), and Farah Jimenez (Philadelphia Education Fund) about religion, civic engagement, and the struggle for an inclusive democracy.

Episode 4 of “In Pursuit” examines Philadelphia as the young nation’s capital, where the ideals of self-government are tested in everyday life. As political divisions deepen and crises like the Yellow Fever epidemic strain the city, free Black Philadelphians build institutions and assert their rights, with leaders like Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and James Forten shaping a growing movement for equality and reform.

The episode then follows the rise of abolitionism and public education, as Black and white reformers work together to expand opportunity and challenge injustice. Yet these efforts provoke fierce resistance, culminating in mob violence, the destruction of Pennsylvania Hall, and the stripping of Black men’s voting rights.

In a city striving to create shared civic space, this program asks a central question: how can common ground be sustained when democracy itself remains unequal?

Join us and author John Fea for a thought-provoking conversation exploring one of the most enduring and debated questions in American history: Was America founded as a Christian nation?

Drawing from his book Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?: A Historical Introduction, Fea examines the topic through a careful historical lens, moving beyond modern political rhetoric to explore the complex realities of the nation’s founding. Rather than arguing for one side or the other, Fea invites audiences to engage directly with the historical record, offering a nuanced perspective grounded in primary sources and scholarship.

This free speaker series event will explore the intersections of religion, democracy, history, and national identity, while encouraging thoughtful dialogue about how we understand America’s past today. Dr. David Krueger of the Dialogue Institute at Temple University will facilitate the conversation.

Dr. Fea is a Distinguished Fellow at the Lumen Center and the author or editor of six books, including Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump and Why Study History?: Reflecting on the Importance of the Past. His work has appeared in publications including The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Christianity Today, and USA Today, and he has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, C-SPAN, and NBC News.

This event is free and open to the public. June 22 at 7:00pm. 

Location: Christ Church, 20 N. American Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

Join us for a fun in-person tour exploring Germantown’s rich history of religious freedom!

This two-hour walking tour will begin at the Pastorius Statue in Vernon Park and follow Germantown Avenue along the northern edge of the Germantown Colonial Historic District, highlighting the various religious and intellectual groups who were present in early Germantown, including Quakers, Mennonites, Moravians, Reformed Lutherans, and natural scientists.

This tour will include the site of the Battle of Germantown and an episode during which Benjamin Franklin's militia confronted vigilantes in Germantown to protect the religious freedom and lives of Lenape Moravian converts. Germantown was a site of early abolitionism and an early version of the Underground Railroad, as well as a hub for early American free thinkers and scientists who observed and cataloged the natural order. The tour will be led by Kime Lawson, professor at Thomas Jefferson University. Cost is $20 per person. Attendance limited to 20 people. The tour will end in the vicinity of Germantown Ave. and Upsal Street, near the Cliveden Mansion.