ArchiveJoy Comes in the Morning: The Prophetic Social Witness of Rev. Cecil L. Murray“Joy Comes in the Morning” is a PDF collection of 14 sermons delivered by the Rev. Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray at First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME) in Los Angeles. It is part of …Topics: CMCCE, Murray Archive
CommentaryA Cultural Tipping Point: Reflections of David Brooks’ Two MountainsWe are at a cultural tipping point. Hyper-individualism, postmodern rhetoric that relativizes every truth and narcissistic political posturing exhaust us. More people are dying annually of drug overdoses than in the Vietnam …Topics: Engaged Spirituality,
ReportThe Varieties of American EvangelicalismDonald Trump’s ascent to the presidency has brought the culture, fault-lines and political commitments of American evangelicalism into sharp relief. How did a candidate whose lifestyle and morals starkly contradict conservative Christian …Topics: Evangelicals and Evangelicalism, Government and Religion, weforum
FeaturedEngaged SpiritualityTopics: Evangelicals and Evangelicalism, Government and Religion, weforum
CommentaryBeyond Influencer Marketing: How to Exercise Real Leadership OnlineThere are some things you will have no trouble finding on today’s internet: more fascinating content than you can ever hope to consume; oceans of strong opinions; products you never knew you …Topics: dcc, Media, Religious Leadership
ArticleEdmund Kaszibuloh Koroma: An Encounter with Sierra Leonean Who Saved 87 Child SoldiersThis article was originally published in Premium Times, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. Edmund Kaszibuloh Koroma, a Sierra Leonean who took the risk of leading 87 former …Topics: Engaged Spirituality, Spiritual Exemplars
ReportCommunity Transformation: Outlining a Process for ChangeIntroduction: Innovation Labs for Congregational Vitality and Community Change Imagine if a church held a gala to raise money for programs to help improve the lives of its neighbors, and everyone in …Topics: Black Church, CMCCE, Faith-Based Organizations, Social Services, weforum
AudioDean Issacharoff: A Turncoat in the Israeli Defense ForcesThis podcast was produced in Snap Judgment, with the support of CRCC’s global project on engaged spirituality. When Dean Issacharoff was a commander in the Israeli Defense Forces, he patrolled the Palestinian …Topics: Engaged Spirituality, Spiritual Exemplars
EventMurray Center Impact Summit 2019: Learn. Connect. Grow.The USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement is looking forward to a spectacular summit with you and a few special guests. The goal of our Impact Summit is three-fold: Learn. Connect. …Topics: CMCCE,
CommentaryCelebrating Rev. Cecil Murray, His 90 Years of Life and the Love That He Has Shown Us AllBelow are the remarks CRCC Executive Director Brie Loskota gave at Rev. Cecil L. Murray‘s 90th birthday celebration. The first time I met Rev. Murray was just after it was announced that …Topics: CMCCE, Murray Archive
AnnouncementMurray Center Wishes Mark Whitlock Great Success on New Pastoral AssignmentThe USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement and the Center for Religion and Civic Culture will miss the immense contributions that Mark Whitlock has made to our collective endeavors. Mark first …Topics: CMCCE,
ArticleA nascent #ChurchToo movement could improve gender equality in the black churchThis article was originally published by the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences. By Susan Bell The first advice the Reverend Najuma Smith-Pollard gives male pastors is not to use …Topics: Black Church, Christians and Christianity, CMCCE, Gender, Religious Leadership
“It is reasonably easy to be an armchair critic of religion. There are ample examples of religious leaders who compromise the values of their tradition, and the fundamentalists of every religion are inevitably out of step with the latest findings of modern science.
“But the storyline about religion gets more complicated when one examines religious people in the trenches, serving the poor and disenfranchised of their societies.”
– Donald E. Miller
A Pragmatist’s View of Religion
Experts
The CRCC can connect you with one of our many expert religious researchers and writers, contact us and we’ll help you find the right person for your subject.
Mark WhitlockContributing WriterRev. Mark Whitlock is a pastor specializing in church leadership and community and economic development.
Cecil L. MurrayUniversity FellowRev. Cecil Murray works to ensure that the legacy of African American Church leaders pass on their years of experience to the next generation.
Brie LoskotaExecutive DirectorBrie Loskota researches how religions change and make change in the world, and works to build the capacity of religious communities around the globe.
Donald E. MillerDirector of Strategic InitiativesDonald Miller focuses on global religious trends, genocides of the 20th century, and the role of religious NGOs in addressing issues of moral concern.
Richard FlorySenior Director of Research and EvaluationRichard Flory is a sociologist whose work focuses on religion and urban life, religious and cultural change, and youth and young adults.
Nalika GajaweeraResearch AssociateNalika Gajaweera is a cultural anthropologist specialized in Buddhism, transnationalism and ethics, with an area expertise in South Asia.
Juan MartínezPast FellowJuan Martinez studies the history of Latino Protestantism, Latino Protestant identity and transnational mission among U.S. Latinos.
Najuma Smith-PollardProgram Manager of the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community EngagementRev. Najuma Smith-Pollard combines her experience as a pastor and expertise as a community leader to train Murray Center Fellows.
Nick StreetSenior WriterNick Street is a journalist covering religious change and innovation, Buddhism, Pentecostalism and LGBT issues.