ReportJoy 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, Spiritual Exemplars
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
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
ResourcesCensus 2020: Facts, Fictions and FaithWhat is the census? The census is a counting of all residents in the United States. Our constitution mandates that we do a census every 10 years, and that it be used …Topics: CMCCE, Government and Religion,
CRCC in the NewsKQED/KPCC: Richard Flory on Bethel School for Supernatural MinistryPeople come from around the world to Redding, California to learn miraculous healing. The California Dream Series (a media collaboration of KQED, CALmatters, KPCC and others) featured CRCC’s senior director of research …Topics: Christians and Christianity,
CRCC in the NewsKCRW: Brie Loskota on the United Methodists, Young People and ReligionWith the United Methodist Church facing a possible schism over gay clergy and marriage, KCRW asked CRCC Executive Director Brie Loskota to explain the divisions around LGBT rights in religious communities, and …Topics: Christians and Christianity, LGBT Issues- VideoRev. Cecil L. Murray: A Call to Ministry
CRCC in the NewsThe Economist: Loskota on Religious Freedom at the BorderActivist on the left are using religious freedom–a value often championed by American conservatives–to defend their actions in court. The case of Scott Warren, who was being charged for helping undocumented immigrants …Topics: Religious Regulation and Accommodation
CRCC in the NewsDeseret News: Flory on Declining Church AttendanceToday, nearly 1/4 of Americans do not affiliate with a faith group, and church leaders across the country are growing concerned on how to combat declining church attendance rates. Deseret News interviewed CRCC’s Senior Director …Topics: Christians and Christianity, Religious "Nones", Religious Affiliation
“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 MartínezContributing 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.