CHICAGO, March 4, 2026 – As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Chicago Theological Seminary will host a national conversation examining the country’s founding spiritual diversity and what it means for today’s public life.

The 2026 André LaCocque Interreligious Lecture will feature Peter Manseau, founding director of the Center for Understanding Religion in American History at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, in conversation with CTS President Rev. Dr. Brad R. Braxton.

The virtual event will take place at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 26.

Manseau is the author of “One Nation Under Gods,” a widely recognized work exploring America’s complex religious history. His scholarship advances public understanding of the nation’s religious pluralism and the diverse spiritual traditions that shaped its founding and continue to influence its civic life.

“At a moment when conversations about religion and national identity are often polarized, this lecture invites a fuller and more accurate understanding of the spiritual diversity woven into the American story,” Braxton said.

The annual André LaCocque Interreligious Lecture honors the legacy of the late Rev. Dr. André LaCocque, a distinguished biblical scholar and longtime CTS professor known internationally for advancing Jewish-Christian dialogue and interreligious engagement.

The lecture is part of a broader spring series presented by CTS’s InterReligious Institute. As the nation marks 250 years, CTS is also celebrating the 170th anniversary of its founding under the theme “Daring Faith in Dangerous Times.” The seminary’s public programming this year is designed to contribute to what leaders describe as a braver, fuller and more accurate story about religion in the United States.

In addition to the LaCocque Lecture, CTS is thematically connecting:

• Season five of its podcast, “Our 7 Neighbors,” which explores interreligious engagement and community life.
• “A Tapestry of Faith,” an online exhibition featuring art, artifacts and stories reflecting the spiritual diversity of the CTS community.

Together, these initiatives underscore the seminary’s longstanding commitment to interreligious dialogue, historical scholarship and public theology.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration details are available at https://ctschicago.edu/lacocque2026.

Media are invited to attend. Interviews with Manseau and Braxton are available upon request.

For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Kim Schultz at [email protected].

About Chicago Theological Seminary
Founded in 1855, Chicago Theological Seminary is an ecumenical seminary committed to rigorous theological education, social justice and transformative leadership in church and society.