Temple Beth El series to focus on religion and politics

Temple Beth El has lined up a roster of faith leaders, politicians, professors and journalists to participate in its 19th annual Comparative Religion Series, which will focus on the intersection of religion and politics.

The two-hour Tuesday night panels will start Jan. 26 and continue through March 1. Each will begin at 7 p.m. at the Charlotte synagogue, 5101 Providence Road. They are free and open to the public.

Here’s the schedule:

Topic: “U.S. Minority Relations: Jewish, Islamic and Buddhist Perspectives on Religion and Politics.”

Panelists: Imam Atif Chaudhry of the Islamic Society of Greater Charlotte; Ryusho Jeffus, Shonin at the Myosha-Ji Wonderful Voice Buddhist Temple; and Rabbi Judith Schindler, senior rabbi at Temple Beth El.

Topic: “Christian Approaches to Religion and Politics: Conservative Protestant, Liberal Protestant, and Roman Catholic Viewpoints.”

Panelists: The Rev. David Chadwick, senior pastor at Forest Hill Church; the Rev. Steve Shoemaker, former pastor of Myers Park Baptist Church; and Sister Rose Marie Tresp, director of justice for Sisters of Mercy in Belmont.

Topic: “The Vision of the Black Church: Civil Rights to Moral Monday.”

Panelists: The Rev. Rodney Sadler, associate professor of the Bible ar Union Presbyterian Seminary and associate pastor at Mount Carmel Baptist Church; and Minister Corine Mack, president of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP.

Topic: “Changing Legal Lines Across the Decades: Legal Experts on Religion and Politics.”

Panelists: Jake Sussman, civil rights attorney with Tin Fulton Walker & Owen; Bill Marshall, William Rand Kenan Distinguished Professor of of Law at the University of North Carolina School of Law; and Greg Wallace, associate professor of law at Campbell University School of Law.

Topic: “Pews to Polls: The Use of Religion in Politics (Conservative Religious and Liberal Religious Politicians).”

Panelists: Ed Williams, former editorial page editor at the Charlotte Observer; former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot; current Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts; Trevor Fuller, chairman of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners; and Pat Cotham, a member of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners.

Topic: How the Pendulum Swings: An Historical Overview on Religion and Politics.”

Panelists: Rabbi Jonathan Freirich, associate rabbi at Temple Beth El; Bob Whalen, a professor in the history department at Queens University of Charlotte; and Tim Funk, faith and values reporter at the Charlotte Observer.

This story was originally published January 21, 2016 at 5:08 PM with the headline "Temple Beth El series to focus on religion and politics."