PRAYER IN AMERICA Electronic Newsletter
August 15, 2007
Welcome to PRAYER IN AMERICA
A multifaith exploration of prayer and its role in American history
The Duncan Group, Iowa Public Television, and Outreach Extensions welcome you to PRAYER IN AMERICA – a two-hour public television documentary (fall 2007 broadcast), dynamic outreach campaign, and resource rich Web site (www.prayerinamerica.org). The project is generously funded by the John Templeton Foundation. We hope this launch issue of our e-newsletter begins an enriching conversation with you – that you will be inspired to find out more as well as add your voice to the thought-provoking blogs on the Web site. Subsequent bimonthly issues will cover additional topics presented in the outreach campaign and documentary. You will also learn about model interfaith projects and enjoy compelling interviews with faith leaders, scholars, and activists. The PRAYER IN AMERICA project is multifaith and inclusive. From the religious practices of America’s Founding Fathers to the more than 20 major faith traditions recognized by Americans today, our country has truly developed into a diverse platform for religious expression. Become involved! We invite you to extend the conversation into both faith and civic communities. No matter what faith you espouse, we encourage you to use project resources to forge opportunities to engage others in interfaith dialogue, with a focus on the role of prayer in people’s lives, and in dealing with issues important to your community and our nation. Most important … tell us your ideas and share your activities.
THE DOCUMENTARY
PRAYER IN AMERICA asks the question: What role has prayer played in shaping the development and history of America? The two-part documentary explores contemporary debates about the role of prayer through the lens of history. By asking rhetorically, “How did we get here?” the show examines the ways in which prayer has contributed to and continues to shape the American experience.
The film was inspired by author James P. Moore, Jr.’s book, One Nation Under God: The History of Prayer in America (Doubleday, 2005). The paperback version will be released by Doubleday this fall with its new title, Prayer in America. In his highly original approach to the history of the United States, after seven years of extensive research, Jim Moore has concluded that without prayer the United States and the American people, both past and present, would have evolved far differently. Producers Alison Rostankowski and Chip Duncan explore this thesis through interviews with a wide-ranging group of scholars, writers, and experts on the history of religion and prayer in America. The documentary reflects diverse, and sometimes conflicting, perspectives that inspire viewers to examine the role religion and prayer play in their personal lives, politics, and culture.
NATIONAL OUTREACH CAMPAIGN
Developed and managed by Outreach Extensions, the national outreach campaign uses the PRAYER IN AMERICA documentary as a catalyst to stimulate dialogue about the role of prayer in the United States from contemporary perspectives. The emphasis is on interreligious dialogue – respectful of the unique contributions different religious groups have made to the shaping of the religious history of our country. The campaign offers a strategic opportunity to build bridges to interfaith community engagement – using media to open communication with diverse audiences.
Campaign participants may include faith leaders representing schools, seminaries, departments of religion, interfaith organizations and coalitions, and faith- and community-based organizations. Specific audiences include clergy; lay leaders; seminarians; professors in sociology, religion, and philosophy; graduate/undergraduate students in religion at secular universities; and leaders of interfaith, multicultural, and immigration-related organizations.
Campaign themes were developed based on their significance to PRAYER IN AMERICA as well as their relevance to contemporary issues in American communities.
Prayer and Crisis explores both individual and collective prayer responses to challenging experiences. In times of crisis, how do Americans deal with events such as September 11, Hurricane Katrina, and Virginia Tech, as well as with conflicts affecting families and communities? In addition, what is the role of prayer in healing, whether for individuals, communities, or our nation?
Prayer and Social Justice considers the impact and expressions of prayer in historical and contemporary developments in our nation’s history. You may compare and contrast prayerful examples in the American Civil Rights Movement with contemporary topics such as Immigration Reform and Labor Unions.
Prayer and Forgiveness: Many varying faith traditions, as well as individuals practicing no formal religion, share a common belief that people can fall short of their promise, but be redeemed by a change in behavior and belief. Groups are encouraged to study the notion of redeemed and redeemer and engage in discussion regarding Prisoner Reentry, Victim – Perpetrator Reconciliation, Recovery from Alcohol and Substance Abuse, and Transformation.
Prayer and Armed Conflict explores Americans’ prayers for peace building, particularly in this time of war. The topic encourages group discussion and contemplation and recognizes the need to feel secure and at peace in our nation. Content can include War and Peace, Reflections on War, Terrorism, and the Case for Democracy.
Prayer and the Constitution considers influences from America’s early history as well as contemporary constitutional issues. It examines the history of prayer and religious practices and how the faith and values of America’s Founding Fathers influenced the Constitution. Topics can include Civil Religion, the Historic/Judicial/ Constitutional Issues Surrounding Faith-Based Prison Programs, Prayer in Schools and Public Places, and Prayer and Religion in general.
CAMPAIGN RESOURCES
Campaign resources are available to support local activities.
These include: Campaign Web Site (www.prayerinamerica.org): The Web site supports community sustainability. It includes extensive resource materials that provide a context for interfaith dialogue; features personal testimony regarding prayer; and reports on local outreach activities. The site will also feature a number of blogs, including “What is prayer?” and many other topics.
Electronic Newsletter: A national outreach campaign e-newsletter is available beginning in July 2007. Interested readers may sign up for the bimonthly e-newsletter on the campaign’s Web site.
Community Resource Guide: Developed by Outreach Extensions, the Guide provides resources to help people think more deeply about the issues in the documentary and outreach campaign. It features essays contributed by many of the scholars, writers, and experts in the history of religion and prayer featured in the film. Discussion questions, prayers, and references accompany each section, providing resources for spirited, inclusive, interreligious dialogue. Suggestions are made for hosting screenings/discussions or engaging in solution-based community action. Additional content includes interfaith dialogue resources and protocols; an interfaith calendar and definition of terms; and other references.
PRAYER IN AMERICA Community Screening Version: Interested groups may apply for a complimentary pre-broadcast Community Screening Version of the documentary to use as a conversation starter for interfaith dialogue linked to the themes presented. Activities may include screening/discussion events, interfaith dialogues, days of prayer, interfaith youth service, and study circles. Visit the Web site for the application
Local Station Activities: In partnership with selected local public television stations, the campaign is offering facilitated dialogues/workshops related to the issues in PRAYER IN AMERICA. Other stations will conduct screenings/discussions and produce local media resources to support interreligious dialogue in their communities.
PRAYER IN AMERICA is produced for public television by The Duncan Group. Iowa Public Television is the presenting station. The film is inspired by and serves as the companion to Prayer in America (originally published by Doubleday as One Nation Under God: The History of Prayer in America) by James P. Moore, Jr.
Funding for the PRAYER IN AMERICA television documentary and outreach campaign is provided by the John Templeton Foundation. The outreach campaign is developed and managed by Outreach Extensions.
This e-Newsletter is an electronic publication intended to keep you informed about news and events relating to the PRAYER IN AMERICA National Outreach Campaign as well as inspire you with stories about interfaith programs, convenings, and leaders. Check out the blogs on the site and add your comments.
For more information, please contact:
Denise Blake, Project Director
Outreach Extensions
Contributing Editor:
Anne Llewellyn, Principal Consultant
Outreach Extensions
We welcome the names/e-mail addresses of your colleagues so that we can send copies of this e-Newsletter to them as well.