
Highland’s Spring Forum, May 3, 4:00 p.m.: Christian Nationalism or Religious Liberty: an American Dilemma, Bill Leonard
As our Sunday morning class continues to explore “How to End Christian Nationalism,” our Spring Forum will feature one who has studied this topic for decades.
Bill J. Leonard is founding dean and Professor of Divinity Emeritus at Wake Forest University. He holds degrees from Texas Wesleyan University, Southwestern Baptist Seminary, and Boston University and held teaching positions at the Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, Samford University, Birmingham, and WFU. He is the author or editor of some 25 books including Baptist Ways: A History, A Sense of the Heart: Christian Religious Experience in the United States, and most recently, Appalachian Mountain Christianity: The Spirituality of Otherness.
What exactly is Christian nationalism — and why does it matter? Leonard’s discussion breaks down what the term really means and explores the wide range of Christian voices that have weighed in on it, both today and throughout American history. We’ll walk through three key approaches to religious liberty — separationist, accommodationist, and dissenting — and see how they’ve played out over time. We’ll wrap up by looking at what all of this might mean for the future of American churches and national identity. No matter where you’re coming from, there’s room at the table for this conversation.
This is a great opportunity to invite a friend to Highland.
For more information about Highland’s Forum series, please contact Heather Ferguson.
Past Forums
- Highland’s 2026 Winter Forum: Breaking Free: The John Huie Story “In His Own Words”, John Huie, Founding Director of North Carolina Outward Bound Program
- Highland’s 2025 Fall Forum: The Case for Climate Optimism, Charlie Sellars, Director of Sustainability at Microsoft
- Highland’s 2025 Spring Forum: Join or Die: America’s Civic Unraveling and What We Can Do to Change It, The Rev, Dr. Jan Edmiston, General Presbyter of the Presbytery of Charlotte
- Highland’s 2025 Winter Forum: Lessons on Life and Leadership from A Humble Sunday School Teacher, The Rev. Hannah McMahan King
- Highland’s 2024 Fall Forum: Music as Medicine at the End of Life, Catharine DeLong, CM-Th, Harpist
- Highland’s 2024 Spring Forum: AI, Ethics, and Theology, Professor Kevin Jung
- Highland’s 2024 Winter Forum: Deep Hospitality for Our Earthly Home, Dr. Heidi Hart