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There may be more similarities between conspiracy theories and theology than you think at first glance, and Dr. Robert Saler, Associate Dean for Evaluation and Assessment, Associate Professor of Theology and Culture, and Executive Director of Center for Pastoral Excellence and the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs at CTS, encourages people to be open to that discussion. “They have similar energy,” he said. “Don’t trust the mainstream, be skeptical, try to understand who/what is responsible for something” are just a few examples of how they overlap.  

According to Saler, not all conspiracy theories turn out to be true just like all theologies are not good – meaning there is no universal measuring stick. He encourages people to recognize that these two mechanisms have overlapping features and may function similarly for some people. 

“Our society, our culture, is forcing people to take sides,” Saler stated. “And all kinds of ideas will flourish when people are able to consume all kinds of information.” He went on to suggest that studying conspiracy theories is intrinsically an interdisciplinary topic; with psychology and sociology (for example) already at the table. Saler would like to see theology be a part of the conversation as well.  

“Each (approach) can be a piece of the puzzle,” Saler stated. “I hope that both can be part of the conversation of understanding thought processes and patterns.” 

Saler is preparing for his February 3 CTS Talks: Conspiracy Theory: Can Theology Help Us Understand. This “TED Talk” style lecture will be held at 4:30 pm in Shelton Auditorium.  This event is free and open to the public. Register here. 

Saler’s interest in conspiracies began in 2020 during his research into the “Death to the World” movement and its relationship with Eastern Orthodoxy. He began to see similarities between the punk rock foundation of “Death to the World” and how its counter cultural energy moved into the world of conspiracy.  

One example that Saler cited to illustrate the overlap that conspiracy theories and theology share is the question of evil – what is its source in the world? Does God cause or allow tragedy to occur? These questions are foundational to many theologies and conspiracy concepts. 

Saler stated that theories of all kinds are a prominent part of our culture but that there is not necessarily an increase in the number of conspiracy theories right now. However, there is an increase in the number of platforms that people can access ideas and information through the internet. Through a fragmentation of the media and a variety of fringe sources, people can go “really deep” into theories that can inform their conspiracy thinking just as easily as their theology, Saler stated.  

According to Saler, his working definition of a conspiracy theory involves three elements: first, a plot carried out in secret and second, something that involves a small group of people. Finally, the belief system in question works against the public good.  

“Conspiracies are appealing because it makes its believers feel in control of something that seems out of control and that is powerful,” Saler said. When believers begin to make a causal explanation about what they believe, however, that is when it can cross the line out of reality.  

The reason that conspiracy theories hold appeal is that there is comfort in having an understanding (or something/someone to blame in the case of a tragedy) and people enjoy being “in the know” about something. Saler suggests we look no further than the history of Christian theology to see these same components at work – to be a believers was to be in a secret group that had to remain hidden from the politically powerful and mainstream system.  

Saler goes on to suggest that there is a third feature associated with conspiracy theories which make them appealing – they offer community to believers. According to Saler, the typical profile of conspiracy theory believers is not a solitary individual but someone who is well-resourced and looking for belonging. However, the deeper the person dives into the belief system, the more isolating it becomes.  

At the end of the day, Saler hopes that people will stop judging conspiracy theories and theologies just as they appear on paper – neither is inherently good or bad. He encourages others to think about the formation of these ideas and consider what similar patterns and processes do they share.  

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At a progressive seminary like Christian Theological Seminary (CTS), “Should I go to seminary if I’m unsure about my beliefs?” is a question we hear often. It usually comes from people who are thoughtful, questioning, and seeking clarity — and that’s exactly the kind of person who belongs here. 

“You don’t go to seminary because you have it all figured out,” said Reverend Dr. David M. Mellott, president and professor of theological formation at CTS. “You go to seminary to learn, to grow, and to explore.” 

CTS is seminary of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), yet open to students from any background — creating a community where openness and questioning are embraced. 

Whether you’re discerning a call to ministry or looking to deepen your theological understanding, CTS offers a space where uncertainty isn’t a weakness. It’s a place to begin. Through our Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Master of Theological Studies (MTS) programs, CTS supports students who want to wrestle with big questions, engage in honest dialogue, and grow in community with others who are on their own paths of exploration. 

Spiritual Curiosity in a Progressive Seminary Community   

The path of entering seminary with questions rather than certainties is one Dr. Mellott knows well. His father was Catholic, and his mother was Protestant — a dynamic that shaped his open-hearted, inclusive approach to faith and formation. Raised in a family that welcomed both Catholic and Protestant leaders into their home, he entered seminary at 18. What drew him wasn’t a rigid doctrinal system but a deep sense of beauty, ritual, and connection. 

“I was attracted by the artistry of the Catholic Church and the music, the ritual, the smells,” he said. “It wasn’t always an intellectual pursuit. It was something more fundamental.” 

Later ordained as a Roman Catholic priest and now a minister in the United Church of Christ, Dr. Mellott has spent decades in seminary classrooms, church communities, and leadership roles. Since 2019, he’s brought that experience to CTS — a progressive seminary that blends academic rigor with spiritual openness. 

Should I Go to Seminary If I’m Still Figuring It Out? Dr. Mellott Weighs In  

Dr. Mellott often speaks with prospective students who are uncertain about their beliefs and questioning whether seminary is the right place for them. His response? It absolutely can be. 

“Ultimately, seminary is one big discernment process,” he said. “It’s exposure to ideas and people and practices and experiences and historical movements that then have an impact on somebody … that helps them get clarity about their own life and the direction they may want to take.” 

Some students arrive with a strong theological worldview. Others are in the midst of questioning. CTS embraces both, encouraging growth through reflection, not certainty. 

“You don’t have to know everything,” he said. “And it’s good to be curious.” 

Progressive Seminaries Like CTS Welcome All Ages and Stages 

For many prospective students, the question isn’t just whether they should go to seminary. It’s also about timing. Dr. Mellott encourages a shift in framing: “The better question is not, ‘Should I go to seminary?’ but, ‘Why now?’” 

Students at CTS span a wide age range. “We’ve got people who are in their 20s, and we’ve got people who are in their 60s,” he said. “I think the oldest student I’ve seen here was 70.” 

That diversity brings richness to the learning environment and affirms that there’s no single path or timeline for theological formation. 

“You’re never too old to go to seminary,” Dr. Mellott added. “There’s something about being able to bring all of your life to the table that allows you to go deeper.” 

Whether you’re pursuing seminary after college or answering a call decades later, CTS welcomes you into a community that honors your journey. 

A Non-Denominational Seminary With Clear Values 

For those wondering what kind of seminary CTS is, Dr. Mellott offered this: “We are not the school for everybody because we know what we think.” 

While CTS welcomes theological exploration and uncertainty, it also holds clear commitments — especially around justice, inclusion, and how scripture is understood in community. In that sense, it may not align with all students’ expectations of seminary. 

CTS is a non-denominational institution rooted in affirming theology and values-driven education. Students who feel called to serve LGBTQIA+ communities, advocate for racial justice, or challenge exclusionary interpretations of scripture will find CTS a place that equips them to do so with integrity and purpose. 

Dr. Mellott named several non-negotiables: 

• CTS affirms the ordination of women 

• CTS affirms LGBTQ+ individuals as Christians and as ministers 

• CTS centers racial equity and justice 

• CTS does not teach a literalist interpretation of the Bible 

“We’re very clear,” he said. “If a student comes in saying, ‘Well, I don’t really agree with that,’ I would say: I understand. They are welcome to study here, but they would need to know the boundaries of the conversation.” 

CTS: A Seminary for Progressive Christianity and Spiritual Reconstruction  

If you’re still on the fence about attending seminary with spiritual uncertainty, CTS welcomes students from more than 25 different denominations, as well as those unaffiliated with a specific tradition. Some students arrive firmly rooted in progressive Christianity. Others identify as exvangelical — a term used by those who have left evangelical traditions due to theological, cultural, or personal reasons, often while still seeking spiritual meaning. 

Others come simply looking for a place where their doubts won’t disqualify them. 

“Students should know that if you’re coming to Christian Theological Seminary, you’re not going to be expected to sign on to a specific set of religious beliefs,” Dr. Mellott said. “Instead, what we really want you to do is get clarity about where you are.” 

CTS encourages progressive theology without forcing conformity. Belonging, Dr. Mellott explained, is a shared commitment. That shared commitment includes cultivating inclusive spiritual leadership and understanding how to walk alongside others with empathy. 

“Part of belonging to me is you have to build the bonds of connection,” he said. “Because ultimately what we want is, we want students and our graduates not to think about, ‘CTS was where I went to seminary.’ What we want people to think about is, ‘CTS is my seminary.'” 

What You Gain by Saying Yes to Seminary   

So what does someone gain by choosing seminary, even if they’re not sure where it will lead? 

“One of the biggest things they gain socially is they get to be together with like-minded people who are wanting to talk theology and think about God and the world,” Dr. Mellott said. “And to read great books, to be impacted by very powerful ideas that change the history of the world.” 

Students also begin to explore how spirituality informs their engagement with others — whether in ministry, nonprofit work, or in fields where spirituality and therapy come together in meaningful ways. 

“I think having a theological education will serve them well and serve the people that they serve well,” he said. 

CTS: A Seminary That Meets You Where You Are   

At CTS, the goal is not to graduate with a rigid belief system but to emerge with tools for spiritual discernment and growth. Students develop the ability to reflect theologically with honesty, compassion, and courage. 

“They’ll have resources to be able to help them think about whatever it is … and they’ll have methods that they can employ in that process,” Dr. Mellott said. 

As one of the few progressive seminaries committed to affirming theology, CTS offers both the Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Master of Theological Studies (MTS) programs for students exploring questions of meaning, vocation, and belief. 

Still asking, Should I go to seminary if I’m unsure about my beliefs? CTS says yes.  

“Everybody is on their own journey, and they’re welcome here to make that path,” Dr. Mellott said. “And at the same time, they have lots of other people to join them.” 

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As people of faith, many of us carry a tension between contemplation and action. We pray for peace, yet witness unrest. We pray for justice, yet live amid systems that seem immovable. What does prayer mean in a world that demands both lament and protest? 

That question stands at the center of Christian Theological Seminary’s 2025–2026 Lifelong Learning Webinar Series, “Prayer in an Age of Authoritarianism.” Across this academic year, CTS invites participants to explore prayer not as withdrawal from the world, but as a courageous and creative force that sustains resistance, builds community, and renews hope. 

In a time when fear, division, and cynicism can erode our sense of shared purpose, the practice of prayer grounds us. This year’s webinars ask how prayer can form resilient leaders and faithful communities in the face of authoritarian tendencies that seek to silence compassion and suppress difference. 

The series unfolds through two complementary sub-series: 

• Our Life in Common, which brings a public-theology lens to civic engagement and social transformation. 

• Skills for Flourishing Congregations, which offers practical ministry tools for sustaining healthy, adaptive congregations. 

Each free, one-hour webinar features an expert scholar or practitioner who helps participants think critically and faithfully about the role of prayer in shaping public life and spiritual formation. 

The year began with The Role of Prayer in Community Solidarity with Dr. Nick Peterson, followed by Praying Well: The Push Against the Globalization of Indifference with Rev. Dr. Daisy Machado. Both explored prayer as resistance to apathy and as a practice of compassionate engagement. 

When Prayer Meets Protest 

The series continues this month with a session that brings these themes into sharp relief: 

When Prayer Meets Protest
Wednesday, November 19 | 12–1 pm Eastern
Presenter: Keri Day, PhD
Free online webinar — registration required 

In this timely conversation, Dr. Keri Day will explore the inextricable link between prayer and protest. Too often, prayer is portrayed as apolitical – an inward, private act of piety – while protest is dismissed as purely political, separate from spirituality. But what if these two practices are deeply connected expressions of faith? 

Drawing on key scriptural texts and contemporary movements, Dr. Day will guide participants to see prayer as a form of protest and protest as a form of prayer. From the cries of the prophets to modern justice movements, they will trace how faithful people have long turned prayer into public witness – embodying both lament and hope before God and community alike. 

Participants will reflect on how their own prayer life might be transformed when viewed through this lens of action and solidarity, discovering that prayer is not passive but powerfully engaged with the world’s deepest wounds and yearnings. 

This free webinar offers an opportunity to think theologically about activism and to imagine prayer as a wellspring of courage and renewal for our time. 

About Dr. Keri Day 

Keri Day, PhD, serves as the Elmer G. Homrighausen Chair and Professor of Constructive Theology and African American Religion at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ, and holds an honorary appointment as Extraordinary Professor at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. 

In 2023, Dr. Day became the first African American woman promoted to full professor in Princeton Seminary’s 212-year history. Her teaching and research engage womanist and feminist theologies, social critical theory, economics, and Afro-Pentecostalism. She holds degrees from Tennessee State University (BS in Political Science and Economics), Yale Divinity School (MA in Religion and Ethics), and Vanderbilt University (PhD in Religion). 

Dr. Day has authored four influential books: 

• Unfinished Business: Black Women, the Black Church, and the Struggle to Thrive in America (2012) 

• Religious Resistance to Neoliberalism: Womanist and Black Feminist Perspectives (2015) 

• Notes of a Native Daughter: Testifying in Theological Education (2021) 

• Azusa Reimagined: A Radical Vision of Religious and Democratic Belonging (2022) 

Her thought-leadership has been recognized by NBC News, which named her among six Black women at the center of gravity in theological education in America. She currently chairs Princeton Seminary’s theology department and serves on the Board of the American Academy of Religion, the world’s largest scholarly society dedicated to the study of religion. 

Alongside her scholarship, Dr. Day regularly engages policymakers and the public through writing and advocacy. She has participated in White House briefings on economic justice, religious freedom, and faith-based initiatives and has written for The Christian Century, The Huffington Post, The Feminist Wire, and The New York Daily News. 

Her work embodies the conviction that faith and public life belong together – that prayer and protest are inseparable expressions of hope for a more just world. 

The Series Ahead 

Following When Prayer Meets Protest, the Prayer in an Age of Authoritarianism series continues with three more opportunities for learning and reflection: 

• Only Prayer Can Save Us! How to Stay Alive and Sustain Our People During These Times
  January 28 – 12–1 pm Eastern
  with Cláudio Carvalhaes, PhD
  Explore prayer as a resource for survival, sustenance, courage, and collective resilience in a time of weariness and fear. 

• Prayer as Political Response and Accompaniment
  February 25 – 12–1 pm Eastern
  with Yara González-Justiniano, PhD
  Examine prayer as political witness and cultural organizing – a strategy for unity, resistance, and hope. 

• For What or Whom Else Shall We Pray?
  April 8 – 12–1 pm Eastern
  with Amy Lindeman Allen, PhD
  Learn how ministry leaders can make space for justice-centered petitions related to current events and reconciliation – even in politically divided congregations. 

Each webinar stands on its own yet contributes to a larger exploration of prayer as both spiritual formation and faithful action. 

Why Lifelong Learning Matters 

At CTS, we affirm that formation never ends. Leadership and discipleship require continual renewal of mind and spirit. The Lifelong Learning series exists to equip clergy, lay leaders, and curious learners alike with theological insight and practical wisdom for the church and world today. 

In an era shaped by political upheaval, cultural anxiety, and rapid change, these sessions remind us that prayer is a practice of remembering: remembering who we are, whose we are, and what kind of community God calls us to be. 

Come ready to reflect, learn, and discover how prayer and protest together can renew both the church and the world. 

Register for Lifelong Learning Webinars Here 

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In today’s cultural climate—shaped by politics, policies, and competing influences—Christianity faces urgent questions at the intersection of faith, civic life, and social values. Our free webinar series invites subject matter experts to create space for meaningful dialogue and practical learning, equipping communities to engage pressing issues through a theological lens. 

On October 22 from 12–1 pm ET, we welcome Daisy L. Machado, PhD, for a timely webinar conversation: Praying Well: The Push Against the Globalization of Indifference. 

Pope Francis has warned the Christian community about the danger of becoming numb to the suffering of others—what he called “the globalization of indifference.” In a world where we are bombarded with troubling headlines and overwhelming news, it is easy to feel powerless or detached. Yet as people of faith, we are called to resist apathy and seek ways to remain grounded in compassion and justice. 

Dr. Machado will guide us in exploring practices that help sustain us, nurture community, and strengthen our collective capacity to respond faithfully. As our Dean Francisco Lozada, Jr. notes, “Join us for this conversation that speaks so urgently to our moment. Together, we will consider how prayer, learning, and community can sustain us in pushing back against indifference and embodying hope.” 

Daisy L. Machado serves as Professor of Church History. Her scholarship focuses specifically on United States Christianity. She is the first U.S. Latina ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1981 in the Northeast Region and has served inner city congregations in Brooklyn, Houston, and Fort Worth. 

Register Today! 

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At Christian Theological Seminary, we believe faith invites us into conversations that are bold, challenging, and transformative. That is the vision behind CTS Talks—our “TED Talk” style lecture series featuring distinguished guests who bring fresh perspectives to issues at the intersection of faith, culture, and community. Each talk is designed to spark curiosity, inspire reflection, and open pathways for meaningful dialogue. 

This fall, we are honored to welcome Rev. Brandan Robertson for the first CTS Talk of the 2025–2026 academic year. His talk, “Revolution Not Reformation: Why Christian Faith Needs to Reclaim Queerness,” will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 4:30pm. Local independent bookstore Loudmouth Books will be onsite with Robertson’s book Queer and Christian, for purchase. There will be an opportunity for attendees to have Rev. Robertson sign the book at a reception following the talk. 

Revolution Not Reformation 

Drawing from his groundbreaking book Queer and Christian, Rev. Robertson will invite us to see queerness not as a challenge to Christian faith but as an essential part of its future. Too often, conversations about LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church focus on tolerance or mere acceptance. Robertson pushes us further, insisting that queerness is sacred and that Christianity itself must reclaim its inherently radical, boundary-breaking, and liberating nature.

Through the lens of queer theology, this talk will dismantle exclusionary interpretations of scripture and highlight the radical message of Jesus: that God’s table is wide, affirming, and centered on those who have been pushed to the margins. For Robertson, queerness is not an obstacle to faith, but rather an invitation into authenticity, liberation, and transformation. 

This is more than a conversation about inclusion—it is a call to reimagine Christian faith as inherently queer, revolutionary, and world-changing. 

About Rev. Brandan Robertson 

Rev. Brandan Robertson is a noted author, activist, and public theologian dedicated to exploring the intersections of spirituality, sexuality, and social justice. He serves as Pastor of Sunnyside Reformed Church in New York City and is the founder and Executive Director of The Devout Foundation. 

Known as the “TikTok Pastor,” Robertson’s inclusive theological reflections reach over 250,000 followers and have garnered more than 6 million views. His voice has been featured in TIME Magazine, CNN, and The Washington Post, and his impact extends globally, as he has been invited to speak at platforms as diverse as The White House and Oxford University. This summer, he gave a powerful interview on NPR’s All Things Considered.

Robertson is the author of 23 books, including True Inclusion, which was recognized as an INDIES Book of the Year finalist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute, an MTS from Iliff School of Theology, and an MA in Political Science and Public Administration from Eastern Illinois University. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Biblical Studies at Drew University. 

With this rich blend of scholarship, pastoral leadership, and public engagement, Robertson brings a perspective that is both deeply rooted in faith and attuned to the urgent issues of our time. 

The CTS Talks Series 

CTS Talks is built on the notion that the church—and the world—need spaces for thoughtful, engaging dialogue. Modeled on the energy of TED Talks but grounded in theological reflection, these events bring subject matter experts to CTS to share ideas that stretch our minds and hearts. Each session is designed to be accessible to a wide audience: clergy, therapists, students, alumni, and community members alike. 

Participants gain insight into topics that matter—not only for personal faith but for the broader questions of justice, community, and the common good. 

Looking Ahead: 2025–2026 CTS Talks 

Rev. Robertson’s talk opens a powerful lineup of CTS Talks this year. Future events will continue the theme of addressing pressing cultural questions through theological imagination: 

• Creative Maladjustment: Confessions of a Trauma-Informed Systemic Therapist
  Rev. Dr. Christina Jones Davis
  November 6, 2025 

• Conspiracy Theory: Can Theology Help Us Understand?
  Dr. Robert Saler
  February 3, 2026 

• Intergenerational Imagination: Creativity at the Heart of God’s Transformation
  Rev. Teresa Kim Pecinovsky
  March 5, 2026 

Together, these talks form a yearlong journey of deep learning and lively conversation. 

Join Us 

Join us for Revolution Not Reformation: Why Christian Faith Needs to Reclaim Queerness with Rev. Brandan Robertson on October 2, 2025. We welcome you to be part of a transformative conversation about the future of faith and the sacred gift of queerness. 

Come ready to be inspired, challenged, and encouraged to imagine Christian faith in bold new ways. 

Register Here 

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Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) recently hosted the first workshop of its Growing in God’s Word initiative, a two-year cohort-based learning project designed to empower faith leaders in biblical storytelling for children. Part of the Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative, this program centers children in worship as a way to strengthen and reignite the multigenerational faith to which Jesus calls the Church. 

“Even when children are invited into worship, the Scripture and liturgy often aren’t accessible for them,” shared the program’s director, Rev. Dr. Amy Lindeman Allen. “Much of my scholarship has been committed to shifting that trend, and the Growing in God’s Word initiative is a natural outgrowth of that passion. My vision is for children—and adults—to have relevant and engaging encounters with God’s Word.” 

The initiative unfolds in three phases that guide participants from shared learning, to contextual practice, to mentoring future leaders: 

• Phase One: Workshops – The program begins with a series of three residential workshops at CTS. In Children and the Bible, participants examine how to communicate scripture through Children’s Bibles and storybooks, developing criteria for retelling stories in age-appropriate ways. Children as Spiritual Persons explores how children encounter faith at different developmental stages and highlights their capacity as full spiritual beings. Finally, in Biblical Storytelling in Multi-Generational Worship, participants practice diverse storytelling techniques—from dramatization to multi-sensory approaches—discerning the most effective ways to integrate children into the heart of worship. 
• Phase Two: Ministry Project – After completing the workshops, participants design and implement a child-centered biblical storytelling practice in their own congregations. Supported by mentors, local task forces, and up to $5,000 in seed funding, each project applies learning to real-life ministry. This phase includes project planning, implementation, and evaluation—ensuring both local investment and long-term impact. 
• Phase Three: Celebration & Sending Forth – In the final stage, participants share their ministry experiences with future cohorts, fueling a growing network of leaders committed to re-centering children in worship. Those who complete all three phases receive a Certificate of Completion and may serve as mentors for new participants. 

For a member of the inaugural cohort, the program is already shaping both ministry and faith. They shared, “I pray that the learnings from this initiative will allow our children and youth to gain greater understanding of scripture, as well as curiosity, so that they feel church is a welcome space to ask questions.” 

As the first cohort embarks on this journey, CTS celebrates the opportunity to equip leaders for the flourishing of children, congregations, and the whole Church. 

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What I Lost When I Spoke for a Detained Colleague — and Why I’d Do It Again

Editorial by Elizabeth Diop (MDiv ’15)

The Detention

I held it in during our emergency meeting at work. Bit my cheek. Pursed my lips to stop the quivering of my chin. Inhaled a little deeper to soothe the hitch in my breath.

Ayman Soliman. My beloved colleague. Faith leader. Chaplain. A man of compassion and moral courage. An asylum seeker. Imam. Chaplain.

Detained. Incarcerated.

Because he had the audacity to come to the United States, believing that here, he would be safe.

At the press conference that afternoon, it was hard to hear from behind the leaders speaking. But I caught that Ayman had been interrogated for hours. I hadn’t known that.

I let the tears fall. Wiped them with the collar of my shirt.

His work authorization was abruptly taken from him. A hearing pushed back.

His lawyers had expected that day’s immigration check-in to be routine.

They were wrong.

For the past four years, Ayman has been part of our spiritual care team, serving children and families with integrity, humility, and love. His presence has been a gift to our hospital and community.

He faithfully accompanied families through their most painful moments. He lifted prayers of celebration as parents prepared to bring their children home. He stood beside them as they held their child for the last time.

Word’s can’t fully express the comfort and hope Ayman’s presence brought in those agonizing moments.

And now he can’t. Because we have an immigration system that punishes the vulnerable and preys on the innocent.

My favorite memory with him? Two Muslim teenagers in our residential program wanted to visit the mosque during the holy month of Ramadan. He helped coordinate a supervised outing, found mosque-appropriate clothing for them, and welcomed them at the door like royalty. He led prayers, involved them in worship, and sat with them at a reserved table for Iftar supper.

I wish you could have seen the joy and pride on their faces. They’ll never forget that night.

And now? He’s in a cell.

The Open Letter

After the press conference, we clergy leaders gathered to plan next steps. I agreed to draft an open letter for clergy to sign in support of him. I didn’t know how to write an open letter. I didn’t know what to put in it.

But if they’d asked me to do the chicken dance in a bikini on Saturday Night Live and I thought it would help my friend? I’d do it.

Because the kids and families at the hospital need him. Our team needs him. And most importantly, he deserves to make it home safely.

I wrote the letter, and it was signed by hundreds of clergy across Greater Cincinnati. A reminder to Ayman that he’s not alone. A reminder to decision-makers that we are all watching the choices they make.

On Sunday morning, I was able to visit Ayman at the detention center, through video. He told me he felt God’s presence. He was touched by the compassion of others detained with him. He said he was sustained by the support pouring in from the community.

The Rally

We had a rally outside the hospital four days after Ayman was detained. By the second hour, we were all hot and tired. I pulled my kids back from the street for the third time. My eleven-year-old daughter, Anta, glared at me. I tapped my ear and pointed at the person speaking on the other side of the road. Listen, I mouthed.

We stood with a crowd along a busy street, holding signs of support for Ayman. My eight-year-old held hers up proudly, declaring, “Ayman Soliman—We love you so much!”

The next morning, a reporter reached out. She wanted to interview me about my visit with Ayman. I took a half day of PTO and met her near the hospital. The interview went well. It aired that evening and helped elevate Ayman’s story. All he’d asked was that we talk about him and how unfair this situation was, and I had honored that request.

The Consequences

But the next morning, my director stopped me, her mouth in a tight line.

“You’re facing disciplinary action,” she said.

“Could I be fired?”

“Leadership said, ‘Up to and including potential termination.’”

Because I spoke.

Because I supposedly violated a media policy I didn’t fully understand.

A policy so “tricky” even HR admitted it was confusing. One that restricts any unsanctioned media interaction that could be interpreted as speaking on behalf of the hospital—even if you’re off-campus, on PTO, and out of uniform.

I spoke about a visit in detention with my friend and former coworker. Off the clock. As a private citizen. But the story identified me as a Children’s Hospital employee. And they showed the hospital in the background. I couldn’t help but wonder if a donor had been offended. Or if leadership feared retaliation from the current administration.

Ten years of service. Hundreds of children and families I’d walked with through trauma, grief, and healing. Over.

Another colleague, Adam Allen, was also fired less than an hour before me. He was told his social media went against the values of the institution. Every post I saw was focused on Ayman—telling his story, raising awareness, and trying to save his life.

When I told my kids what happened, my eleven-year-old daughter expressed worries about back-to-school supplies. My twelve-year-old son was afraid we might lose our house. My teenager offered to get a job at a factory to help support the family. And me? I couldn’t process it all. But I could continue to speak for Ayman. To local news organizations. To Salon. To Rolling Stone. To The Guardian. To anyone who would listen.

I don’t regret speaking. I regret that the institution Ayman and I had served for years—which could have spoken with us—chose instead to stay quiet and to silence our voices. We tried to save the life of our beloved friend. And for that, we were ripped away from the work we loved and stripped of the stability our families need.

The Loss

A few days after my termination, I turned in my keys. Met my manager outside the office that had been like a home to me. Handed him my badge. Returned to my van.

The pain is overwhelming. I loved my work. I loved those kids. I even loved the impossible moments—coaching a grandmother through telling her grandson his mom had died, sitting with staff shattered by a patient’s death, kneeling on a quiet room floor to help a child breathe before they exploded.

Losing it all has shattered me. But I still believe in the words I prayed so often with our patients:

Creator God,
Thank you for the gift of these children.
For their resilience. For their courage. For their incredible potential.
Please heal their wounds and give them hope.
Amen.

The Call

That prayer? I pray it for Ayman, too. And for us. You and me.

I want to tell my Christian Theological Seminary community this:

We were trained to be truth tellers and faith leaders, to carry the light into dark places, to hold fast to our values, even when it’s costly. Ayman has done this, in every way possible. Adam and I have tried to do it as well. It’s messy. It’s terrifying. And it’s worth it.

Ayman Soliman is worth it.

And so is every other person detained with him and at overcrowded facilities across the country.

So I leave you with the same call I keep giving myself:

When the moment comes, may each of us prioritize God’s call. May we write legislators. Support immigration justice groups. Stand beside neighbors whose status makes them vulnerable.

May we refuse to stay silent. May we engage in the costly work of pursuing justice.

No matter what else we may lose, may we keep our souls.

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Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech was a critical moment in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s.

But before that, there was prayer.

God grant that right here in America and all over this world, we will choose the high way; a way in which men will live together as brothers…This will be the day when white people, colored people, whether they are brown or whether they are yellow or whether they are black, will join together and stretch out their arms and be able to cry out: “Free at last. Free at last. Great God almighty, we are free at last.” 
 
While the last lines are familiar from Dr. King’s iconic 1963 speech, it’s actually a portion of a prayer King gave in 1957 at the Second Annual Nonviolence and Social Change Conference at Holt Street Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

And it’s that use of prayer—to bring attention to the issues of the day, to turn our focus to injustice—that Francisco Lozada, Jr., PhD, Vice President of Academic Affairs & Dean of the Faculty at Christian Theological Seminary, wants us to consider as he introduces the 2025-2026 Lifelong Learning webinar series, “Prayer in an Age of Authoritarianism.”

“People need hope right now,” says Lozada. “And in keeping with Christian Theological Seminary’s tradition of speaking to the present, this series will help pastors and lay people understand how to use prayer to be more attentive, reflective, and intentional in how they use prayer in liberative ways—to teach, mobilize, resist, and give a community hope.”

The webinar series for 2025-2026 will include talks from groundbreaking scholars, each with a unique focus on prayer. Each session will conveniently begin at noon—Dean Lozada suggests enjoying your lunch while you participate—and will start with a prayer from a pastor, who will co-host and offer practical reflection on the speaker’s talk for anyone seeking to engage in prayer in a public setting.

“Prayer is how we connect to the divine, but there’s not just one function of prayer,” says Lozada. “Through this series, we can consider how to use prayer to provide a counternarrative to authoritarianism.”

The series includes two tracks:

• Our Life in Common: Designed to foster public theological reflection
• Skills for Flourishing Congregations: Providing practical tools for faith leaders

For Lozada, this year’s Lifelong Learning series is an exciting chance for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of prayer to engage with top theologians from the comfort of their own desk.

“As theologians, we cannot refrain from speaking about the present,” says Lozada. “This series will show us how prayer can reveal and remind us that God is still with us in this turmoil.”

The schedule includes:

• September 24, 2025—The Role of Prayer in Community Solidarity, presented by Nick Peterson, PhD, Christian Theological Seminary
• October 22, 2025—Praying Well: The Push Against the Globalization of Indifference, presented by Daisy L. Machado, PhD, Union Theological Seminary
• November 19, 2025—When Prayer Meets Protest, presented by Keri Day, PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary
• January 28, 2026—Only Prayer Can Save Us! How To Stay Alive and Sustain Our People During These Times, presented by Cláudio Carvalhaes, PhD, Union Theological Seminary
• February 25, 2026—Prayer as Political Response and Accompaniment, presented by Yara González-Justiniano, PhD, Vanderbilt University
• April 8, 2026—For What or Whom Else Shall We Pray?, presented by Amy Lindeman Allen, PhD, Christian Theological Seminary

All are welcome—from pastors to lay people who seek a deeper reflection on prayer. While each webinar is free, registration is required. For more information and to register, visit the series page here.

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