History
The origins of Sacred Writes can be traced back to an inaugural 2016 ACLS/Luce Religion, Journalism, and International Affairs program grant. That seed grant supported a course for Northeastern University’s journalism program, “Reporting Religion,” co-taught by Professor Liz Bucar, a professor of religion, and Professor Carlene Hempel, a professor of journalism. It also supported an all-day conference of religion scholars and working journalists in order to identify the challenges and opportunities for closer collaboration. What we learned during that first grant was that academic and journalist cultures differ greatly, that scholars lack the training and support to write for mainstream audiences, and that collaboration between journalists and scholars works best when mutual respect is present.
Sacred Writes was officially born in 2018 with a generous four-year grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. We developed a robust public scholarship training program for scholars of religion, and sponsored partnerships for scholars with media organizations. In 2020, we pivoted the program online, which allowed us to offer it to a wider selection of scholars. In 2021-2022, we conducted an extensive review and revision process for our training, which is now offered regularly as an online-original curriculum, paired with training calls led by our training team. In 2022, we received a second grant for the Henry Luce Foundation to offer these trainings to scholars focused on race, justice, and religion. Funding from the Carpenter Foundation supports training and partnerships for religion scholars working on race and on sexual difference. In 2023, we received another ACLS/Luce grant which will allow us to pilot our “Sacred Writes Extended Fellowship Program for Untenured Scholars.” We have also begun offering customized public scholarship workshops based on our curriculum to graduate students in religious studies and theology, including at the University of Chicago, Saint Louis University, and the Forum for Theological Exploration.
Mission/Vision
Sacred Writes provides support, resources, and networks for scholars of religion committed to translating the significance of their research to a broader audience. Increased public understanding of religion can make meaningful space for religious difference, vibrant democracy, and social justice. And yet the mainstream media often ignores religion or contributes to misinformation about it. Public religious literacy would be improved if scholars of religion more regularly contributed to mainstream media. But graduate training seldom equips scholars to communicate their insights beyond the academy.
To bridge this gap between scholarly expertise and public need, Sacred Writes supports public scholarship on religion through two programs: 1) training scholars of religion to communicate effectively with the public through intensive and interactive trainings for scholars and 2) creating media partnerships to build relationships between journalists and scholars of religion.
The kind of public scholarship Sacred Writes is interested in supporting is not watered-down or about becoming a scholarly “brand”; rather it is a form of service to the scholar’s communities of accountability, whatever they conceive those to be. We recognize that communicating effectively with non-academic audiences means that scholars must rethink their expertise, learn concrete new skills, and develop new support networks. Any time scholars use their research, training, or teaching skills outside the academy, whether that is writing an op-ed or calling a local representative, they are doing public scholarship. We want them to do this work in ways that are sustainable, ethical, and energizing for them. We recognize a broad societal need to scale this work in order to combat misinformation and prejudice, and ultimately to improve religious literacy.
Impact
In our first five years, from 2018 to 2023, we have trained more than 90 scholars, many representing marginalized religious communities, to work with the media, and conducted partnerships with 17 media organizations, including CBS Religion and PRI’s The World. In all, Sacred Writes scholars have created more than 430 pieces of public scholarship, which have been widely recognized for their excellence (including a Wilbur Award, several RNA Awards, and an Associated Church Press Award). Going forward, thanks to renewed funding from the Luce Foundation, the Academic Council of Learned Societies, and from the Carpenter Foundation, we are expanding our training and partnership programs in new directions, including bringing the program directly to graduate programs. See more about how you can hire us to lead a customized public scholarship workshop here.
Funders
Henry R. Luce Foundation
The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation
2023 Sacred Writes: Public Scholarship on Religion, Gender, and Sexuality
American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)
2016 Luce/ACLS Collaborative Programming Grants in Religion, Journalism, and International Affairs: “Reporting Religion”
2023 Luce/ACLS Collaborative Programming Grants in Religion, Journalism, and International Affairs: The Sacred Writes Extended Fellowship Program for Untenured Scholars
Academic Partners
Since 2022, the Sacred Writes team has offered customized public scholarship workshops based on our curriculum to academic and other organizations, including the University of Chicago, Saint Louis University, and the Forum for Theological Exploration. To learn more, please visit this page.
Host Institution
At Northeastern University, we are grateful to The Ethics Institute, a program of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, for their support.
Awards
Religion Communicators Council (2023)
Wilbur Award of Excellence for Written Works: Liz Bucar, Stealing My Religion: Not Just Any Cultural Appropriation
Derose-Hinkhouse Memorial Award “Best In Class” for Books: Stealing My Religion: Not Just Any Cultural Appropriation
The Association of LGBT Journalists (2022)
Excellence in Profile Writing: Lynne Gerber, “AIDS and the Blessings of Staying: The Ministry of Reverend Jim Mitulski”
Associated Church Press (2022)
Honorable Mention, Best of the Church Press Awards: Alyssa Maldonado-Estrada & Claire Sadar, “Greater Boston’s Church to Condo Pipeline,” DigBoston
Religion News Association Awards (2021)
3rd place, Excellence in Religion Commentary: Rebecca Epstein-Levi, The Revealer, Bitch Media
1st place, Excellence in Magazine Overall Religion Coverage: Brett Krutzsch as Editor-in-Chief for The Revealer, for “Sex Abuse within and beyond the Catholic Church,” issue, including contributions from Brian Clites and Tia Noelle Pratt
2nd place, Excellence in Religion Commentary: Tia Noelle Pratt, National Catholic Reporter
2nd place, Excellence in Religion News Analysis: Barbara Sostaita, Bitch Media
Finalist, Best Podcast: Brett Krutzsch, host of The Revealer Podcast
Aspen Institute’s Inclusive America Project (August 2021)
Religion Communicators Council Wilbur Awards (2021)
Online News Stories Award: Matthew Cressler with Adelle M. Banks (RNS), “Beyond the Most Segregated Hour” series
Religion News Association Awards (2020)
Finalist, Online Media: Brett Krutzsch, The Revealer
Finalist, Multiple Media: Heather Mellquist-Lehto with Matthew Bell (The World, WGBH and PRX)
Finalist, Online Media: Tia Noelle Pratt, Commonweal
Trainers
In January 2023 we conducted a train-the-trainers program for Sacred Writes training alums. Our online trainings are now co-led by two of these expert public scholars. Director Liz Bucar and Associate Director Brook Wilensky-Lanford also lead in-person programs. Learn more about our team here.
Ambre Dromgoole (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and a Provost Faculty Fellow at Cornell University, and a Research Fellow with the Crossroads Project.
Suzanna Krivulskaya (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor of History at California State University San Marcos, and in 2022, she was named a Public Fellow in Religion and LGBTQ+ Rights by the Public Religion Research Institute.
Brett Krutzsch (he/him/his) is an expert on LGBTQ politics and religion in the United States and a scholar at NYU's Center for Religion and Media, where he serves as editor of The Revealer.
Jorge Juan Rodriguez V (he/him/el) is Visiting Assistant Professor of Historical Studies at Union Theological Seminary, and the Associate Director for Strategic Programming at the Hispanic Summer Program.
Dheepa Sundaram (she/her/hers) is an assistant professor of Hindu Studies at the University of Denver, and a founding member of the South Asian Scholar Activist Collective.
ENDORSEMENTS
“Inspired. Prepared. I finally see myself as a writer. These are just a few of the words scholars of color used to describe the impact of Sacred Writes following a writing workshop. Dr. Bucar and her team of facilitators provided an experience that affirmed and equipped scholars to imagine their writing in and beyond the academy!”
PATRICK B. REYES, PHD, SEMINARY DEAN, AUBURN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AND FORMER DIRECTOR AT THE FORUM FOR THEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION
“Sacred Writes goes far beyond training participants in how to write for the public, and delves into what it means to understand the role of public scholarship in the world and explore questions of vocation and purpose for those who chose to engage this work. It is an unforgettable experience that will help participants discern the ways they want to be public and the impact they want to have.”
BRIE LOSKOTA, INAUGURAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE MARTIN MARTY CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO DIVINITY SCHOOL
“Sacred Writes is doing an incredible job of helping to ensure that scholars have the right skills and strategies for enhancing their impact and serving the public.”
SIMRAN JEET SINGH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RELIGION AND SOCIETY PROGRAM, ASPEN INSTITUTE
“Sacred Writes prepares scholars to be useful in a world where specialized knowledge of religion can literally change, perhaps even save lives. This is a new way to teach. What a wise investment in our collective future.”