Charge

The Committee on the Public Understanding of Religion (CPUR) fosters attention to the broad public understanding of religion and the role of religion in public life. This charge is achieved by seeking to catalyze the skills and practices among AAR members that promote the public understanding of religion and equip members to more effectively engage issues of religion in the public sphere. The Committee also collaborates with individuals and organizations to promote the public understanding of religion by using many channels to reach many publics.

Duties and Responsibilities

Members of the Committee on the Public Understanding of Religion are expected to participate in the following:

  • The CPUR is a highly active committee that takes on a lot of projects. Each committee member is expected to do substantial work.
  • Committee members are responsible for the annual review of nominations and selection of recipient for the Martin E. Marty Public Understanding of Religion Award. A Special Topics Forum is held at the Annual Meeting in November for the Marty Award recipient.
  • One representative from the CPUR serves on the Journalism Award jury. A Special Topics Forum is held at the Annual Meeting in November for the Journalism Award recipients.
  • The CPUR sponsors (collaboratively with the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum) a media-skills workshop on the Friday afternoon of the November Annual Meeting.
  • The CPUR usually sponsors or cosponsors additional Annual Meeting sessions. Generally, each member of the committee takes the lead in organizing and often presiding one or more committee events at the Annual Meeting.

Meeting Schedule

  • Once in person at the Annual Meeting in November
  • Additional meeting online during the spring.

Timeline of Activities

  • Mid-February through March: heavy planning and organizing for November Annual Meeting events
  • In-person PUR Committee meeting on Friday morning before the start of the Annual Meeting

Recommended Resources

Committee Members

  • Term of Service: Four years, non-renewable
  • Committee Composition: Up to six members

Staff Contact

Amy Defibaugh

Committee Leadership

Rachel Mikva (1/1/2023-12/31/2026), Chair
David Newheiser (1/1/2023-12/31/2026), Vice Chair
Matthew Taylor (1/1/2025-12/13/2028), Committee Member
Susan Hayward (1/1/2024-12/31/2027), Committee Member
Kalpana Jain (4/17/2024-12/31/2027), Committee Member
Robert P. Jones (1/1/2023-12/31/2026), Committee Member
Alisha Lola Jones (1/1/2022-12/31/2025), Committee Member