Religious Freedom and the Founding of America

Great Objects Gathering is an annual 24-hour off-the-record convening of Christian leaders, focused on the intersection of faith and social concern. This year’s “Great Object” will be our nation’s upcoming semiquincentennial. We will look back at America’s founding and emphasis on Religious Liberty, while also looking forward to what Christianity in America could contribute to shared flourishing in America’s over the next 250 years.

November 10, 12PM - November 11, 12PM, 2025

Philadelphia, PA

About GOG
Agenda
GOG Booklet
Travel
Resources
Presenters

Welcome!

Welcome to the 2025 Great Objects Gathering. Over the next 24 hours we will converse, pray, worship, and explore the topic

“Religious Liberty and the Founding of America.”

The United States will celebrate its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. The semiquincentennial presents an opportunity to revisit and recover the values and virtues that contributed to the founding of our nation and to look forward to what the next 250 years might look like.

As the American decline in religion is starting to reverse, with Generation Z beginning to embrace faith, we would like to explore why religion–-in this case, specifically Christianity–-has been so instrumental in shaping our nation. We also want to examine how Christianity can continue to thrive and provide hope and healing in a very different context than the founding.

We are so grateful that you have decided to join us in this effort to consider these questions, worship God, and be witnesses to God’s kingdom, power, and glory together.

Eugene Cho, Lisa Fields, Bethany Jenkins, David Kinnaman, Jedd Medefind, Mark Rodgers, Arthur Satterwhite III, Robbie Seay, Stephanie Summers

About GOG:

  • Beginning in 2009, the Great Objects Gathering (GOG) has convened leaders from across the country for conversations around the intersection of faith and social concern. The mission of the Great Objects Gathering is to foster relationships among emerging and established leaders within evangelicalism while exploring the “Great Objects” of our age that challenge their cohesion. This gathering of influential voices is meant to be a continuation of the legacy of William Wilberforce, the leader of the movement to end the slave trade in England. His life of thoughtful engagement in the public square sought to unify evangelicals through intentional community.

    The 2025 event will be our 12th convening. Past gatherings have included discussions on sexual identity, religious liberty, the role of evangelical women in the public square, discussions on marriage and family, mental wellbeing, the Church’s role in racial reconciliation, following Christ through election seasons, as well as a gathering of secular foundations to discuss their work that impacts communities of faith.

  • Unlike other conferences, Great Objects Gathering does not focus on specific outcomes, but is rather meant to be a time of fellowship and conversation. The leaders who attend meet off-the-record to discuss issues that affect their work and challenge the Church at large, with the hope that the relational capital developed at GOG will shape their engagement on issues facing Christians today and touch their spheres of influence.

“God Almighty has placed before me two great objects: the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners.”

- William Wilberforce

 Agenda

  • All day at American Bible Society (North Independence Mall, 101 East FL8, Philadelphia, PA 19106)

    12:00 PM Arrival/Check-in

    American Bible Society

    12:30 PM Welcome + Introductions

    Mark Rodgers & Josh Glacken

    12:45 PM Lunch

    1:30 PM Opening Worship

    Michael Chen

    1:45 PM Session 1 | Scripture and the Founding of the United States

    Framing: Bethany Jenkins

    Panelists: Lisa Fields, Os Guinness, & Dr. Peter Lillback

    This opening session will be a panel discussion on the role that Scripture–both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament played in the founding. How can understanding these scriptures form citizens? How can we recover a robust Christianity in a polarized church?

    2:45 PM Break

    3:00 PM Session 2 | Christianity and Religious Liberty

    Framing: Mark Rodgers

    Panelists: Chris Stevenson, Mark Tooley, & Aaron Weldon

    Given the truth claims of Christianity, how does it fit into a religiously pluralistic society? What are the perspectives of Catholics, Jewish Americans, and other religious communities in a majority Protestant country? How can Christians support religious freedom for others without watering down their own faith commitments?

    4:00 PM Break

    4:15 PM Session 3 | Christianity in America Today: Challenges and Opportunities

    Framing: Jedd Medefind

    Panelists: Peter Edman, Arthur Satterwhite III, & Emerson Slaughter

    What is the impact of technology, social media, and AI on the embodied aspects of the Christian faith? How are these technologies changing the way people discover and are formed by Christianity? How has a lack of spiritual formation contributed to a lack of civic formation in Gen Z and Millennials?

    5:15 PM Break & Check-in at the hotel

    Hotel Monaco

    6:30 PM Dinner

    American Bible Society

    8:30 PM Social Hour

    Red Owl Tavern at Hotel Monaco

  • All day at American Bible Society (North Independence Mall, 101 East FL8, Philadelphia, PA 19106)

    7:30 AM Optional walk through Independence Mall

    8:30 AM Breakfast

    American Bible Society

    9:15 AM Worship

    Michael Chen

    9:30 AM Session 4 | How Do We Respect/Relate/Cooperate in a Pluralistic Public Square?

    Framing/Facilitating: Chris Crawford and Adam Phillips

    Interfaith America will lead us through their framework on how people of committed faith can engage in a pluralistic society.

    10:30 AM Break

    10:45 AM Session 5 | Where Do We Go From Here? A Discussion on the Williamsburg Charter

    Framing: Mark Rodgers and Michael Wear

    11:30 AM Closing Prayer and Worship

    Michael Chen

    12:00 PM Lunch + Leave for Flights

Travel

  • Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the closest major airport.
    Please plan flights that arrive by 10:00 AM on November 10. This allows time to travel into the city and check in at the venue before our 12:00 PM start at the American Bible Society.

    Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) and taxis are readily available at PHL. Typical travel time to ABS is 20–25 minutes depending on traffic.

  • All guests should arrive first at the American Bible Society (ABS) for the opening session:

    American Bible Society
    101 N Independence Mall E
    Philadelphia, PA 19106

    Our team will welcome you, provide materials, and guide you through the opening portion of the program.

    Guests will check in to the hotel during the scheduled afternoon break on November 10. (Please do not go to the hotel before checking in at ABS.)

  • Lodging is provided for all registered participants.

    Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia
    433 Chestnut St
    Philadelphia, PA 19106

    Room Details

    • Single-occupancy accommodations

    • Complimentary WiFi

    • Fitness center access

    • Morning coffee service available

    • Guests are responsible only for incidentals

    Check-Out

    • 12:00 PM on November 11

    • Luggage storage available upon request

    • From PHL: 20–25 minutes by rideshare or taxi

    • Walking Distance: The hotel is ~5 minutes from ABS

    • Parking: ABS has parking available upon request. Valet parking available at Hotel Monaco (daily rate applies); nearby public garages available

  • Both ABS and Hotel Monaco are ADA accessible.
    If you have specific accessibility needs, please let us know in advance.

  • Please contact Jay Han at
    jay@claphamgroup.com • 410-440-5597

Resources:

Explore pre-read materials curated for this year’s Great Objects Gathering. These articles, essays, and documents provide helpful context for our conversations together.

  • State of the Bible USA 2025

    American Bible Society

    Read More

  • The Williamsburg Charter

    Read More

  • Renewing the American Covenant

    2026 - A proposal for a National Rededication to the first principles of the American republic

    Read More

  • The History of Religious Freedom as a Governing Principle in the United States

    National Museum of American Religion

    Watch

  • History of Religious Freedom in America

    National Museum of American Religion

    Watch

  • The History of Christian Nationalism

    National Museum of American Religion

    Watch

  • America Still Believes: Religious Beliefs About History's End and American Political Behavior

    National Museum of American Religion

    Watch

  • Read LDS apostle Dallin Oaks’ address on religious freedom and nondiscrimination

    The Salt Lake Tribune

    Read More

  • Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution

    Dallin H. Oaks, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

    Read More

  • What Role Did Religion Play in the Founding of the American Republic?

    National Museum of American Religion

    Watch

Presenters

Presented by