Religion and the American Founding
Conference | March 11-12, 2026 | Hosted at BYU in Provo, Utah
Livestreams do not require registration.
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Conference Program - March 11th-12th
Free and Open to the Public (Register to attend in-person)
Day 1: Keynote
BYU Conference Center, rooms 2258-60
All times in Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).
Note that Daylight Saving Time starts a few days prior to the event.
Livestream: Watch Here
March 11th, 7:00-8:00p MDT
Keynote Address: Dr. Thomas Kidd
Inspiring keynote address by this renowned historian.
- Welcome: Spencer Fluhman
- Governor’s Introduction
- Introduction: Patrick Mason
8:00-9:00p
Keynote Reception
Day 2: In-Depth Discussions
March 12th, 9:00a MDT
Welcome and Introduction: Spencer Fluhman
9:10a
Section I: Religious Landscape on the Eve of Revolution
Panelists: Philip Arnold (Indigenous Peoples Lifeways), Kate Carté (colonial religions), Christopher Jones (religions of the enslaved)
10:00a
Section II: Religious Artifacts of the Founding, Part 1
Panelists: Theresa Frey-Alexander (Shaker), Kyle Roberts (Congregationalist), Nancy Taylor (Presbyterian)
11:00a
Section II: Religious Artifacts of the Founding, Part 2
Panelists: Scott Meyer-Kukan (Evangelical Reformed Church), Phil Arnold (Indigenous Peoples Lifeways), John Runkle (Anglican)
1:00p
Section II: Religious Artifacts of the Founding, Part 3
Panelists: Priscilla Eppinger (Baptist), Lisa Minardi (Lutheran), Taffey Hall (Baptist), Ann McShane (Quaker)
2:00p
Section II: Religious Artifacts of the Founding, Part 4
Panelists: Joel Brown (Disciples of Christ), Emily Chastain (Methodists), Gary Zola (Judaism)
3:00-4:25p
Section III: Religion, Memory, and Meanings of the Founding
Panelists: Spencer McBride (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints); Munir Shaikh (Islam), Lerone Martin (African American Religion), Sandy Bigtree (Indigenous Peoples Lifeways)
Join Us for an Unforgettable Experience
Choose Your Registration:
You may register for both or either day separately.
Day 1 (Keynote Address + Reception)
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 (7:00–9:00 PM MDT)
Day 2 (Conference Sessions)
Thursday, March 12, 2026 (9:00 AM–4:30 PM MDT)
You may register even if you plan to attend only part of the day.
Questions?
Reach out via email: contact@nmar.org
Exploring America's Religious Heritage
The American Religion 250 conference is a pivotal gathering that delves into the rich tapestry of American religious history and its impact on our national founding. This event brings together scholars, archivists, civic leaders, students, and the general public through engaging discussions and insightful presentations.
Keynote Speaker
Thomas S. Kidd is among the most celebrated scholars of religion and the founding of the United States. He serves as Research Professor of Church History at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is the John and Sharon Yeats Endowed Chair of Baptist Studies. Dr. Kidd completed a Ph.D. in history at the University of Notre Dame, where he worked with historian of religion George Marsden. He also earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees at Clemson University in South Carolina.
Dr. Kidd has authored numerous books, including:
• Thomas Jefferson: A Biography of Spirit and Flesh
• Who Is an Evangelical? The History of a Movement in Crisis
• American History, vols. 1 and 2
• Benjamin Franklin: The Religious Life of a Founding Father
• American Colonial History: Clashing Cultures and Faiths
• Baptists in America: A History
• George Whitefield: America’s Spiritual Founding Father
• Patrick Henry: First Among Patriots
• God of Liberty: A Religious History of the American Revolution
• The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America
Dr. Kidd has written for media outlets including the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, and he also blogs at “Evangelical History” at The Gospel Coalition website. In the classroom, he teaches courses on colonial America, the American Revolution, and American religious history.
He and his wife, Ruby, have two sons, Jonathan and Joshua.
Join Us at American Religion 250
The National Museum of American Religion (NMAR) explores how religion has shaped America and how America has shaped religion. This includes the establishment of religious freedom in the U.S. Constitution’s Article VI and Bill of Rights religion clauses. We invite all people to be inspired by the Constitution’s commitment to religious freedom and to seek its preservation for future generations.
The Religion and the American Founding conference has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this conference do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.