Religion is central to the story of Texas—but its rich complexity often goes untold. Texas is more than the "buckle of the Bible Belt." It's a dynamic mosaic of religions, from the largest number of evangelical Protestants in the U.S. to one of the largest Muslim populations, the second-largest Hindu population, and a rapidly growing group of Texans with no religious affiliation.
How is this diversity of faith represented in the media? What stories are being told—and what’s being overlooked?
Join us Tuesday, April 8 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas as we convene Texas journalists, public scholars, and community leaders to explore how religion shapes our state and how journalism captures its evolving role.
The daylong symposium is presented by the Institute for Diversity and Civic Life, Religion News Service, Southern Methodist University's Department of Religious Studies and The Texas Tribune. The event is sponsored by
The Eula May & John Baugh Foundation, The Henry Luce Foundation and Humanities Texas.
Together, we’ll:
• Survey the current state of religion reporting in Texas.
• Examine religion’s importance in telling the full story of Texas.
• Highlight underrepresented communities, issues, and perspectives.
• Discuss journalism’s role in shaping public understanding of faith.
The symposium will be held at SMU's Moody Auditorium at Frances Anne Moody Hall, 6404 Airline Road, Dallas, TX 75205.
Light breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Panel: Christian Nationalism and the Texas Public Sphere
• David R. Brockman, non-resident scholar in religion and public policy, Baker Institute, Rice University; adjunct professor, Texas Christian University
• Mark A. Chancey, professor of religious studies, Southern Methodist University
• Robert Downen, senior writer, Texas Monthly
• Amanda Tyler, executive director, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
• Moderator: Jack Jenkins, national reporter, Religion News Service
Panel: Religion, Migration and Belonging
• Crystal Silva McCormick, visiting instructor of missions and evangelism, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
• Nancy Kasten, chief relationship officer, Faith Commons
• Aleja Hertzler-McCain, reporter covering Latino faith and American Catholicism, Religion News Service
• Erica M. Ramirez, senior director, Louisville Institute
• Moderator: Rachel Schneider, director, Boniuk Institute's Religion and Public Life Center, Rice University
Panel: Telling the Unheard Stories of Texas
• Daniel Bolger, assistant professor of sociology, Southern Methodist University
• Upneet Kaur, senior education manager, The Sikh Coalition
• Rish Oberoi, Texas state director, Indian American Impact
• Sumbel “Susan” Zeb, board of directors, Place 2, Collin County Central Appraisal District
• Moderator: Elizabeth Melton, public engagement director, Institute for Diversity and Civic Life
Panel: Closing conversation: Where do we go from here?
• Kerby Goff, associate director of research, Boniuk Institute, Rice University
• Tiffany Puett, executive director, Institute for Diversity and Civic Life
• J.B. Smith, editor-in-chief, The Waco Bridge
• Michael W. Waters, lead pastor, Abundant Life African Methodist Episcopal Church, Dallas
• Moderator: Matthew Watkins, editor-in-chief, The Texas Tribune
Email us at events@texastribune.org
The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
Saucedo-Herrera is the president and CEO of greater:SATX, a regional economic partnership charged with growing and diversifying the eight-county San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA. During her seven-year tenure at the helm of San Antonio’s economic development team, greater:SATX has secured over 23,000 jobs for the region through recruitment and expansion projects that include work with Ernst & Young, Victory Capital, Navistar and Aisin.
Kamerlander is president and CEO of the Greater San Marcos Partnership. He formerly served as director of Lockhart Economic Development, where he developed the city’s first economic development strategic plan to promote Lockhart as a destination for job creation and investment. The successful program saw the development of a LEDC-owned 75 acre-acre industrial park housing Lockhart’s most recent announcement, The Ziegenfelder Company, a frozen treat manufacturer. The project included a $46 million investment and is creating 100 new jobs.
Latson is the CEO of Opportunity Austin. Previously, he founded and served as executive director for ARMA, the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association, a business group focused on strengthening the advanced manufacturing community through advocacy, workforce development and networking. Latson is also a member of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Semiconductor Taskforce.
Packer is president and CEO of the New Braunfels Chamber, a membership organization representing more than 1,600 businesses. The chamber advocates for sound public policy, serves as the destination marketing organization for New Braunfels and manages Confluence, a public-private economic development initiative.
Cisneros is chair of the infrastructure investment firm American Triple I. He is also vice chair of the board of directors and equity owner of Shank Williams Cisneros & Co. LLC and principal of Siebert Williams Shank & Co. LLC. He was mayor of San Antonio from 1981-89 and secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton from 1993-97.
