October 21, 2026 – October 22, 2026 ET
Faith and Freedom at 250: Religious Liberty, Justice, and the Unfinished Work of Democracy
Religious freedom and civil rights belong to the same unfinished American story. For our 2026 Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lectures on Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State, we’re focusing on the intersection of race, religion, civil rights, and religious liberty in American law. Maya Wiley will deliver our lecture and join others in a panel conversation on the campus of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Maya Wiley, a nationally respected civil rights attorney and activist who has dedicated her life to the fights for justice, equality, and fairness, will be leading our series this year. She serves as president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
The events are free and open to the public — we just ask that you register. If you cannot attend in person, a livestream will be available for the lecture.
Schedule:
Oct. 21 at 5 p.m.
Location: Porter Byrum Welcome Center, Kulynych Auditorium
Maya Wiley delivers the 2026 Shurden Lecture, examining the disconnect between church-state law and civil rights law and what that separation has meant for religious freedom and racial justice in America. The lecture will be followed by a moderated question-and-answer session.
Oct. 22 at 11 a.m.
Location: Worrell Professional Center, Law School Auditorium
Maya Wiley will join Audra Savage and Amanda Tyler for a conversation about the intersection of race, religion, civil rights and religious liberty in American law. Moderated by Dr. Corey D.B. Walker, the discussion will examine how courts use history and tradition—and how a more inclusive understanding of both could strengthen civil rights and religious freedom.
Additional details are available online at BJConline.org/ShurdenLectures.