Title:Drawing on faith to strengthen democracy and civic life

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, in 2021 the McCourt School of Public Policy welcomed Reverend Jim Wallis as the inaugural holder of the endowed Archbishop Desmond Tutu Chair in Faith and Justice. Wallis—a bestselling author; public theologian; speaker and justice advocate; and commentator on religion and public life, faith, and politics—had for years served as an adjunct faculty member of the McCourt School. The creation of the chair enabled the expansion of Wallis’s teaching, writing, and outreach to policymakers and practitioners.

In this capacity, Wallis also leads Georgetown’s Center on Faith and Justice (CFJ), a university-wide initiative that provides insight into the ethical dimensions of public life and builds on Georgetown’s strengths in evidence-based policymaking and civic engagement. In the last four years, Wallis and the CFJ team have reached an audience of millions through their scholarship, mentorship, media presence, and events.

As the nation’s oldest Catholic and Jesuit university, Georgetown believes that faith is a critical asset in pursuing the common good. The university is always striving to deepen its understanding of the role of religious values in our shared civic life, and to grow its impact as a source of leaders who advance peace and justice. Faculty like Wallis are essential to this work.

A renowned advocate with a global reach

Prior to becoming the Chair in Faith and Justice, Wallis taught courses on faith and politics through Georgetown’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He also founded Sojourners—a Christian organization dedicated to social justice, peace, and faith-driven activism—and served on President Obama’s White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

The gift that helped bring Wallis to Georgetown also allowed for the creation of CFJ. The center focuses on four key missions: uprooting systemic racism; building a multi-racial democracy; alleviating poverty; and advancing peace in the U.S. and around the world. CFJ pursues these ambitions in part by engaging in non-partisan advocacy; hosting public events and private strategy sessions; publishing a bi-weekly podcast and weekly Substack newsletter with 12,000+ subscribers; and writing pieces for major national media outlets.

The center also serves as a trusted partner and hub for students, seminarians, scholars, spiritual leaders, grassroots organizers, policymakers, government officials, journalists, and others committed to creating a more compassionate and just society.

Inspiring the next generation of policymakers and faith leaders

Students are critical to CFJ’s mission and impact. The center hosts a Student Fellows program, open to all currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate Georgetown students seeking to gain experience in political advocacy and civic engagement. Fellows meet regularly for programming—for instance, book studies; contemplative practice; and workshops on topics such as community organizing, advocacy, and courageous conversations. They also complete a capstone project related to their interests.

”Yes, we hope our student fellows gain knowledge and information through these sessions, but we also hope to shape their vocation and calling in life—to help them consider what this all means for how they show up in the world and what they choose to do,” says Jim Simpson, executive director of CFJ.

CFJ also runs a Summer Academy, which convenes graduate and seminary students from around the country. The immersive certificate program helps equip current and future faith leaders with tools for engaging in civic and political life.

Defending democracy, promoting peace and justice

The Center’s convening and advocacy efforts extend far beyond Georgetown’s campuses, as Wallis plays a crucial role in many ecumenical and interfaith coalitions. The Center has led religious leaders in campaigns to alleviate poverty; to protect voting rights; and to promote peace in Ukraine.

Closer to home, CFJ partnered with Georgetown’s Earth Commons Institute to host a conversation on the intersection of ecology and democracy. In November 2024, it collaborated with the George Washington University to host a two-day symposium titled, Religion, Politics, and the 2024 U.S. Elections: What Happened and What Comes Next.

Earlier in 2025, the center also coordinated with Georgetown University Law Center’s Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection as it worked with more than two dozen religious groups representing millions of Americans—ranging from the Episcopal Church and the Union for Reform Judaism to the Mennonites and Unitarian Universalists—to sue the federal government in response to the Trump administration’s policy giving immigration agents more leeway to make arrests at “sensitive locations,” including houses of worship.