Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

News from Day1

News from “Day 1”®

The national weekly ecumenical radio program produced by the Alliance for Christian Media

Contact Ethel Ware Carter, 404-418-6770, ewcarter@day1.org

For immediate release – November 9, 2023

Photo available on request

Will Willimon to preach on ‘Day 1’

Professor at Duke University Divinity School

The Rev. Dr. William H. Willimon, professor of the practice of Christian ministry at Duke University Divinity School in Durham, N.C., is the featured preacher Dec. 10 on “Day 1” with guest host the Rev. Dalton Rushing, the nationally broadcast ecumenical radio program also accessible as a podcast and online at Day1.org.

“Good News: God Is Coming to You” is drawn from Mark 1:1-8, verses in which John the Baptist announces the coming of Jesus. “Advent is announced not in some beautifully proportioned church, but in the remote, untamed, uncivilized wilderness where it’s hard to find your way, and some become lost,” he says. “Some words are too true, too unmanageable to be fully contained in a temple, synagogue, or church.”

A bishop in the United Methodist Church, Willimon served as the dean of Duke Chapel and professor of Christian ministry at Duke University for 20 years before serving as the bishop of the North Alabama Conference from 2004 to 2012. He then returned to Duke. He directs Duke's Doctor of Ministry Program. He earlier served churches in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. He is a graduate of Wofford College, Yale Divinity School, and Emory University.

Willimon is a popular preacher at conferences and churches across the country. He has taught in Germany, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia in various seminaries. He is the author of dozens of books. His “Worship as Pastoral Care” was selected as one of the 10 most useful books for pastors by the Academy of Parish Clergy. A recent book is “Don’t Look Back: Methodist Hope for What Comes Next.”

The program includes interviews with Willimon conducted by Rushing, who is the guest host.

“Day 1” has been broadcast every week for more than 78 years, formerly as “The Protestant Hour.” Featuring outstanding preachers from the mainline denominations, “Day 1” is currently distributed to radio stations across America and overseas, and the “Day1 Weekly Program” is on all podcast apps. The program is produced by the Alliance for Christian Media, based in Atlanta, Ga. "Day 1"® is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by the Alliance for Christian Media, Inc. For more information, check the program’s website, http://day1.org.

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First Five Freedoms is proud to join Georgia Lawyers for the Rule of Law, The Temple, and All Saints Episcopal Church for "Faith, Law, & Democracy: A Community Conversation on the Public Good and the Rule of Law" on Tuesday June 2. We hope you will consider joining us for this important discussion. Americans across the political spectrum are grappling with a shared unease: the feeling that something foundational is slipping. Trust in institutions is eroding. The norms that once governed public life are contested. And the concept of the public good — the idea that we share a common stake in fair, just, and accountable governance — is increasingly hard to find in our public discourse. This program brings together faith leaders, legal experts, and engaged community members for an evening of honest conversation about what is at stake. Hosted at All Saints Episcopal Church and co-presented by The Temple, Georgia Lawyers for the Rule of Law (GLRL), and First Five Freedoms, the event weaves together spiritual reflection, legal analysis, and civic dialogue to address one central question: What does it mean to protect the rule of law — and why does it matter for all of us, right now? The evening will include reflection, analysis, and discussion designed to:

Connect faith, law, and civic responsibility in an accessible, nonpartisan framework
Examine current challenges to the rule of law and their implications for democracy
Create space for authentic dialogue across perspectives and institutions
Foster relationships and identify opportunities for collective action

Faith, Law & Democracy, Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., All Saints Episcopal Church, 634 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta 30308. Featured speakers include: Rev. Natosha Reid Rice, Minister for Public Life, All Saints’ Episcopal Church; Rabbi Lydia Medwin, Associate Rabbi, The Temple; Jill Steinberg, former U.S. Attorney for Georgia’s Southern District; Al Pearson, former University of Georgia Law professor; Richard Griffiths, retired journalist, and president emeritus of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation. Registration for this event is free. Complimentary parking, food, and refreshments. REGISTER HERE