Rev. C. Welton Gaddy
The Rev. C. Welton Gaddy, director of the Interfaith Alliance, a national non-partisan grassroots and educational organization, and pastor for preaching and worship of the Northminster Baptist Church in Monroe, La., is the chaplain for Week Four. He will preach at the 10:45 a.m. morning worship service on Sunday in the Amphitheater. His sermon title is “The Art of Faith and the Faith of Art: Give Me a Vision,” and the Scripture is Exodus 4:1-5 and 1 Corinthians 10:29c; 31-33. He will speak at the 5 p.m. Vesper Service in the Hall of Philosophy about his faith journey. From Monday through Friday, he will preach at the 9:15 a.m. worship services in the Amphitheater.
According to Gaddy’s official biography, he is author of more than 20 books, including First Freedom First: A Citizen’s Guide to Protecting Religious Liberty and the Separation of Church and State. Gaddy hosts the weekly “State of Belief” radio program on Air America, where he explores the role of religion in the life of the nation by illustrating the vast diversity of beliefs in America, while exposing and critiquing both the political manipulation of religion for partisan purposes and the religious manipulation of government for sectarian purposes.
Gaddy provides regular commentary to the national media on issues relating to religion and politics. He has appeared on MSNBC, NBC, PBS, C-SPAN, ABC and CNN. Former host of Morally Speaking on NBC affiliate KTVE in Monroe, La., Gaddy is a regular contributor to mainstream and religious news outlets.
While ministering to churches with a message of inclusion, Gaddy emerged as a leader among progressive and moderate Baptists. Among his many leadership roles, he is a past president of the Alliance of Baptists and has been a 20-year member of the Commission on Christian Ethics of the Baptist World Alliance. His past leadership roles include serving as a member of the General Council of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, chair of the Pastoral Leadership Commission of the Baptist World Alliance and member of the World Economic Forum’s Council of 100. Gaddy currently serves on the White House task force on the Reform of the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
Gaddy received his undergraduate degree from Union University in Jackson, Tenn.and his doctoral degree and divinity training from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., He is a longtime friend of Chautauqua.
The Chautauquan Daily 
