Fetzer Institute Funds “God in America” Documentary
Explores History of Religion in America

KALAMAZOO, Michigan, October 4, 2010—The Fetzer Institute is a primary funder of the American Experience /FRONTLINE co-production of God in America, a six-hour documentary airing October 11-13, 9-11 p.m. EST on PBS. In addition to funding the series, the Fetzer Institute is supporting a robust outreach campaign for God in America, designed to allow viewers to explore their own religious and spiritual journeys through online resources, dialogue, and sacred site tours in select cities.

“At Fetzer, we hope to inspire a lasting change in a divided world, and we believe that this documentary and the national outreach is a major stepping stone to achieving meaningful understanding about both our nation’s beliefs and the individual spiritual journeys of Americans,” said Lawrence E. Sullivan, president and CEO of the Fetzer Institute.

The God in America documentary explores 400 years of the historical role of religion in the public life of the United States, examining religious traditions and influences from the first European settlers to the 2008 presidential election. The six-segment documentary examines the pioneering fight for religious freedom in America and how this principle continues to drive civic and political debate today. America’s religious framework is presented as an ever-changing experience of spiritual revivals and challenges to traditional faiths influenced by religious diversity and social reforms.

The Fetzer Institute is also supporting an expansive outreach campaign designed to extend the reach of the series beyond television, through community engagement activities, media events and a comprehensive God in America website.

The national outreach campaign is designed to engage communities in conversations about the role religion and contemporary spirituality play in shaping the social, political, and cultural lives of Americans. The program encourages individuals and organizations to:

• Deepen their understanding of their personal religious and spiritual history;
• Start conversations with friends and neighbors, and within houses of worship or community groups; and/or
• Explore a faith tradition or spiritual practice they know little about.

In conjunction with the national PBS broadcast, more than 100 sacred spaces in eight cities will open their doors to the public as part of the national outreach campaign. The sacred spaces in each city represent an eclectic mix of churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, and nondenominational spaces selected for their architectural significance, their impact on a city’s history or contemporary culture, and their willingness to engage in interfaith dialogue. The tour cities are Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, New York, Santa Fe, San Francisco, and Portland, Ore.

“The outreach for this film captures the very essence of Fetzer,” said Sullivan. “We wanted to be a part of a program that informs insightful dialogue about the lived experience of religion and spirituality in America today. The online resources and opportunities for individuals to tour religious and spiritual sites connect the rich history of God in America to our contemporary lives.”

The Fetzer Institute is a nonprofit, private operating foundation based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Established by broadcast pioneer John E. Fetzer (1901-1991), the Institute uses its philanthropic resources to fund and create programs exploring and advancing the power of love, forgiveness, and compassion. With an endowment of $380 million, the Institute dedicates approximately $20 million annually toward its programming efforts.