(RNS) — Ryan Burge, who for years juggled roles as a Baptist pastor, political scientist and go-to source on America’s changing religious landscape, has a new gig.
On Friday (Aug. 1), Burge was named a professor of practice at the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis.
Burge, who’d taught political science at Eastern Illinois University since 2012 and runs the popular Graphs About Religion newsletter, said the new role will allow him to spend less time in the classroom and more time focusing on educating the public about the changing role of religion in American life.
That’s something Burge, who has long had one foot in academia and one in the public square, thinks more scholars should be doing.
“I think we should be doing more public engagement,” he told RNS in a phone interview. “We’re doing the kind of work people care about.”
In his new role, Burge will continue to write his Substack and post on social media, take part in Danforth Center events and teach some undergrad classes. He will also oversee what he called “flash polls” about religion in America — meant to gauge public opinion on important topics in real time.
“I want the conversation to be informed by data as it’s happening, not after the fact,” he said.
Burge said Abram Van Engen, who was named director of the Danforth Center earlier this year, approached him about the new role, which he said seemed tailor-made for him.
Established in 2010, the center is named after former U.S. Sen. John Danforth of Missouri, who was an Episcopal priest before entering politics.
Moving to the center did come with a cost, as Burge gave up a tenured role at his former university. But the move made too much sense to turn down.
“Whenever you figure out what God has made you good at — that’s what’s going to bring you happiness and joy,” said Burge, who pastored a small-town church in Illinois for years along with his role at Eastern Illinois. He also said the rise of social media and Substack made the move away from the classroom possible in a way that it was not before.
