The Rev. Jen Butler is the founder and chair of Faith in Public Life, a progressive, faith-based organization that advocates for better policies on immigration, LGBT rights and other issues. She is ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and previously represented the denomination at the United Nations. Contact through Michelle Nealy.

Ganoune Diop serves as general secretary of the International Religious Liberty Association, which is based in Silver Spring, Md. He is an ordained Seventh-day Adventist minister and he previously taught biblical languages, exegesis and theology at Adventist universities in France and the U.S.

Angie Thurston is a ministry innovation fellow at Harvard Divinity School. She is also co-author of “How We Gather,” a report on how people find community in the modern world.

Casper ter Kuile is a ministry innovation fellow at Harvard Divinity School. He studies innovation within secular and sacred communities and co-authored “How We Gather,” a report on these topics. He’s also co-host of the podcast “Harry Potter and the Sacred Text.”

Hebah Farrag is the assistant director of research for the University of Southern California’s Center for Religion and Civic Culture. She studies Middle East politics, Islam in America, new spiritualities and the spirituality of social change movements such as Black Lives Matter.

Having trouble coming up with holiday story ideas? This edition of ReligionLink can help.

Scholars, scientists and faith leaders around the world are working to reduce tensions between religion and science.

Craig Story is a professor of biology at Gordon College, where he also directs the Pastors and Science Project.

Rabbi Rachael Jackson leads Agudas Israel Congregation in Hendersonville, N.C. Before she was ordained, she worked as an analytical chemist.