Where:
The Church of the Resurrection – Washington, D.C. (Eastern Market)
When:
January 23, 2026, 7:00 to 9:00 PM
About Event:
To supplement the broader discussion surrounding the interaction between Christianity and law, Christian Legal Society is proud to announce the creation of the JOHN WITTE, JR. LECTURE SERIES ON CHRISTIANITY AND LAW. Named after the eminent historian and law professor at Emory University School of Law, the WITTE LECTURES seek to provide a public forum for discussing the future of Christianity and law as it relates to public policy and the witness of the Church.
In 2026, we return to our nation’s capital for a discussion on law, family, and faith in late antiquity. Our keynote speaker is Dr. Maria Doefler, the assistant professor of Eastern Christianity in Yale University’s Department of Religious Studies. Her work focuses on the interpretation of authoritative texts, law, philosophical writings, and scripture in the second through sixth centuries C.E., with particular emphasis on how contexts of personal or communal crisis shape exegesis. Her most recent monograph, Jephthah’s Daughter, Sarah’s Son: The Death of Children in Late Antiquity (University of California Press, 2020), won the American Academy of Religion’s Best First Book in the History of Religions Prize. Aside from her incredible academic career, Maria also speaks several languages, both modern and ancient, including Syriac, Coptic, Greek, Latin, German, French, Italian, and biblical Hebrew.
Maria will be joined onstage by Elizabeth Kirk, who will moderate our Q&A. Elizabeth is the assistant professor of law and co-director of the Center for Law and the Human Person at the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America. Her scholarship focuses on law and the family, including issues such as parental rights, reproductive technologies, abortion jurisprudence, child welfare, and adoption.
Looking to Attend?
To save your seat, email Anton Sorkin at [email protected].
Thank you to our gracious sponsor