Valerie Cooper, associate professor of religion and society and Black Church studies, has been named a senior fellow at the Center for Theological Inquiry (CTI), in Princeton, N.J. CTI and its director, Tom Greggs, have been awarded a $4.5 million grant from the Templeton Foundation for the project, “From Despair to Hope: Interdisciplinary Theology in the Service of Building Spiritual Capital.” Cooper will be one of two inaugural senior fellows.
 
 

Head shot of Valerie Cooper in front of greenery

“I’m honored and excited to have been invited to join the Center for Theological Inquiry as a senior fellow under its new director, Dr. Tom Greggs,” said Cooper. “I look forward to addressing the question that Dr. Greggs has proposed to shape the work of first cohort of scholars on this project: What would it look like to develop and apply new, interdisciplinary theologies of hope in domains where despair prevails and hope is yearned for?” 

The project will focus on developing theologies of hope in the areas of technology and AI, civics and democracy, youth and education, health and medicine, and entrepreneurship and economics, with several major works of systematic, practical, and contextual theologies of hope planned. 

As a senior fellow, Cooper will work with CTI’s staff, fellows, and working groups to articulate, record, and implement theologies of hope. Inspired by theologian Dr. Peter Gomes’ arguments about the rugged power of hope, she has a particular interest in learning from individuals and communities where hope has helped make people more resilient despite the challenges they face. She will also continue research for her book Segregated Sundays, which examines the costs and consequences of the extreme racial segregation of churches in the U.S. and argues that moving beyond segregated Sundays toward more racially diverse, inclusive, and welcoming congregations will promote a healthier, more hopeful, and resilient society.

“On behalf of the Duke Divinity faculty and community, I warmly congratulate Dr. Cooper on this appointment as senior fellow for this timely and important project on theologies of hope,” said Kavin Rowe, vice dean for faculty and George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor of New Testament. “I have no doubt that her research interests, theological insights, and generous collaboration will make a contribution that serves the church, academy, and world longing for hope.”