Jennifer Patterson

Senior Fellow

Jennifer Patterson is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Her work focuses on projects related to religious freedom and overcoming poverty.

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Jennifer Patterson is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Her work focuses on projects related to religious freedom and overcoming poverty.

Jennifer is executive director of the Institute for Christian Anthropology at the Colson Center. She holds a Ph.D. in moral theology/ethics from The Catholic University of America and a Master of Arts in Religion from Reformed Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., where she is a lecturer. She has worked in public policy-related fields for more than three decades, with a primary interest in leading interdisciplinary teams to advance long-term reform on issues related to human flourishing. She and her husband, Eric Patterson, are the co-editors of Faith and Freedom: Six Theological Perspectives on Religious Freedom.

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Bob Woodson’s social enterprise

Jennifer Patterson

The neighborhood reformer taught us that the problems of the poor require both cultural and moral remedies

Articles

WORLD Opinions / May 26, 2026

Onward for Freedom

Jennifer Patterson

Conservative leader Edwin J. Feulner died July 18 at the age of 83. Feulner is best-known for his leadership of…

Articles

WORLD / July 21, 2025

Student courage and judicial clarity

Jennifer Patterson

A 9th Circuit decision strengthens religious freedom on campus.

Articles

WORLD Opinions / January 17, 2024

Growing old as a calling

Jennifer Patterson

Our perspective on aging will shape our own life paths, our relationships with our elders, and our outlook on public policy questions about the value of human life.

Articles

WORLD Opinions / January 9, 2024

The wonderful givenness of life

Jennifer Patterson

Individuality thrives by expressing the gift of our shared human nature.

Articles

WORLD Opinions / December 22, 2023

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act at 30

Jennifer Patterson

Thirty years ago this month, the landmark Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) was signed into law.

Articles

WORLD Opinions / November 27, 2023

Christian education in a time of gender confusion

Jennifer Patterson

Changing federal interpretations of biological sex raise new challenges for Christian schools.

WORLD Opinions / October 3, 2023

An unjust decision reversed

Jennifer Patterson

A school board will end its discrimination against a Christian university.

WORLD Opinions / August 10, 2023

Choosing the education reform road not taken

Jennifer Patterson

Parental choice in education is the way forward

Articles

WORLD Opinions / July 25, 2023

The kids are not catching up

Jennifer Patterson

A year of post-pandemic scores shows the urgency of helping students recover lost ground

Articles

WORLD Opinions / July 6, 2023

Unaccountable rule-makers

Jennifer Patterson

Culture-shifting policies coming from federal bureaucracies call for attention

Articles

WORLD Opinions / May 17, 2023

Hopes on hold for motherhood

Jennifer Patterson

Honoring mothers’ loving service, not just idealizing the status of motherhood

Articles

WORLD Opinions / May 12, 2023