Our History

Scholarship in public and for the public

Westar Institute has its roots in 1985 when Robert W. Funk invited 30 New Testament scholars to join him in anew, collaborative inquiry about Jesus as a figure of history. The project was called the Jesus Seminar. The focus was on identifying evidence about what, in all probability, Jesus actually said and did without privileging any traditional religious claims about him. The invitation included a commitment to making the results of the inquiry available to the general public as a contribution to religious literacy.

The Westar Institute was founded in 1986 to support the Jesus Seminar and to engage in the mission of public religious literacy. Since its founding, Westar has conducted a series of innovative seminars on the historical Jesus (1985–1998), the apostle Paul (1993–2010), the Acts of the Apostles (1996–1998), and the origins of the Christian tradition(2006–2020). Westar has also supported theological project like the Seminar on God and the Human Future (2014–2023) and a seminar on the image of Christ as a liberating metaphor (the Christ Seminar, 2022–).

As an organization, Westar continually refines its mission and operational structure to meet the needs of a changing academic and public landscape. With its emphasis on scholarship conducted in public, Westar seeks to support new research initiatives, strengthen partnerships, and broaden its outreach through digital platforms and community‑based events. In every instance of transition, Westar maintains its core commitment to fostering innovative research and ensuring that scholarship remains accessible beyond traditional academic settings.

Robert Funk believed that scholars of religion have an ethical responsibility to report theirfindings to the public, openly and clearly. And he argued that there is a largelay constituency eager to engage scholars in public conversations. The continued vibrancy of Westar has proven him right.Over the years, Westar has had a profound effect on the public awareness ofscholarship in religion and has helped inaugurate a new kind of academic environment that is both collaborative and cumulative.

Today, the Westar Institute continues to serve as a hub for interdisciplinary research, public education, and community engagement. Its history reflects a sustained dedication to open inquiry, collaborative scholarship, and the belief that an informed public conversation enriches both academic work and civic life.

Westar is not affiliated with any religious institution or denomination and does not advocate fora particular theological point of view.