Bushnell University is pleased to host a special two-day event featuring guests Dr. Richard Beck, author and psychologist from Abilene Christian University, Matt Holmes, pastor at Turner Christian Church, and Bushnell faculty panelists.
This event will explore biblical perspectives on how we individually and corporately participate as followers of Jesus in a season marked by political polarization and anxiety-provoking elections. The conference will feature insightful discussions to ignite our faith that God is with us in such a time as this. The presentations are aimed at gaining wisdom for our current moment and enlarging our capacity for service to our community.
As noted by Dr. Reed Mueller, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, “This event is an expression of the value Bushnell University seeks offer not only to our campus but to our community, as well, as an expression of Christian service in our world. Through Faithful Engagement and all Beloved Community events, we steward a context where difficult and sometimes contentious issues can be considered with wisdom and faithfulness.”
During Richard Beck’s Spring 2023 visit to Bushnell he explored the critical distinction between issue polarization—disagreements over specific issues—and affective polarization, which involves the emotional animosity towards those we see as “others.” His insights into the hero complex, the influence of fan culture and video games, and the allure of conspiracy theories highlighted the deeper psychological and social dynamics in our political environment.
Beck urged us to draw on the moral resources embedded in our faith—mercy, forgiveness, grace, gratitude, humility, reconciliation, love, and even love for our enemies—as tools to counteract polarization. He challenged us to identify more closely with our faith than political identities, suggesting that this shift could help us become steady, non-anxious presences in our communities rather than being swayed by the transient nature of electoral politics.
Pastor Matt Holmes has researched how the Bible portrays the role and nature of human governments in relation to God’s sovereignty and purposes. He advocates a balanced respect for and critique of the government, ultimate hope and loyalty in Jesus Christ, the true king of kings.
Holmes will address the challenges and opportunities of leading a church in a polarized society, where political issues often divide congregations and communities. He will explain why our current system tends to push us toward either being partisan or being silent, and why neither option is satisfactory for faithful Christian witness. He will then present a third way of engaging politics, based on the New Testament’s vision of the church as a distinct and alternative political community, shaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ. He will also share some practical and historical examples of how this approach can foster unity, maturity, and mission in the church.
Event Schedule:
Tuesday, September 24
- 11:00 AM – Chapel Session with Dr. Richard Beck. Dr. Beck will explore the themes of anxiety and polarization, drawing on his extensive research and personal experiences. This session will set the stage for the day’s discussions by addressing the roots of our political anxieties and offering a faith-based perspective on navigating them.
- 12:00 PM—Lunch and Panel Discussion After the chapel session, join us for lunch and a panel discussion.
- Panel Questions:
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- How do we regulate our anxiety over political turmoil in a time of polarization?
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- How do we become ministers of reconciliation in our communities?
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- How do we speak to the “other,” whether it be someone with ideologically different views or a family member with different political commitments?
- Panelists:
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- Dr. Doyle Srader, Professor of Speech and Communication, Bushnell University
- Dr. Steven Andes, Professor of History, Bushnell University
- Dr. Richard Beck: Professor of Psychology and Senior Fellow of the Landon Saunders Center for Joy and Human Flourishing at Abilene Christian University
- Ali Savage, Director of Annual Giving, Bushnell University Advancement
Wednesday, September 25
- 10:00 AM—Lecture by Matt Holmes. Matt Holmes, preaching minister at the Turner Christian Church and doctoral student at Emmanuel Christian Seminary, will discuss how governments fit into a Christian Worldview. Holmes offers practical advice on how Christians can approach governments with the confidence that Jesus Christ will reign over all and bring full and final justice to the world.
- 12:00 PM—Lunch and Panel Discussion This session will address practical ways churches can engage with political issues from a perspective of spiritual formation and community involvement.
- Panel Questions:
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- What are churches doing in our region to address political issues?
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- What can churches be involved in to foster community reconciliation?
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- What are faithful ways to address political topics from the pulpit?
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- How do we connect spiritual formation to the realm of politics beyond partisanship?
- Speakers and Topics:
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- Matt Holmes, Pastor, Turner Christian Church
- Dr. Agam Iheanyi-Igwe, Associate Professor of Bible and World Christianity, Associate Dean School of Bible, Theology and Ministry
- Ali Savage, Director of Annual Giving, Bushnell University Advancement
Bushnell University Panelists
Becoming Beloved Community Series
This event is part of the Becoming Beloved Community series of events presented by the Board of Trustees and Office of the President at Bushnell University. This series explores biblical perspectives on racial reconciliation and important issues facing our community.
Bushnell is pursuing meaningful conversations about how the Gospel nurtures present and future hopes of, in the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, “the creation of the Beloved Community.” It is in this spirit, and with this hope, that we continue Bushnell’s commitment to calling and Christ-centered reconciliation by hosting events like Faithful Engagement on campus.
This event promises to be an enriching experience for anyone seeking to navigate the complexities of political engagement with faith, compassion, and integrity. Join us at Bushnell University on September 24-25 to learn how to engage faithfully during this election season.
For more information and to register for the event, please visit https://www.bushnell.edu/event/faithful-engagement/.