Christian Citizens in a Changing World

Summer 2016 No. 17

In this issue:

Faith & Citizenship Initiative Projects 2 Christian Citizens in a Changing World If a body politic is only as good as its citizens, Calvin College’s theological traditions, with an School Choice Policy then what does it mean to say that a citizen is emphasis on the importance of (rather than and Private Education 3 “good”? This is the key question behind the Faith aversion to) public life and the focus on distinctive and Citizenship Initiative at Calvin College, roles Christians play in the world, is a seedbed for Challenges for which is spearheaded by the Henry Institute with ideas about citizen formation and education. There the Next President 4 the support of the Provost’s Office, the Center for is a special need to reach young people in North Series Christian Worship, and the Byker Chair. America and abroad, and to engage the global The question of good citizenship is age-old, church in a robust discussion about how Christians Faithful Citizens 5 but never more urgent than today. In just the past ought to fulfill their role as citizens, with special Seminar three decades, new forces and movements have emphasis on the opportunities to learn and mobilize Faith and Citzenship challenged the role of the citizen. Individuals are across national borders. buffeted by globalization and rapid technological Further, within the contexts of considering Lab 6 change, shifting international alliances and appropriate roles as citizens, Christians are Symposium on hardening transnational conflicts, and intergroup Religion and 7 hostilities. But they also confront these new One might plausibly argue that the Public Life realities in their particular territories and cultures. citizen is in global crisis. In many postcolonial and post-communist Pastors and systems, citizens have unprecedented freedom, increasingly gravitating toward the concept of Public Life 7 yet they struggle with the privileges and responsi- “pluralism” as a way to address many of the bilities that accompany self-determined rule. complicated questions at the intersection of faith, Others experience ambivalence in countries citizenship, civil society and government. While Career Breakfasts 8 that are coping with unintended effects of hope- Reformed thinkers have been considering the

Pruis filled revolution, including the persistent threat of concept for decades, today’s contemporary

Rule of Law Lecture 8 authoritarianism and the contested boundaries of challenges test the boundaries and guidelines for freedom and order. Still others reside in the Christian civic engagement in the face of claims of Vincent Bacote Lecture 9 established democracies of Europe and North religious liberty, societal standards and the America, but feel an indifference and alienation requirements of the law. Free to Serve 9 that impedes participation and the formation of The Faith and Citizenship Initiative has been civic virtue. broadly structured to address views and issues The New Totalitarian These worrisome surrounding civic engagement from a variety of Temptation 9 dynamics help explain the perspectives. A number of projects have already renewed attention to the been undertaken, with more planned for the future. Semester in question of what makes a These endeavors include: Washington D.C. 10 good citizen, and a host of [more below and on page 2] answers have been gener- Senior Research Challenges for the Next President Fellows 12 ated that focus on the varied dimensions of The Initiative is hosting a series of panel Forthcoming citizenship. They all tend discussions about various prominent issues of the electoral season, with the Research 12 to share the conviction that the role of the citizen is intention of inviting Cal- Henry Institute vin students and the www.henry.calvin.edu/ under profound threat Director Kevin den Dulk 616.526.6870 across the globe, with broader community into email: [email protected] evidence of a decline in social trust and tolerance, a serious conversation 1810 E. Beltline SE alarmingly low levels of political knowledge, and about the role of faith in Grand Rapids, MI 49546 eroding civic engagement. One might plausibly democratic politics and an argue that the citizen is in global crisis. evaluation of important facebook.com/HenryInstitute The Faith and Citizenship Initiative enters this policy issues. Micah Watson is coordinating Twitter: @henry_institute vital conversation by encouraging Christians to provide clear and careful thinking about an area this project, with Kevin vimeo.com/channels/ of responsibility—citizenship—that none of us den Dulk and Ellen henryinstitute Hekman partnering. can escape—indeed, that we are called to fulfill. Christian Citizens in a Changing World (continued from page 1) Page 2 Returning Citizens and Faith and Citizenship Lab Faithful Citizenship in a Restorative Justice Kevin den Dulk and the leaders of other Pluralistic Society The project has two goals. The first is to create a Initiative ventures have formed the Lab to Kevin den Dulk and Jamie Smith, web-based, interactive map of all resources in Kent bring together the student research partnering with John Witvliet and County, Michigan that are available to citizens on assistants involved in the Faith and Kristen Verhulst of the Calvin their return from prison. Citizenship Initiative projects—as well as Institute of Christian Worship, are Second is to produce a additional students working on other leading this project, which included data source for studying endeavors related to religion and public events at the Calvin Symposium on inequities in resource life—in a setting that will develop a Worship in January 2016 as well as allocation for these research community under the mentorship an intensive week-long seminar in “returning citizens.” Both of Calvin faculty. Den Dulk notes that “the mid-June. The summer workshop these outcomes can help Lab has provided students opportunities included scholars and practitioners to develop an intentional not only to work on great individual who explored various challenges to Christian response to the projects, but also to get some exposure to their faith in public roles. The work challenges to citizenship numerous other ideas and social scientific of the seminar attendees will be faced by ex-prisoners. approaches. The goal is to give students a incorporated into a published book Kevin den Dulk is heading taste of real research, including the that discusses the challenges of up this project, with Jason benefits of collaboration.” pluralism to ministry. Van Horn partnering. [related article on page 6] [related article on page 5]

Visualizing Faith and Citizenship Additional projects planned Calvin students studying off campus are documenting their experience of faith and for the future public life through photography. Their photos will become a source of data for social scientific analysis as well as form the basis for a public exhibit at the 2017 Symposium  A research study that includes a full on Religion and Public Life. The project is being led by Roman Williams and Kevin den inventory of experiential learning Dulk, with Don DeGraaf and leaders of off campus programs partnering. opportunities at Calvin and a survey of recent alumni to assess development of citizenship through experiential Night Market in Ghana— ”At the night market, I see learning. God taking on flesh. My  A workshop in civic education which ‘aunties’ there have would gather a small group of reflected Him so clearly Christian school teachers with the through their selfless love intent of developing and subsequently and genuine care.” disseminating a range of curricular Krista Kolean materials for grade 7-12 civics Main lobby of the Holocaust education in Christian schools. Museum—”Sometimes when tragic  A conference and potential subsequent things happen, government isn’t Street in Washington D.C.—“We also need book to refresh a Reformed framework enough to give hope and wisdom. to address the negative Government shouldn’t be the only of pluralism as a way to understand the aspects of faith and place to go for answers.” role of citizens from cross-cultural Jordyn Stromback politics.” perspectives and in diverse societies. Elise Mathews  A study to examine the role of Christianity, and particularly of the church, in citizen mobilization outside Union Rescue Mission in Hollywood— North America and Europe, and an ”At the Mission they have a clothing exploration of means to support bank. It made me so aware of my own Christians in the global south and east social class and how vastly it differed who are already working in churches because I have an excess of these and other faith-based groups to foster material things.” good citizenship. Janelle Conti  Assisting Calvin College in the process of equipping students for cross Rally in Washington D.C.—”What does it cultural engagement by implementing mean to be a citizen in D.C.? Advocating and a course option to reflect on faith and working together to better the lives of those who have been pushed out of a place they have citizenship, and encouraging campus called home all of their lives.” discussion about the concept of Jill Schmidt “global citizenship” from a Reformed perspective. ~ Grant Funds Study of School Choice Policies Page 3 In 2014, the Henry Institute received a private school enrollment are explored in religious groups also rise with the presence grant from the Lynde and Harry Bradley the study: the social identity theory of state voucher programs and state tax Foundation to explore U.S. education asserts that the primary choice for private credits for private school tuition and scholar- policy intended to expand school choice, education is based on parental desire to ships, since financial costs are a significant and its impact on enrollment and viability transmit a religious social identity to factor in private school enrollment choices.” of private schools. Through data collection children (with school selection based on The researchers found that the primary and analysis across multiple states and their belief system). The secular goods effects of religion on the decision to enroll time periods, grant researchers Kevin den theory proposes that parents from children in a private school are largely Dulk, Mikael Pelz and Steve McMullen different religious and non-religious consistent with the secular goods theory, explored the effects of school choice traditions choose religious private with only limited evidence for the social policies on private school enrollment, the schools based on the provision of a identity model. Further, charter school impact of religion on policies, and whether superior education. enrollment does not appear to negatively expanded school choice impacts viability Gathering and managing a great deal of impact private school enrollment, as some of a robust educational market in the U.S. data was a challenge for the researchers. scholars have suggested, with these publicly “Private schools are vital to the structure They drew together numerous resources, funded schooling alternatives posing limited of education during a child’s formative including the National Center for risk to the market shares of different types of years, with about 10% of U.S. elementary Education Statistics (NCES) Common private schools. and secondary students enrolled in private Core of Data, NCES Private School For additional information, statistical data schools—and 80% of these have a University Survey, U.S. Census and more complete reports, contact Mikael religious identity,” noted Henry Institute Community Population Survey, Pelz ([email protected]). ~ Director and researcher Kevin den Dulk. Friedman Foundation website, Alliance “Private school enrollments save millions for School Choice website, quadrennial Additional reading related to in public funding every year, and student national surveys from the Pew Charitable learning outcomes at these schools are Trust and Bliss Institute (University of religion and school choice: generally quite high. Our exploration con- Akron), and information on public school Henry Institute Director Kevin R. den Dulk sidered whether religion is secondary to education quality and on economic on the unintended consequences of other explanations about demand for characteristics from state-level data. education policy in Capital Commentary private education, and impacts of state The resulting massive dataset includes from the Center for Public Justice school choice policies on enrollment.” information on every school in nearly http://www.cpjustice.org/public/ every year since 1990. Change in Private Enrollment by School Type capital_commentary/article/94 “To our knowledge, this is the first study to look at private school Henry Institute Senior Fellow Stephen V. 60.0% demand through the interactive Monsma on pluralism and freedom for

50.0% lens of religion and broadly faith-based organizations in Free to Serve: measured state policies,” accord- Protecting the Religious Freedom of 40.0% Evangelical ing to researcher Mikael Pelz. Faith-Based Organizations https://henry.calvin.edu/about-the-institute/ Mainline “We found that in spite of a 30.0% books/pluralism-and-freedom.html general decline in private school Catholic

Private School Market SchoolPrivate Market Share 20.0% enrollment, the overall population Henry Institute Senior Fellow Stephen V. Other Christian of many religious traditions are Monsma and Stanley Carlson-Thies on 10.0% related to increases in private Non-sectarian why pluralists should support religious school enrollment over time, freedom in Comment Magazine from 0.0% 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 indicating a broad and healthy Cardus For the grant purposes, “school choice” market for religiously affiliated private https://www.cardus.ca/comment/article/4504/ included state policies enabling parents to schools. Enrollment rates among the free-to-serve-why-pluralists-should-support- select educational options other than direct religious-freedom/ Rise in School Choice Policies assignment to public schools by Calvin College Political Science Professor the state, including public Mikael Pelz on State Policy Regimes and charter schools (authorized in Charter School Performance in Journal of 42 states and the District of School Choice: International Research Columbia), public tuition grants and Reform (vol. 9, issue 3, 2015) or vouchers (in 10 states and the http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/ District of Columbia), and tuition abs/10.1080/15582159.2015.1061382? tax credits (an option in 11 tokenDo- states). main=eprints&tokenAccess=PhSVeaRGR8B Two broad theories on the MSXdMqKvW&forwardService=showFullTe relationship between religion and xt&doi=10.1080% 2F15582159.2015.1061382&journalCode=w jsc20 Challenges for Next President Series Page 4 The Challenges for the Next President debated, identifying values and positions attorney) and Doug Koopman (Calvin Series, sponsored by the Henry Institute that they can reconcile with their own Political Science professor) considering and the Calvin Faith and Citizenship Christian faith.” numerous issues swirling around this Initiative, includes events through the Five events were scheduled during the divisive topic. The speakers talked about spring and fall of 2016 leading to the spring, with 4 additional panels to be the basic tenets of a just and workable November election. The programs are not offered in the upcoming fall months. immigration policy, as well as whether we intended to be debates, with a "right" and should consider “welcoming the stranger” "left" focus, but instead to examine and being created in the image of God as various points of view which encourage part of an appropriate consideration in participants to become more educated and immigration policies, whether immigration thoughtful voters. quotas should be restricted or expanded, Abbie Schutte and Ben Ridder worked and considerations of protecting national extensively on the series, preparing back- security in immigration considerations, ground papers on the panel topics in their along with other concerns and issues positions as Henry Institute Student swirling around immigration policy. Research Fellows. In introducing speakers at one of the panels, Abbie noted, Jason Ballor (left) and James Skillen “Christians can disagree in good faith about different problems and solutions, The Environment: The first panel in while recognizing the responsibility God February featured James Skillen from Calvin’s Environ- mental Studies “The message of the Gospel transcends all program and Jason political persuasions and ideologies. Our first Ballor of the Acton Institute discussing obligation is simply to begin to think critically Darren Walhof (left) and Bryan McGraw environmental issues. about the great social issues of the day and to The two considered Religious Freedom: In April, the third relate them to the message of the Gospel. Only why, as Christians, panel addressed religious liberty in an we should care about increasingly pluralistic society. With then can we begin to consider our response to environmental religious freedom issues continuing to these issues as Christians.” policy, as well as thread through the news, Bryan McGraw Paul B. Henry their opinions about (Wheaton College) and Darren Walhof which issues the next (Grand Valley State University) discussed gave us to care for his world… By president will most need to address. Each issues including faith-based organizations grounding ourselves in scripture, learning speaker interwove environmental policy hiring employees based on whether an about the issues and gracefully interacting with the concept of Christian steward- applicant holds certain beliefs, business with fellow believers and citizens, we can ship and the responsibility to carefully owners who hold strong religious beliefs play our part in answering God’s call.” consider the difficult problems that can denying service to someone whose life- Panel discussions on various “hot be associated with resource management, style is wrong in their eyes, whether topics” during this election year include pollution prevention, and mitigation of private religious schools and organizations speakers representing various viewpoints, climate change. who accept government grants and aid with each providing information and should be required to endorse government expertise about topics. They share their policies and additional religious liberty opinions about important issues which issues. must be addressed by the candidates and Criminal Justice Reform: In a political the next President-elect, and then address season increasingly marked by incivility questions from the audience to help and polarized partisanship, criminal justice clarify views and provide in-depth reform has been a remarkable exception, discussions. with Republicans and Democrats not only “While pundits and partisans are quick agreeing that something needs to be done, to claim every presidential election is but actually working together on legisla- historic, this one actually seems to be Doug Koopman (left) and Luis Avila tion to address the issue. The May panel uniquely significant,” noted Calvin considered criminal justice in the United College Political Science professor Micah Immigration: With both sides of the States and included Chris deGroot (Calvin Watson, who is coordinating the program spectrum willing to agree that there is College Religion Department), Pastor series. “Our Challenges for the Next brokenness in the current U.S. system of James Jones (Oakdale Park Church in President series is intended to support immigration, many conflicting opinions Grand Rapids), and Nathan Leamer students and the community as we wade still exist. The March event included (criminal justice policy analyst at R Street through the complex issues that are being Luis Avila (Varnum Law immigration Institute in Washington D.C.). The Exploring Conflicts of Pluralism and Civil Society Page 5 Christian worship ends with sending: the useful to say to these practitioners; how Citizenship Initiative and the Calvin people of God gather together precisely in Christian worship can best equip and form Institute of Christian Worship (through order to be sent into the earthly city. people for citizenship in a secular age; and grant funding by the Lilly Endowment). ~ Heavenly citizenship comes with a call to whether at a practical level, there may be be good neighbors, and faithful disciple- better or worse models of preaching, ship engenders good citizenship. The public prayer, and ministry outreach that Cultivating Faithful Citizens in a Plural- help address challenges of diversity and istic Society seminar brought scholars and conflict. ministry practitioners together from June While many Christians wonder about 12-17 at Calvin College to reflect on their place in a public square that seems to faithful citizenship in those areas of civil be more diverse and increasingly hostile society where the combination of pluralism toward faith-based perspectives, the and conflict is experienced most intensely. seminar participants considered how During the course of the week, the group faithful citizens of the city of God can considered questions that included inhabit the contested spaces of the whether Reformed, Catholic, or other earthly city. Seminar participants included (back, from left) Christian traditions provide satisfying The seminar was directed by Henry Matthew Kaemingk, Kevin den Dulk, Jonathan Chaplin, Samuel Ferguson, Eric Dirksen, Micah intellectual responses to current challenges Institute Director Kevin R. den Dulk and Watson (front, from left) Shiao Chong, Stephanie faced by chaplains, campus pastors, and Calvin College Philosophy Professor Summers, Jamie Smith, John Inazu, Tish Harrison similar leaders; whether various models of James K.A. Smith, with funding provided Warren, Kristen Deede Johnson (not pictured: “principled pluralism” have anything by both the Calvin College Faith and Jessica Driesenga, Robert Joustra)

Challenges for Next President Series (continued from page 4) some positions expressed by the various On October 13, the foreign policy candidates of both national parties, and challenges facing the next president will talked about the role of a U.S. President take the stage with Becca McBride and and the separation of powers premise in Joel Westra (Calvin International Rela- the United States. tions professors) and Todd Huizinga (Henry Institute Research Fellow and former U.S. State Department foreign ambassador) leading the conversation. Nathan Leamer (left), James Jones, Chris deGroot Plans are underway for an economic policy event and a post-election panelists considered many complicated roundtable to complete the series. ~ questions, including whether previous attempts to “get tough on crime” have Upcoming Events in the resulted in systemic problems with over- Kevin den Dulk (left), Becca McBride, Doug Challenges for the Next incarceration, how the pendulum might Koopman, Joel Westra, Micah Watson swing back without becoming “soft on President series: crime”, the U.S. record for the highest The Series will pick up again in Septem- incarceration rate in the world, the need for ber. Watson noted, “We plan to continue Challenges for the Next President: juvenile justice reform, and how the U.S. the discussion this Fall. Now that we know Faithful Fact Checking on Friday, political system can respect the good work who the two nominees are, we hope September 23 at 3:30 p.m. in the of many law enforcement officers while individuals at Calvin and members of the DeVos Communication Center Lobby

also actively addressing abuses and inequi- surrounding community will join us as we ties that seem to occur far too commonly attempt to puzzle through an unprecedent- Challenges for the Next President: Foreign Policy on Thursday, October and disproportionately impact minorities ed political season.” 13 at 12:00 p.m. in the Calvin Chapel and lower-income citizens. On September 23, two Calvin alumni

Trumping America: With a very who are actively working in the national Challenges for the Next President: unconventional political landscape and a media will discuss “Faithful Fact The Economy, TBA

dizzying array of Presidential candidates Checking.” John Muyskens (Washington and primaries playing out in the spring, a Post Pulitzer prize winner) and Ryan Challenges for the Next President: panel discussion featuring professors from Struyk (ABC News) will share their Election “Post Mortem” in November the Political Science/International Rela- perspectives on the “Fact Checker” (date and location TBA) tions Department at Calvin was phenomena. As active media participants added to the schedule in March. The in the election process, they will consider More information available at https:// speakers explained party, primary and responsible engagement in politics for henry.calvin.edu/civic-engagement/challenges- for-the-next-president election rules and procedures, considered Christian citizens. Exploring Public Life in the Faith and Citizenship Lab Page 6 One of the goals of the Henry Institute is to motivate and train current students in scholarly work related to religion and public life. The Faith and Citizenship Lab is designed to provide mentoring relationships for students as they work closely with Calvin College professors in this area, enhancing their research skills, awareness of important current topics, use of statistical and technological tools, and writing skills. The student research assistants during the first year of the Lab worked on a variety of religion and public life projects, funded by the Faith and Citizenship Initiative, a grant from the Kunnen Foundation, the Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity, and a Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation grant. Each student is primarily engaged in one area of research, but the entire group meets together regularly with the “… The goal is to give students a leaders and mentors to discuss their work, develop community, share project taste of real research, including the insights, developments and progress, and divide labor when necessary. benefits of collaboration.” According to Calvin Sociology professor Roman Williams, who heads the Kevin den Dulk Visualizing Faith and Citizenship Project, “Meeting together with the cohort of students involved in the various projects is reminiscent of graduate school: the best and brightest students catching up with faculty about their projects, asking one another thoughtful questions, and floating ideas. But it is not all business. Our times together are filled with laughter and genuine interest in one another—not to mention great food. “ During the 2015-2016 academic year, seven Calvin students were part of the Faith and Citizenship Lab, working on six different projects with six professors. The summer months of 2016 found four students working with three Political Science professors on research projects, and for the upcoming academic year, seven student research fellows will be actively assisting Calvin professors on topics ranging from the upcoming election, archived records of former U.S. Congressman Vern Ehlers, Latino church congregations, prisoner re-entry services in Kent County, and more. [more below and on page 7] Colleen Beunk was a Kara Bilkert, a Sociology and Social Sung Hun Choi, a graduating senior in junior during her 2015- Work major who will graduate in the 2015-16 with a major in International 16 academic year in the spring of 2017 is from Cleveland, Ohio. Relations and Philosophy (and minor in Faith and Citizenship Kara was a research assistant to Calvin Economics), is from South Korea. Sung Lab. She is a Political College Sociology professor Roman worked with Kevin den Dulk (Calvin Science major and Williams on the Visualizing Faith and Political Science professor/Director of the French minor from Citizenship project, which collected Henry Institute) doing ongoing research Burnaby, British images from students studying in a number for a major project. Religious Persecution Columbia in Canada. of off-campus programs. and Denominational Response explores Colleen worked with Henry Institute The photos convey a how North American churches respond to Director/Political Science professor Kevin momentary, unique religious liberty and persecution around den Dulk and Calvin Philosophy professor perspective about faith the world. When asked why he was drawn Jamie Smith on a project researching and public life for the to this area of research, Sung replied, “As Citizenship and Worship in Pluralistic student taking the photo. a missionary kid, I have been exposed to Societies, which resulted in a January Each individual then Christian mission and evangelism, and I session at the Institute for Worship confer- adds a short spoken have a passion for ence and a summer seminar. (see page 5) narrative to give insight into the picture and missions—particularly to According to Colleen, “This area deals their concept and thoughts. (see page 2) the Middle East, which is with issues that have become progressively Kara notes, “Images have always been known for severe more prominent in our society today, close to my heart—whether I’m behind the religious distinctions, as especially with the upcoming election. As camera or looking through a collection of well as ethnic and both a student of political science and a still/moving photographs. My love for cultural differences. As a Christian citizen, I am very interested in sociology and visual images has collided in Christian global citizen, I researching the impact that worship has on a beautiful way, allowing me to examine want to empathize personally with those citizenship. Relatively little data has been and interrogate images taken by others, and who are suffering in the field, and also collected on this topic, and it is so exciting then think and look deeper into habits, contribute to fostering peace on an to be a participant in this project!” thoughts, and beliefs held by humans.” international level.” Jean-Luc Garside, from San Jose, California, graduated in the spring with an Economics major and Political Science minor. He worked with Mikael Pelz (Calvin College Political Science professor) doing research as part of a Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation School Choice grant to explore the relationship between state policies providing education assistance (such as vouchers, private school tuition tax credits, and charter schools) and faith-based educational opportunities. “I have always been interested in this topic from a personal experience comparing my time at religious schools with the experience of others in public school or home schooling situations. Additionally, the question of how money fits into this topic, on a larger scale, and how economic policy in the U.S. becomes involved is intriguing to me,” reported Jean-Luc. Exploring Public Life in the Faith and Citizenship Lab (continued from page 6) Page 7 John Gordon graduated in May, 2016 Benjamin Ridder, from Lake Odessa, Abbie Schutte plans to graduate from with a Sociology major. He is originally Michigan, graduated in May with degrees in Calvin in December, 2016 with majors in from Battle Creek, Political Science and History. Ben was Political Science (with a Civic Leadership Michigan and worked active in a number of different projects, and Policy Studies concen- with Henry Institute including doing issues research and writing trate) and minors in Director and Political position papers for the Sociology and Urban Science professor Kevin Challenges for the Next Studies. Her research den Dulk exploring President series, working assignments were issues related to the on general research issues, primarily centered around Returning Citizens and and also exploring the Paul Civic Education, and Restorative Justice project. When asked Henry archives at the H. included the Challenges what interested him about this particular Henry Meeter Center at for the Next President Series, working with topic, John noted, “The incarceration and Calvin. He was also the Calvin Political Science professor Micah re-entry project consists of constructing “go-to/back-up” man when other Lab Watson and co-student researcher Ben an interactive map of resources available students needed assistance and resources for Ridder. Abbie says that her specific interest for re-entering citizens in Kent County. their research projects. Ben worked in civic education grew significantly “while I became interested in research pertaining extensively with Calvin Political Science in Professor den Dulk’s classes, as I became to incarceration and re-entry while professor Micah Watson and Henry Institute familiar with We the People competitions. conducting a qualitative research project Director Kevin den Dulk, as well as with co- I helped to judge some of the mock with a wonderful local non-profit called student researcher Abbie Schutte. Ben notes, constitutional knowledge competitions for the Criminal Justice Chaplaincy, in the “My research assignments covered a vast high schoolers during both my college spring of 2015, and was excited to array of topics, which reflected my role as a freshman and sophomore years and then continue work in this area as part of the miscellaneous researcher. I came to Calvin worked with the district competition in Faith and Citizenship Lab.” Calvin first to study, but when I added my political 2015. These activities introduced me to the student Julie Bylsma also worked on the science major, I was inevitably drawn to Michigan Center for Civic Education and project, with funding from Calvin’s political history, which made this project the work they are doing. I’m thrilled to be Geology Department. assignment a great experience for me.” continuing my involvement in this area.”

The Changing Face of Clergy Coming in the Spring of 2017 … Pastors and Public Life: The Changing Face of American Protestant Clergy is the most recently published book written by The Henry Institute Henry Institute Senior Research Fellow Corwin E. Smidt. Published by Oxford Symposium on University Press in the spring of 2016, the Religion and Public Life book asserts that the influence of America's clergy extends far beyond church doors. April 27-29, 2017 Houses of worship stand at the center of American civic life—one of the few spheres Prince Conference Center where relatively diverse individuals gather on the Calvin College campus regularly. And the moral authority granted to pastors means that they are uniquely The Henry Symposium on Religion and Public Life is held positioned to play a role in public debates. biennially and is open to anyone interested in the intersection Based on data gathered through national surveys of clergy of religion and public life. The three-day event provides across four mainline Protestant denominations (Disciples of opportunities for scholars and the broader community to learn Christ; Presbyterian Church, USA; Reformed Church in America; about and discuss key ideas, to foster personal and profession- and United Methodist Church) and three evangelical Protestant al networks, and to facilitate joint research efforts. In addition denominations (Assemblies of God; Christian Reformed Church; to an array of interesting panel discussions with social and Southern Baptist Convention), Pastors and Public Life scientists, theorists, and historians, the Symposium also examines the changing sociological, theological, and political includes lectures, roundtable conversations about recent characteristics of American Protestant clergy over the past public events, and forums to discuss current controversies twenty-plus years. Smidt focuses on the relationship between where faith meets the public sphere. clergy and politics—clergy positions on issues of American The annual Paul B. Henry Lecture and the Center for Public public policy, norms on what is appropriate for clergy to do Justice’s Kuyper Lecture will be held as part of the Symposium politically, as well as the clergy's political cue-giving, their activities on Thursday and Friday evenings. pronouncements on public policy, and political activism—and the impact these changes have on congregations and on American More information: https://henry.calvin.edu/programs/symposium/ society as a whole. ~ Career Breakfasts Provide Opportunities for Students Page 8

As part of the Henry Institute emphasis On March 23, Rebecca Samuel on encouraging citizen interaction and Shah led the next breakfast event. active involvement in public life, a new An Oxford-educated scholar who is program of Career Breakfasts was started originally from India, Shah has during the 2016 spring academic spent years working personally semester. Four events brought students with untouchable/Dalit women in and professional individuals from India. She provided great resources different career paths to share breakfast for students with interests in and advice. The speakers, each working in political science, economics, Asian politics, Leamer. As a policy analyst and outreach a field related to political science or international relations and development, manager for R Street Institute in international relations, talked about their gender and international religious freedom Washington D.C., Leamer is working on college choices, the routes taken to their issues. One student participant related, “I’m policy issues related to criminal justice. current job, and their perspectives about currently undecided about the exact Prior to his current job, he was employed their work and career field. direction I want to follow post-college, but by GenOpp, a Washington D.C.-based The first Career Breakfast on March 7 Ms. Shah’s experience as a researcher, an millennial advocacy organization where he featured businessman Ralph Luimes, academic and a “feet-on-the-ground” regularly interacted with congressional CEO of Hald-Nor Credit Union in worker gave me a lot to think about.” leaders and staff on issues of particular Ontario, Canada. Luimes shared his path Greg Van Woerkom is the District importance to young Americans. through federal, provincial and municipal Director for U.S. Congressman Bill Leamer noted, "I really enjoyed the government relations jobs in Canada. Huizenga, from Michigan’s 2nd District. opportunity to engage with current students Colleen Beunk, a current Calvin student Greg formerly served as Congressman Pete who are considering a vocation in politics from Canada, noted that the breakfast was Hoekstra’s campaign manager and was the and policy formation. The participants especially valuable for her since it can be Director of Public Policy for the U.S. showed a real interest in my experience and difficult to find individuals at Calvin who House of Representatives for eight years. seemed to really find the conversation are acquainted with the Canadian legal His extensive political experience and helpful as they discern what is next for system. “He connected me with a law connections in federal and state politics them. It's great being able to come back and student in Vancouver, and we are going to made him a great resource for the attendees share with students who are in the same meet this summer to talk about applying at the third Career Breakfast on April 20. spot you were ten years ago." ~ to law school in Canada,” noted Beunk. The final event on May 4 featured Nathan Portions of article contributed by Abbie Schutte Pruis Rule of Law Lecture: Empowering Poor Women in India The sixth annual Pruis Rule of Law economic and social benefits. In her Society in Boston’s grant for Religion and Lecture featured Rebecca Samuel Shah, lecture, Shah demonstrated that women Innovation in Human Affairs related to her speaking on “Christianity Among the who participate in these faith-based work on “Holy Avarice: Religion and the Marginalized: Empowering Poor Women networks are more likely to report cases of Re-enchantment of Modern Capitalism” in India.” The March 23 event focused on domestic abuse, are more able to project. She is also the female converts to Christianity in India involve community leaders in solving principal investigator who come from “untouchable” or "Dalit" family problems (including domestic for a research project backgrounds. violence), and are more able to save being funded by the In her research and interactions, Shah money for the needs of their families, Templeton Foundation has found that the new faith of these including their children's education. on the effects of tithing women often enhances their dignity, All of these civic and life skills serve and thrift on the agency, and hope for the future. She also to underscore how much full religious enterprising poor in asserted that participation in small, face-to freedom—which Shah defines as full Bangalore, India. -face Christian communities gives them equality before the law and a full, Born in India, Shah is access to networks of support and realized equality of dignity and an Oxford-educated accountability that yield significant agency—contribute to the day-to-day scholar who is known well-being and flourishing of poor for her research on the relationship between Dalit women in India today. religion and economics, and is an expert on Rebecca Shah is a research fellow the statistical assessment of development with both the Berkley Center for projects in the global South. Shah served as Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, a Research Analyst with the World Bank’s and with the Institute for Studies of Human Development Network from 1998 to Religion at Baylor University. She is 2002 and as Chief Research Analyst for the an associate scholar with the Berkley Ethnic Health Unit of the British National Center’s Religious Freedom Project, Health Service at the John Radcliffe and is a recipient of the Historical Hospital in Oxford, UK. ~ The Opportunities of Public Discipleship Page 9 In a Henry Institute-sponsored lecture on engagement, recognizing that our final March 8, Dr. Vincent Bacote considered kingdom is not this earthly one while also how the Christian call to discipleship endeavoring to reclaim the entire world includes a call to public life in “A New for Christ. Day? The Opportunities of Public Bacote is an Associate Professor of Discipleship in Perplexing Times.” Theology at Wheaton College, where he The lecture was a preview to Bacote’s also serves as the Director for the Center recently released book entitled The for Applied Christian Ethics. He received Political Disciple: A Theology of Public his doctorate in Theological and Religious Life (released by Zondervan Publishing in Studies from Drew University, a Masters early 2016) and explored whether in Philosophy from Drew University and Christians can live lives of faithfulness Masters in Divinity from Trinity while also being involved in the political Evangelical Divinity School, and his realm. Bacote asserts that Christians are, in undergraduate degree in Biology from fact, called to serve God by “remaining responsibility. According to Bacote, even The Citadel. ~ faithful to the task of public engagement.” in the face of unpredictable elections, Listen to the lecture: As an ardent follower of Abraham Kuyper, challenges of race, remorse about Christian https://henry.calvin.edu/news-events/ he argues that since every square inch of involvement in politics, and public images/160308%20Vincent%20Bacote% 20Lecture01.mp3 polarization, Christians are still meant to creation belongs to God, we are called to serve God daily in culture and public serve him in the public sphere of Protecting Religious Freedom Exploring the European Union In Free to Serve: Protecting the Religious Todd Huizinga’s The New Totalitarian Temptation: Global Freedom of Faith-Based Organizations, Governance and the Crisis of Democracy in Europe was released Henry Institute Senior Research Fellow in 2016 by Encounter Books. The Henry Institute Senior Research Stephen V. Monsma, and Stanley W. Carlson- Fellow explores issues surrounding the European Union: What Thies consider issues of religious liberty in caused the eurozone debacle and the chaos in Greece? Why has the United States. Asking what Hobby Lobby, Europe’s migrant crisis spun out of control over the heads of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Wheaton national governments? Why did Great Britain call a vote to leave College, World Vision, the Little Sisters of the European Union? Why are established political parties the Poor, and the University of Notre Dame declining across the continent while protest parties rise? Accord- have in common, the authors begin by noting ing to Huizinga, it is all part of the whirlwind being reaped by EU that all the groups are faith-based organizations that have faced elites resulting from their efforts to create a unified Europe pressure to act in ways contrary to their religious beliefs. without maintaining meaningful accountability to average voters. In this book, the two policy experts show how faith-based Huizinga believes the EU can yet be reformed, with commitment groups—those active in the educational, healthcare, to democratic sovereignty renewed on both sides of the Atlantic, international aid and development, and social service fields— but the book first seeks to help the reader understand how the can defend their ability to follow their religiously based beliefs European Union got to this point and the fundamental base of the without having to jettison the very faith and faith-based European project. The author identifies the essence of the EU in a practices that led them to provide services to those in need. utopian vision of a supranationally governed world, an aspiration They persuasively present a pluralist vision for religious to achieve universal peace through a global legal order. freedom for faith-based organizations of all religious traditions. With their unlimited ambitions, Huizinga says The book includes case studies that document the challenges the global governancers seek to transform not faith-based organizations face as they seek to freely follow the just the world’s political order, but the social practices of their religious traditions, and analyzes these threats order as well—discarding basic truths about as originating in a common, yet erroneous, set of assumptions human nature and socially important traditions and attitudes prevalent in American society. The book also in favor of a human rights policy that is defined includes responses by diverse voices—an Orthodox Jew, a instead by radical autonomy and unfettered Roman Catholic, two evangelicals, two Islamic leaders, and an individual choice. unbeliever who is a religious-freedom advocate—underscoring Because the global governancers aim to the importance of religious freedom for all faith-based transfer core powers of all nations to suprana- organizations. tional organizations, the EU is on a collision course with the Published in 2015 by the Baker Publishing Group, the book United States. Huizinga believes some of the same utopian ideas was recognized by the editors of Christianity Today as one of are taking root in the U.S. too, even as the European project the books most likely to shape evangelical life, thought and flames into rancor and turmoil. He concludes that America and culture in their annual book awards. ~ Europe are still cultural cousins and stand or fall together. ~ Calvin Students in Washington D.C. for Spring Semester Page 10 In January of 2016, eighteen Calvin Talor Musil students gathered at a renovated old Talor served as the Advocacy and Community Engagement mansion in Washington D.C. to start their Intern at a non-profit organization, So Others May Eat. She testified semester in the city. The students spent the at a formal House Committee Hearing regarding homelessness as next 13 weeks working at internships, part of her work during the visiting important sites in the city, hearing spring semester, and also Supreme Court arguments, considering the assisted several of the interplay of religion and policy for various homeless clients of SOME faith-based organizations they visited, and as they offered Committee living in a community house together. testimony on Capitol Hill. For 16 years, Calvin has sent a group of students to Washington as part of the Off-Campus Programs’ Paul Henry Jordyn Stromback Semester in Washington D.C. Students For the first time in 2016, two Speech Pathology majors participated in the Semester, spend the previous fall semester in a both at internships in school settings. Jordyn worked for an professional development class on alternative school for homeless children called Bright Beginnings. campus, formulating resumes and applying “I was able to observe numerous different therapists working with for positions which they select based on children in the classroom, learning a lot about how to engage their chosen career path and field of study children in what they are already doing and using that to integrate at Calvin. Each spring, a Calvin professor what the therapist wanted them to work on… These children are accompanies the group to the city, teach- coming in from very stressful, not kid friendly environments, but it ing a course on faith and public life and an is still easy to see their innocence and joy in being at BBI…I learned additional class related to politics, policy, valuable lessons about workplace etiquette and relationships.” religious experience and the interplay between the three. The experiences of the students vary Jisoo Kim Anulika Mefor widely, and each individual finds value in Jisoo’s most Anuli reported “going to the Buddhist different aspects of the semester-long memorable Temple was extremely insightful. It was experience. Yet when the program ends in event during the the first time I was physically (and I guess early spring, there is nearly always Semester was in some ways spiritually/emotionally) unanimous agreement that the program has visiting the confronted with a religion that is really been very valuable to launch them on to Capitol for an completely different the next step of their career path. Some evening with from mine. It made highlights of this year’s semester for the Congressman me question my students are featured in the following Bill Huizenga. Christian faith and its sections: “Meeting him was very eye-opening claims. The whole because of the wealth of knowledge he has experience sharpened about history, politics, the life of a my beliefs and helped Matthias Struble politician and as a representative for the Matthias worked as an intern on Capitol state of Michigan in the House. It was also Hill for Congressman Tim Walberg (from my first time to interact with an American Michigan’s 7th District). He was featured politician for such a long period of time.” in a question and answer session with me form a House Speaker Paul Ryan on March 23, stronger 2016. defense for what I believe and base my life and faith on.”

Mackenzie Demien Mackenzie, a Calvin International Relations major, interned at the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training and reported, “Never was anything that I was assigned ‘grunt work.’ The research was fascinating and informative. I learned more from history reading To see the entire clip: interviews prepared by ambassadors than I did in my high school, http://www.c-span.org/video/?407141-1/ and the story format means I’ll remember them far longer than some house-speaker-paul-ryan-remarks-state- of my other classes. There were many opportunities to go beyond american-politics our responsibilities and ADST set up opportunities for us to meet with other government departments that dealt with foreign affairs.” Calvin Students in Washington D.C. (continued from page 10) Page 11

Mea Zuiderveen Brittany 2016 Semester Participants Mea noted that one of the highlights of Smith her semester was According Samuel Camp Signature Theatre visiting Mount to Brittany, Vernon. “My the whole Mackenzie Demien favorite event was semester Association for Diplomatic Studies and taking a water was a Training cruise to Mount “highpoint.” Jisoo Kim Vernon and seeing “This was World Vision the estate of my favorite semester at Calvin. I will not Seung Yong Lee only re- Washington Office on Latin America

George member the Krista Malbouef Washington. many U.S. Conference on Catholic Bishops Even though the different Elise Mathews weather started places that Leadership Conference on Civil and out cold and we went to, Human Rights raining, it was but more worth it to be able to walk on the same importantly, Anulika Mefor grounds that Washington and his slaves the great friendships that I made and the Carnegie Endowment for International did. One place that I saw which touched group home we lived in together in the Peace me the most was the burial grounds of the city. I think being in a home with so many Talor Musil slaves… As I stood there looking at that people is something that everyone should So Others May Eat site, I felt so attached to what I was experience. You learn so much about experiencing!” yourself!” Dan Nichols Congressman Bill Posey

Semester Director Mikael Pelz noted, “students found their Deborah Ocquaye Nortey semester in D.C. both eye opening and tremendously valuable to International Justice Mission their professional personal development. The site visits and cultural events throughout the semester spurred both constructive discus- Kjh-Lajhni Sanford Vital Voices Global Partnership sions and meaningful personal reflections among the students. And the special topics course on political cynicism provided students Jill Schmidt with a broad theoretical perspective to understand this year’s Sasha Bruce Youth Work

unconventional presidential race. Brittany Smith “It was personally fulfilling for me to interact with this diverse Collaborative Solutions for Communities group of students, who were eager to learn and thrive in this new professional environment.” Claire Sterr The Lab School

Scholarships Awarded for D.C. Semester Jordyn Stromback Bright Beginnings

Two of the students who participated in every man his proper due.” Matthias Struble the Semester in Washington D.C. in the In her application, Amy Congressman Tim Walberg spring of 2016 received scholarships responded to the quote: Amy Van Zanen funded by the Henry Institute. Amy Van “Paul Henry...urges Women’s Foreign Policy Group Zanen and Anulika Mefor each were given Christians to involve them- $2000 to help defray the expenses of the selves in the political Mea Zuiderveen off campus semester. process, not as individuals Amy Van Zanen Thrive D.C. The students submitted applications for acting on self-interest, but rather as agents the funding, including writing an essay of renewal, thereby turning politics from responding to a quote from late U.S. an ‘organized struggle for ascendancy’ to Representative and namesake of the Henry ‘building the good life together’…Because Institute, Paul B. Henry all political decisions are inherently moral who noted, “Politics is the decisions, shaping the direction of those organized struggle for the moral decisions should be of paramount ascendancy of one’s own importance to anyone—and to Christians self-interest over that of especially—who is concerned with what another. Justice, on the life should look like for themselves and all Anulika Mefor other hand, is the giving to of society.” ~ Senior Institute Research Fellows Actively Involved in Scholarship Page 12 Over the past year, four senior research Stephen V. Monsma Todd Huizinga fellows have been affiliated with the  Publication of Free to  Publication of Henry Institute. Corwin Smidt, Steve Serve: Protecting the The New Monsma, Mary Ma and Todd Huizinga Religious Freedom of Totalitarian have each been actively involved in Faith-Based Organi- Temptation: scholarship, teaching, professional organ- zations, Baker Global Govern- izations and publishing their writing. Publishing Group, ance and the 2015. The book was Crisis of Corwin E. Smidt included on Christianity Today Democracy in  Publication of Europe, Encounter Books, 2016. magazine’s short list of books “most Pastors and Public A book review in National Review likely to shape evangelical life, Life: The Changing noted “This is the best book ever Face of American thought and culture in 2016.” written about the European Union.” Protestant Clergy,  Book events and discussions at the Oxford University Henry Institute and the Acton Press, 2016 Institute in Grand Rapids, Michi-  Receipt of a Louisville Institute grant gan; at the Hudson Institute and to continue periodic collection of Heritage Foundation in Washington clergy surveys from ten Protestant D.C., and at the Parliament Press denominations to assess sociological, Center in the Netherlands theological, and political levels of  Articles published in The European change and continuity, augmenting Conservative and in the Dutch earlier surveys of clergy conducted magazine Zicht in 1989, 2001 and 2009  Co-organizer of Living the Faith in  President of the Society for the All Spheres of Life—a seminar Scientific Study of Religion tailored to Chinese Christians with  “Non-Religion in Comparative pastors, academics and business Perspective”—Paper presented at people from China at the Acton Conference for the International Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan Study of Religion in Eastern and in January 2016 Central Europe in Zadar, Croatia in  Spoke at conferences in the United April 2016 States, Mexico, Germany, the  Delivered series of ten lectures on Netherlands and Italy religion and public life for graduate  “Christian Faith and Politics in the course at Renmin University in Postmodern Era,” in Christian Faith Beijing, China in July 2016 and Liberal Democracy, published  Keynote Address at Conference on in Germany, 2016 Social Transition and Religious Transformation in Beijing, China in July 2016 Forthcoming Institute Publications and Research Recently Released … Henry Institute Director Kevin R. den Additional Reading on Water: Calvin College Political Science and Dulk, Senior Research Fellow Stephen International Relations professor Becca Kevin R. den Dulk explores the Flint Monsma, and J. water crisis as an issue of public justice McBride’s book on The Globalization of Christopher Soper will Adoption (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2016) in the February 2016 Washington Post release their most https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of- was recently released. The book explores recent book in late 2016. faith/wp/2016/02/09/wake-up-christians-the- the flow of children across borders The Challenge of flint-water-crisis-is-an-issue-of-public-justice/ through intercountry Pluralism: Church and adoption and the In her writing, Doing Justice to our State in Six Democracies Closest Neighbors, Talia Strauss interconnected will be published by networks of states, considers water poverty in the United Rowman and Littlefield. States in Shared Justice from the Center individuals and Den Dulk will be on adoption agencies. for Public Justice sabbatical during the 2016 summer and http://www.sharedjustice.org/ The Henry Institute fall semester, when he will continue his doing_justice_to_our_closest_neighbors helped support exploration of issues surrounding the Christiana Peppard presents a robust research costs for the politics of water. Read more on the Henry theological argument for clean water in volume, as well as Institute website Projects page. providing assistance her book, Just Water: Theology, Ethics to prepare the book for publication. https://henry.calvin.edu/projects/ and the Global Water Crisis the-politics-of-water Orbis Books, 2014