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).