How to Be the Church in a Divided Political Era
Ministers and church leaders feel deeply the immense pressures that politics and public life bring into congregations. This is not easy when politics can begin to use elements of Christianity to espouse particular views! Nor is it easy when a particular political view starts to sound like faith itself. How do church leaders find the necessary biblical and theological foundation to talk about the Christian faith in light of politics? Our guest of the next edition of Intersection brings a lifetime of reflection and practice on what it means to live and speak as a Christian in public spaces. Join us as we explore what resources might be useful to church leaders as they attend to a way of living that is oriented toward God's kingdom over earthly kingdoms.
Intersection: Where Theology and Practice Meet is a series of focused, online conversations hosted by Randy Harris and Carson Reed. Drawing wisdom from special guests and inspiration from timely topics, we create space for collegial learning, reflection, and ministerial action.
Special Guest: Dr. Shaun Casey
Shaun Casey was until recently the T. J. Dermot Dunphy Senior Fellow of Religion, Violence, and Peacebuilding at Harvard Divinity School from 2021-2022. He served as Director of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and was Professor of the Practice of Religion and Global Affairs in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University from 2017-2021. Before that, Shaun was U.S. Special Representative for Religion and Global Affairs and Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Religion and Global Affairs from 2013-2017. He also served as Professor of Christian ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC from 2000-2013, worked on the 2008 Obama campaign as part of the Religious Outreach Team, and held positions at the Center for American Progress and the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Shaun is the author of The Making of a Catholic President: Kennedy vs. Nixon 1960 (2009). His latest book is Chasing the Devil at Foggy Bottom: The Future of Religion in American Diplomacy (2023).
Shaun holds a B.A. from Abilene Christian University, MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, and an M.Div. and Th.D. in religion and society from Harvard Divinity School. He preached for congregations in Brookline, MA, Newport, RI, and Brandon, MS.
Questions?
Contact Renee Paul with any questions about this webinar.