Jim Wallis to speak on 'prophetic politics' at Goshen College March 31

 

GOSHEN, Ind. -- The ways in which religion and politics intertwine has long been controversial and a subject for deep debate. With the presidential elections this year, the subject has never been hotter.

Jim Wallis, founder 30 years ago of Sojourners -- an organization of Christians for justice and peace -- and current editor-in-chief of "Sojourners" magazine covering faith, politics and culture, will speak on "Prophetic Politics in an Election Year" at Goshen College on March 31 at 10 a.m. in the Church-Chapel and at 7:30 p.m. in Rieth Recital Hall, Music Center. Both lectures are free and open to the public.

 

Wallis is a Christian speaker, author, activist and international commentator on ethics and public life. He speaks at more than 200 events a year. Among the books he has authored are "Faith Works: Lessons from the Life of an Activist Preacher" in 2000, "The Soul of Politics: A Practical and Prophetic Vision for Change" in 1994 and "Call to Conversion" in 1981. For more information about Sojourners, go to their Web site at www.sojo.net.

In 1995, Wallis was instrumental in forming Call to Renewal, a national federation of churches, denominations and faith-based organizations from across the theological and political spectrum working to overcome poverty. In the last several years, Wallis has led more than 250 town meetings, bringing together pastors, civic and business leaders and elected officials in the cause of social justice and moral politics. Under Wallis' leadership, Call to Renewal has hosted annual Roundtables on Poverty for national religious leaders and successful National Summits. Endorsed initially by a broad cross-section of Christian leaders, Call to Renewal's Covenant and Campaign to Overcome Poverty now has tens of thousands of supporters around the United States. For more information about Call to Renewal, go to their Web site at www.calltorenewal.org.

These lectures are sponsored by Goshen College Plowshares, the department of peace, justice and conflict studies and the Fourth Freedom Forum.

Goshen College, established in 1894, is a four-year residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values -- passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership -- prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, Kaplan's "Most Interesting Colleges" guide and U.S.News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.

Editors: For more information, contact Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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