Faithful Engagement: Navigating anxiety in a polarized election – September 24th & 25th: A two day experience with guest Dr. Richard Beck and faculty panelists (part of the Becoming Beloved Community series).

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.

Event Schedule:

Tuesday, September 24

• 11:00 AM – Chapel Session with Dr. Richard Beck.
  • Location: Morse Center 
  • 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 (*food provided for registered guests, Bushnell students and staff are invited to bring their own lunch. Programming will begin at 12:30 pm)
  • Location: Bucher Room 
  • Panel Questions:

• • • How do we regulate our anxiety over political turmoil in a time of polarization?

• • • How do we become ministers of reconciliation in our communities?

• • • How do we speak to the “other,” whether it be someone with ideologically different views or a family member with different political commitments?

Richard Beck (PhD) is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Abilene Christian University and is the Senior Fellow of the Landon Saunders Center for Joy and Human Flourishing. Richard’s most recent, soon-to-be released book (now available for preorder at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop) is The Shape of Joy: The Transformative Power of Moving Beyond Yourself:

Richard is married to Jana, who is a High School theater teacher, and they have two sons, Brenden and Aidan. The Becks attend the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene, TX, where Richard serves as an elder and adult faith Bible class teacher. Richard also serves and leads at Freedom Fellowship, a mission church plant of Highland that reaches out to the poor and homeless of the city.

Lastly, Richard serves as a prison chaplain at the maximum-security French Robertson unit and has written and spoken extensively about his experiences working among the incarcerated.

Wednesday, September 25

• 10:00 AM—Lecture by Matt Holmes.
  • Location: Bucher Room 
  • 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 (*food provided for registered guests, Bushnell students and staff are invited to bring their own lunch. Programming will begin at 12:30 pm)
  • Location: Bucher Room 
  • This session will address practical ways churches can engage with political issues from a perspective of spiritual formation and community involvement.
  • Panel Questions:

• • • What are churches doing in our region to address political issues?

• • • What can churches be involved in to foster community reconciliation?

• • • What are faithful ways to address political topics from the pulpit?

• • • How do we connect spiritual formation to the realm of politics beyond partisanship?

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, which explore biblical perspectives on racial reconciliation and important issues facing our community.