Exploring What Gospel-Centered Political Engagement Looks Like

As we approach the 2024 presidential election our country is in an extremely polarized climate. According to a Pew Research Center study in 2019, “85% of Americans say that politics in the U.S. has become less respectful, fact-based, and substantive.” Conflicting political ideologies have left many citizens (and Christians) forced to decide which extreme party to align with. For others, this polarization has caused them to disengage fully from the political process. Another Pew Research Center study conducted in 2023 found that “nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics, while 55% feel angry.”

As Christians, our ultimate allegiance is not to this world and our eternal citizenship is not found in any earthly country. But even in this place of being a sojourn, God calls us to care about the political process. Jeremiah 29:7 commands the people of God to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city” where they are placed. The Bible makes it clear that politics will be part of the Christian life (Rom. 13:2, 1 Tim. 2:1-2), but this can leave us with big questions about what it means to actively engage today.

That’s why we’re gathering Christians from different denominations, professions, ethnicities, and political ideologies to have a gospel-driven conversation on what it means to posture ourselves in ways where we can engage the political process with faithfulness and also love one another in the midst of differences. With special guests Michael Wear, Kaitlyn Schiess, Justin Giboney, Micah Fries, and more, we’ll spend the day discussing how our political engagement is forming us spiritually.

Join us on August 23, 2024, for a day of discussion on the posture of our political engagement as a Christian, that we may approach this election year with unity as the body of Christ, even among differences and disagreements, and with confidence because we know the end of the Gospel story – that God will restore all things to himself.

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Keynote Speakers

Michael Wear

Micheal Wear is founder, president, and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution based in the nation’s capital with the mission to contend for the credibility of Christian resources in public life, for the public good. He has served as a trusted resource and advisor for a range of civic leaders on matters of faith and public life for the last fifteen years, including as a White House and presidential campaign staffer. Wear previously led Public Square Strategies, a consulting firm he founded that helps religious organizations, political organizations, businesses and others effectively navigate the rapidly changing American religious and political landscape. He is the author of “The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life,” which argues that the kind of people we are has much to do with the kind of politics and public life we will have.

Kaitlyn Schiess

Kaitlyn Schiess is an author, speaker, and perpetual theology student. She is the author of The Ballot and the Bible (Brazos, 2023) and The Liturgy of Politics (IVP, 2020), and her writing has appeared in Christianity Today, The New York Times, Christ and Pop Culture, RELEVANT, and Sojourner. She is a co-host and Senior Editor of the Holy Post podcast. She has a ThM in systematic theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and is currently a doctoral student in theology at Duke Divinity School.

Justin Giboney

Justin Giboney is an ordained minister, attorney, political strategist in Atlanta, GA. As the co-founder and president of the AND Campaign, a Christian civic organization, Justin focuses on the intersection between faith and politics. In 2012 and 2016 Georgia’s 5th congressional district elected him as a delegate for the Democratic National Convention. He’s the co-author of Compassion (&) Conviction – The AND Campaign’s Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement and his work has been featured in publications such as the New York Times and Christianity Today.

Micah Fries

Micah Fries (pronounced Freeze) is the Director of Engagement at Glocal.net and the Director of Programs at the Multi-Faith Neighbor’s Network. He has served as a Senior Pastor in Tennessee & Missouri, at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, TN, as a Christian minister in Burkina Faso, West Africa and as a frequent speaker in churches and conferences. He holds a Master of Divinity from Midwestern Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from The Baptist College of Florida. Micah is currently a Ph.D. student at Southeastern Seminary. Micah is married to Tracy, and father to Sarah Grace, Kessed Noel and Haddon.

Micah is the co-editor and an author of Islam & North America: Loving our Muslim Neighbors. He has also authored Leveling the Church and a commentary volume on Haggai and Zephaniah in the Christ-Centered Commentary Series. Micah is an adjunct professor in the Clamp Divinity School at Anderson University.

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Featured Local Speakers

Lakweshia Ewing

Lakweshia is the CEO and Lead Principle of Unlearn Everything and Live. With over 25 years of experience, Ewing has been ministering, advising, mentoring and coaching individuals and organizations through various personal, professional and institutional development experiences. With a passion for living every day to the fullest, she is committed to supporting individuals and organizations around the world as they strive toward their goals. She has impacted thousands of lives with her universal message of “Unlearn Everything and Live”. Lakweshia works to dissect professional and personal life concepts, shift mindsets and create movements that will impact the world forever. LIVE YOUR LEGACY.

Todd Womack

Todd Womack is the president and CEO of Bridge Public Affairs and former chief of staff and staff director for U.S. Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Womack’s focus as Bridge president and CEO is helping clients navigate the nexus of policy, politics and strategy in successfully achieving their state, national and international business objectives.

Candy Johnson

Johnson’s professional experience includes nearly two decades of leadership in nonprofit, government, education and various civic roles. Her most recent role started in 2021, when Johnson was named the first female President and CEO for the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga (ULGC).

Before joining the Urban League, she served as a senior advisor to Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, where she acted as a member of the mayor’s senior leadership team. Johnson has also worked as an independent consultant focusing on nonprofit organizations, strategic planning, diversity and inclusion, resource development, and education equity advocacy. Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in public management from Austin Peay State University and a master’s degree in public administration from Murray State University.

Marco Pérez

Marco Pérez is the Founder of Prospera Strategies, a small business and nonprofit consulting firm helping clients create sustainable prosperity. Marco ran and was elected for the Hamilton County Schools Board in 2020. He is the husband of Leah for 27 years, and father of three daughters. He attends Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church.