Podcasts about Leith Anderson

[00:00:00] John Sommerville: I was in the elevator at General Mills one day with the president of our division. There were about eight of us in the elevator and the elevator stopped between two floors. And I was the one closest to the buttons. And I had no idea what to do. The elevator stuck. The president of the division reached around me, opened up the little box with the telephone in it, and called on the telephone to get the building supervisor to come and get us out. And what I learned from that is when you have a problem, do something, just get started.  And I was standing there frozen what in the world do we do? And he took action. ++++++++++++++++++++ [00:00:38] Tommy Thomas: Our guest today is John Somerville. I first met John when JobfitMatters conducted the search that brought Alec Hill to the presidency of InterVarsity. John was a board member of InterVarsity at the time. He's had an amazing career. After getting his MBA from Indiana University, John took a marketing position for General Mills and worked there for 11 years. If you've ever noticed the heart on a box of Cheerios, you've seen some of John's marketing skills at work. He conceived and implemented the major heart-healthy campaign for Cheerios, which landed them the American Heart Association Certification. Following his time at General Mills, he was in senior leadership at Wooddale Church. Then he planted the City Church in Minneapolis. In 2021, he assumed the role of Vice President of Finance and Operations at The University of Northwestern - St. Paul. Let's pick up on my conversation with John Somerville. [00:01:44] Tommy Thomas:  Before we dive too deep into your professional career, I'd like to go back to your childhood, and what are some, maybe two or three, remembrances that you have that have been fairly formative in your life? [00:02:01] John Sommerville:  Even as an elementary school kid, I was always organizing things. And I remember that I was fascinated with the Olympics in 1968, at 10 years old. I was completely blown away by the whole experience of watching it on television. So, I decided that our block needed an Olympics. And so I made up events. We had a 40-yard dash. It was the first three houses on the block. Our house was the second house. So, I organized that. We had a high jump pit that we put leaves in. And we did this Olympics, and there were probably about a dozen kids from a couple of blocks that came over, and we made medals and all that sort of thing. And so I had this desire to organize things, to get things moving. And then one of the things I later looked back on when I became a pastor and started a church was an experience I had in high school. The church I went to was a really good church but they didn't have a youth group that was vital and really engaging. And as a sophomore in high school, I wrote a proposal to the church board. I went to their board meeting, and I presented this proposal, and I told them that we should hire someone, should buy a pop machine. I put it in the fellowship hall of the church. We should get a pool table. That's by the way, where the whole thing went off the rails. But I wrote this proposal on how to make the group a better group and the board didn't go for it. I have always had a tendency to look at a problem or an opportunity and try to make something happen. That was part of who I was, even as a kid. I ended up becoming involved in Youth for Christ had a thing called Campus Life, and that was for my junior and senior year in high school, I got involved in. I had a tendency to look at a problem or an opportunity and try to make something happen. That was part of who I was, even as a kid. So, I look back as I think about what was I like. I was reflective, I read, but I also wanted things to happen. [00:03:54] Tommy Thomas: What was the greatest gift that you think your parents gave you? [00:03:55] John Sommerville: Curiosity. My parents are still living there in their mid-90s. My father was the earliest intellectual influence in my life. He's a reader and a thinker and read lots of books to us, and encouraged us to do the same. My mother was a nurse and very interested in nature. She used to have a bird book that sat in the kitchen. She'd look at birds out of the backyard and identify them. And so, I think that kind of curiosity openness to the world, and learning was one of the greatest gifts that my parents gave me. And their faith. Maybe that goes without saying, but watching them have quiet times, time with God, the way that their faith was really integrated into all of their lives. Those were big influences on me as a young one growing up. [00:04:41] Tommy Thomas: So, did you have a job in high school? In high school, I worked at a grocery store and on a farm.  As I look back, I think that's when I realized that I needed a work ethic. [00:04:43] John Sommerville: I worked for a year at a grocery store which was interesting. As I look back, I think that's when I realized that you needed a work ethic. I worked with a lot of folks who were around my age who were mostly lazy. I worked on a farm for a summer. Years later, the farmer that I worked for went to the church that I grew up in. And I'd gone to college, and I think I was probably a sophomore or junior in college, and he called me over and he introduced me to all of his friends. And he said I'm the reason this kid went to college. In other words, working on the farm gave me a hunger for learning and maybe doing something different. I don't know if that's a direct, but it's somewhat true. So those were a couple of experiences that I had working during high school. [00:05:28] Tommy Thomas:  When you went to college, how did you decide on your major? [00:05:33] John Sommerville:  My father was a practical person. And he said, I want you to get something that you can get a job with. But I was also interested in history and philosophy and other sorts of things like that. So, I found a major, it was Personnel Administration, what you now call HR or People Management. And it allowed me to take classes in the business school, so I could take accounting and finance and other things like that. And also take liberal arts classes. I took classical Greek, for example, as a language. At the time, I was wrestling with the direction that my life might take, and I had two ideas. One was to work in business. The other was to work in the church, and I had to try to discern that, and it wasn't just what I took in the classroom, but some of the experiences I had outside that helped guide me in that direction, to figure that out, and ironically, I ended up doing both as part of my career. [00:06:27] Tommy Thomas:  You graduated from college, you went on to get your MBA at Indiana. What do you remember about the first time you managed people? [00:06:34] John Sommerville: I think I'd been at General Mills about two years when I was promoted to a manager position. And what I remember is being an individual contributor. You're only responsible for yourself, just getting your own work done. But all of a sudden, you've got to direct the energies and work of others. And I remember pretty quickly understanding that there were some things I needed to do and one was to give everybody clear direction. I always appreciated people who supervised me, giving me a clear idea of what they were expecting. As a manager, I realized that if I gave vague directions, I got vague output.  I realized that I needed to give clear direction. And I realized pretty quickly that if I gave vague directions, I got vague output. And so, I learned that I needed to be able to give clear direction. And then I think the idea of both affirmation and correction is woven together. So, see people when they're doing something that they're doing right. My parents used to say that they tried to catch us as children doing the right thing and then reinforce that. I think that principle applies as well as quickly correcting. And so those are some principles that I think early on that I learned and it's hard to be consistent in those. Sometimes you just assume people are going to do the right thing and know what to do.  But those are things that I kept coming back to in those early years. [00:07:44] Tommy Thomas: What was the highlight at General Mills when you think back on that chapter of your life? [00:07:48] John Sommerville:  I had a really great experience in the organization. I'll give you a couple. The very first thing I was assigned to, I was brand new, I was put on a a project team to develop a boxed salad.  We ended up calling it Suddenly Salad. It was a boxed pasta salad mix. At the time what they were looking at was trends in food where pasta salads were starting to appear in restaurants and other places, and they wanted to take advantage of that, and I worked in the division that made Hamburger Helper and some of the Betty Crocker potatoes, and so they had the technologies available, so in six months this project team developed that product and I was brand new on it, so I had a lower level role. But it was so much fun to work and see this project on a fast track become a reality. I spent quite a bit of time in new products and in new markets when I worked in Europe. That new product development thing was really significant. The other was the opportunity I had when I was the Marketing Manager of Cheerios. My wife and I lived in Switzerland for three years where I worked for a joint venture for General Mills and Nestle. When I came back, I was assigned to be the Marketing Manager of Cheerios, and the brand was declining in volume. And what we found serendipitously is that oats have the effect of reducing cholesterol. And we did a clinical study that led to the ability to make a claim around the heart healthiness and the cholesterol-reducing properties of oats. And introduced that, the heart-shaped bowl on the box came out at that time. Very satisfying experience. I left right as that was being implemented, but it had led to a real resurgence of that brand. So had great satisfaction about being involved with others in that process. [00:09:37] Tommy Thomas: What do you think of all the things you learned in the private sector, what did you take to the nonprofit sector that you think has helped you the most? There is an underappreciation in some ministry organizations and churches and others for the disciplines of financial management, and operational leadership of getting systems and structures to work for you. [00:09:49] John Sommerville: I think there is an underappreciation in some ministry organizations and churches and others for the disciplines of financial management, operational leadership, of getting systems and structures to work for you. For example, in starting a church, one of the things that I was committed to, even when we were relatively small, was the idea of building systems and structures that made our work more efficient, more effective, and allowed us to do more of what we really needed to do.  Working with people doing services and that sort of thing. ++++++++++++++++++++++ [00:10:23] Tommy Thomas: Let's stay in your private sector world for another minute or two, were there mentors there that kind of took you under the belt and what did that look like? [00:10:31] John Sommerville: I've had a number of mentors in my life and one of the most important was a guy named Leith Anderson who was the Senior Pastor at Wooddale at the time, who later became the President of the National Association of Evangelicals. And Leith, early on when I was brand new in the church, showed an interest in me and gave me some opportunities for leadership, being on boards and task forces, and things like that. And at one point, he asked me if we could get together. We went to a local restaurant one evening after a meeting for pie, and he asked me, what are you going to do with the rest of your life? And at the time, my vision was I'd work until I was 55. Then I'll quit and go work for a ministry organization. And his question for me was, why not now? Now, it would be five years before I left General Mills. But his point was, you don't have to wait all that time maybe it would be a sooner deal. And it did turn out to be that. But I think with mentors, I think we need multiple mentors in our lives. I've heard one say that if you have just one mentor, you become a clone. If you have two, you're confused. If you have 10, you become wise, and your mentors don't all have to be living. I think one of my mentors is George Marshall, the general who became the architect of the Marshall Plan and the great diplomat. I've read a number of books about him and those are examples of people that I admire, and their lives, in one sense or another, have shaped me. [00:11:58] Tommy Thomas: What's the most ambitious project you've ever taken, and how did it come out? [00:12:03] John Sommerville: I think starting a church. There's something about entrepreneurs, church planters, and others. They are naive and they often don't understand what they're taking on. And I think that is good. Because sometimes it's more daunting maybe than you realize. And I think deciding that we could start a church in an established neighborhood that was not particularly hospitable to an Orthodox expression of Christian faith was probably the most daunting thing. And looking back on it, I wonder how in the world we got the courage to do it. But that was probably the most, and I believe today, even today, and probably will be for the rest of my life, the most significant, important thing that I have given my life to. And I believe brought great satisfaction.  But it was not easy. [00:13:00] Tommy Thomas: I'd like for you to respond to this quote “A group is a bunch of people in an elevator. A team is a bunch of people in the elevator, but the elevator is broken”. [00:13:11] John Sommerville: I'll tell you a story and it's an elevator story. I was in the elevator at General Mills one day with the president of our division. There were about eight of us in the elevator and the elevator stopped between two floors. And I was the one closest to the buttons. And I had no idea what to do. The elevator stuck. And the president of the division reached around me and opened up the little box with the telephone in it and called on the telephone to get the building supervisor to come and get us out. And what I learned from that is when you have a problem, do something, just get started. And I was standing there frozen. What in the world do we do? And he took action. And I think what he did is he led us, now obviously he was the one doing something. But it could have been somebody else, but he just did something. And I think teams need to just start moving. I don't know if that's exactly what you're looking for, but that was certainly very memorable. [00:14:10] Tommy Thomas: I want to ask you some generational difference questions and there's no right or wrong answer. I talked to somebody the other day and he said, I don't think there's very much difference in the generations and he had a good rationale. And then I've talked to others. I talked to Tom Lynn at InterVarsity and Tom had some thoughts on leading different generations. You've obviously, in your four environments, led different generations and now you're working with different generations at the University of Northwestern St. Paul. Maybe when you think about at least broad categories of Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Z, any observations on the differences of them working as a team together? [00:14:51] John Sommerville: I would fall in between your two guests. I think that we sometimes confuse generational differences for life stages. In other words, 20s have a certain set of concerns, and we sometimes forget the cycle we went through as we grow up. There are some things that I sometimes hear when people are reading an article about generational differences, and I think you're just thinking about life stages. There are some things that I sometimes hear when people are reading an article about generational differences, and I think you're just thinking about life stages, but I also think there are things that are different from one generation to another. My parents were raised in the Great Depression, and the way that they function and still function in their mid-90s now is around the idea of scarcity. They're very concerned, very frugal, and they have really a scarcity mindset. Boomers tend to have more of an abundance mindset because that's what they grew up with. And then as you move forward, different generations with things playing out different ways. And I'm watching this now with college students and those that are in their early 20s, just the influence of the cell phone and technology. There are distinct differences and I think we need to adapt what we do to be able to communicate well with each new generation. And sometimes that's being sensitive and learning ways that can contextualize what it is we're trying to communicate or work through with them. I think those are really important. [00:16:09] Tommy Thomas: What about creativity and innovation between the generations? [00:16:12] John Sommerville: I've thought so much about that. I will say that I think that creativity and innovation is a mindset that has to, in an organization, has to be nurtured and fostered. Some people tend to be more creative than others. They think in more novel ways and other people just need to be given the freedom to actually do that. And that's one of the things that leaders are not always effective at because they tend to believe they know the right answers and they tend to not let people think long enough and hard enough about a new idea to be able to see where it might go. And I think the older leaders, the more impatient they get, and at the same time, the more nurturing they need to get of ideas that maybe they might initially disagree with but might have fruit. [00:17:00] Tommy Thomas: I want to go to resilience. Most of us hope we learn something about resilience during the pandemic. I want to give you a couple of definitions. It's too strong of a word but maybe not. So the University of Massachusetts Global says resilience is not a one-time action. It's a sustained effort to adapt, survive, and thrive in times of stress and uncertainty. Forbes -  Resilience provides the ability to recover quickly from change, hardship, or misfortune. It's the product of a broad perspective. Your thoughts? [00:17:36] John Sommerville: There's a Greek word, hupomene sometimes it's translated steadfast endurance or endurance in the New Testament, I mentioned earlier, that I took Classical Greek as an undergrad. That word really stuck with me, and the reason why is that it's translated sometimes in a very flat way in English, and yet the Greek word has this idea of persistence, of resilience, of tenacity, of sustained effort toward something that is, it's an undaunted kind of approach to life. And I think that this is undervalued by many because I think the assumption is that if it's something that I'm gifted to do or it's something that needs to be done, it will be easy. And I found that most things worth doing are like pushing water or pushing a rock uphill. It's just most things that are worth doing are hard. Woody Allen once said that 85% of success is just showing up. And I think that part of what we have to do as leaders and as people of character is just keep showing up. And so t resilience is a very important character quality. ++++++++++++++++ Most of us are afraid to fail because we don't like to be embarrassed. [00:18:50] Tommy Thomas:  It's been said that we learn most from our failures. And if that's the truth, or if that's the case, why are most of us so afraid to fail? [00:18:57] John Sommerville: I think because we don't like to be embarrassed. We don't like to invest in something that we feel, the equivalent of the oil industry person drilling a dry hole. We don't like effort that seems to not go anywhere. And so, I think sometimes we need to remember that risking things is the only way we're actually going to achieve things. And sometimes you have to fail several times before things actually go right, and I think sometimes we're just way too afraid of finding ourselves in a place where we might feel embarrassed, or we wasted time. I think the other thing is that we sometimes think that the consequences of failure are permanent, and they aren't. We're often in a place in life where we at least know one thing that doesn't work. So, then we can try something else and figure out what does work. [00:19:53] Tommy Thomas: Let's go to authenticity. There's a great power in authenticity.  Arthur Wilde said, be yourself, everyone else is already taken. Saint Catherine of Siena said, be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire. What lessons have you learned about authenticity over these four chapters of your life? We need to be transparent with people enough that they can see what actually is going on rather than trying to put on some persona. [00:20:12] John Sommerville:  I would say a couple of things. First of all, we need to be transparent with people enough that they can see what actually is going on rather than trying to put on some persona. And so, authenticity means in part that we're in a place where we're letting people see who we are and not trying to fake something, the transparency is very important. Now, the one thing I'll say about authenticity is authenticity can also be an excuse. In other words, authenticity can be an excuse for immaturity. We need to understand that being authentic can mean also that we might be in sin. One of the things that we need to do as Christians is to be made into the likeness of Christ, which means there may be character qualities or things that might be authentically us. But also, maybe sin, so part of it is to let people see enough inside of us, but at the same time recognize that authenticity whether it's anger or greed or impatience may be things that God needs to work on and process of sanctification needs to be the exercised in those areas. [00:21:24] Tommy Thomas: You've observed a lot of leaders. Over the years, what do you think is the most dangerous behavior that tends to derail a leader's career? [00:21:33] John Sommerville: I believe character. I think we're in a generation where we are so impressed with competence, so impressed with people who have outsized skills in one way or another that we have forgotten that those skills, if not tempered by character, if not shaped by character, not channeled through character, can end up being toxic or worse.And I really think that character is really the foundation. It's not all of it, because we need competence, but competence alone is not enough. [00:22:07] Tommy Thomas: Maybe a little lighter question.   We've been diving deep into some serious thoughts here. If you were a judge on a nonprofit version of the shark tank and people were coming to you for early-stage investments in their nonprofits, what questions do you need answers to before you open your purse? [00:22:25] John Sommerville:  I think the first question is, what need do you believe exists that your ministry or organization will serve? And how is what you're doing, how will that serve that need? Because if there's a true need I think many things follow from that. And if you have something unique that will really help meet that need, then the organization needs to exist. So, I think those are big questions. And by the way, the other thing that I often ask is, who else is doing this? What I find is that there are people who are pioneers who do something for the very first time, and we write books about those people, but often what we need is that the people who are innovators are just being novel without actually being effective and so it's important to understand the need, be able to meet the need, and then also give examples of how that works. You may have a unique spin on it, but the core of it needs to be channeled into an area that others have been successful in the past. [00:23:31] Tommy Thomas: If you were creating a dashboard to get at the non-profit's organizational health, what is your dashboard going to measure? [00:23:38] John Sommerville: I think that the effectiveness of whatever you're doing, whatever effort you're doing, is it effective? If you're taking care of orphans, or if you're feeding the hungry, or if you're ministering to ex-offenders who are trying to reintegrate into society, is what you're doing effective? Can you show that? Can you measure that? The other is economic viability. Many people are very motivated. They're compassionate people, but there does need to be some economic foundations and economic viability for what you're doing. And that can be achieved in a lot of different ways, but that needs to be there because otherwise an under-resourced organization will not be effective long term. [00:24:20] Tommy Thomas:  Give me some of those illustrations of economic viability. [00:24:24] John Sommerville: One thing that organizations operate in a lot of different ways, sometimes there's a revenue stream that helps to fund the ministry. And that could be, I'm familiar with an organization here that works with high school students through the schools and they have figured out how to work with school districts to provide programming and content that is useful and effective. It's a Christian organization, but it works with public schools and does a very effective job. They figured out a way to balance philanthropic revenue and revenue from many of their programs. And they've done it very effectively for 30 years. Other organizations are purely philanthropic. And they need to develop a core base of people that are interested in the ministry and constantly replenish that. But showing effectiveness, and developing a sense of passion, not only for the people who work for the organization but those who are connected as donors. And then there are ministries that really do function as businesses, per se, a publishing organization or something like that may generate almost all its revenue from some kind of sales or revenue, but still, it needs to be mission-driven.  There are a lot of different ways to think about that. +++++++++++++++++++++ Tommy Thomas Thank you for joining us today. If you are a first-time listener, I hope you will subscribe and become a regular. You can find links to all the episodes on our website. www.JobfitMatters.com/podcast. If there are topics you'd like for me to explore my email address is tthomas@jobfitmatters.com.   Word of mouth has been identified as the most valuable form of marketing. Surveys tell us that consumers believe recommendations from friends and family over all other forms of advertising. If you've heard something today that's worth passing on, please share it with others. You're already helping me make something special for the next generation of nonprofit leaders. I'll be back next week with a new episode. Until then, stay the course on our journey to help make the nonprofit sector more effective and sustainable.   Links & Resources JobfitMatters Website Next Gen Nonprofit Leadership with Tommy Thomas   Connect tthomas@jobfitmatters.com Follow Tommy on LinkedIn

Introduction Do you ever wonder if your teaching is effective? Do you sometimes sense your preaching might not have the impact you had hoped? If so, you are like 99% of the speakers I know. The other 1% are deluded.  “At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.” (Acts 14:1 NIV11) Point of clarification I vividly remember my wife telling me after church one day, “I don't like it when you shout”. At the time I argued the point claiming that I was not shouting, simply excited. On reflection (and listening to the tape - yes, it was that long ago), I had to agree with her. What in my ears was ‘enthusiasm' was in her ears shouting. I was confusing volume with enthusiasm. The two are not the same. There is a place for shouting — “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you, I whom you have delivered.” (Psalm 71:23 NIV11) — but it is rarely in preaching. Public speaking is a conversation more than a presentation, and shouting is a conversation killer. However, talking too quietly can be just as problematic. In his blog, Leith Anderson writes, ‘Volume ranges come with diminishing returns. If a voice is too soft we can't make out the words. If a voice is too loud we just hear the noise. Too soft is irritating; too loud is painful.' (https://www.nae.org/so-loud-i-cant-hear-you/) When we are discussing enthusiasm we are not addressing volume, but something much deeper. You might like this article about the great preacher Charles Spurgeon — https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/blog-entries/10-public-speaking-tips-from-charles-spurgeon/.  4 Tips Pray. In the days leading up to the delivery of the lesson pray that God would help you to connect the Scripture with your heart, mind and life. When you see the beneficial effects of living what you are about to teach, your enthusiasm will be natural. It will flow from the conviction of knowing God's word is ‘alive and effective' (Hebrews 4.12). This first tip is about how to become enthusiastic in a healthy way. Prepare. Examine your lesson in advance to identify the key points you believe God wants you to get across. Those will be the ones that deserve your greatest enthusiasm. Do not put your enthusiasm into minor issues, interesting or exciting as they may be. If you are enthusiastic about everything, then nothing is important. Reserve your greatest enthusiasm for God's greatest points. You might want to highlight those points in red or mark them out in some way. Spontaneity. As good as it is to prepare, one must allow for the movement of the Spirit during a talk. Pray in advance to discern when God's Spirit is moving to prompt you to greater enthusiasm about something that you may not have prepared in advance.  Exaggerate. When speaking to others it is important to be yourself, but you need to be more of yourself — especially when speaking to a larger group. Exagerrating gestures, bodily movements, facial expressions and voice inflexions are not fake if done in service of your listeners. The enthusiasm we are describing is not designed to draw attention to yourself, but to your message. As Richard Venables puts it in his book, Worship Leading Essentials, ‘The best sermon is that in which the theme absorbs the preacher and hearers, and leaves no one either time or desire to think about the speaker'. This second tip is about how to express enthusiasm in a healthy way. Praying will help with this point. Conclusion Jesus was enthusiastic. Sometimes he was loud. It's hard to imagine how he spoke to 5,000 people without significant volume (Matthew 14). Sometimes his enthusiasm was physical. Turning over the tables in the temple courts and speaking to the crowd while the adrenaline was still in his system must have been quite the sight (Matthew 21:12-13)! But whether he was speaking or acting with volume or physicality, he was all-in. I think that's the main point. Do your listeners sense what you are speaking about matters to you?  Next week: 9th Commandment: It doesn't matter how well you taught it, it matters how well they learned it. Consider joining AIM UK&Ireland to develop your understanding of Scripture: https://aimukandireland.com/. Our next module is Homiletics (the preparation and delivery of lessons). Please add your comments on this week's topic. We learn best when we learn in community.  Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, or practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here's the email: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org).  If you'd like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, "How God grows His people", sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](http://www.malcolmcox.org/).  Please pass the link on, subscribe, and leave a review.  "Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs." (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)  Keep calm and carry on teaching. God bless, Malcolm

https://lifewayresearch.com/2020/07/09/3-disastrous-assumptions-to-make-about-volunteers-during-and-after-covid-19/ ·         The Volunteer Church by Leith Anderson and Jill Fox·         The Volunteer Effect by Jason Young·         Volunteer Management During a Pandemic by Byran Yeager·         https://vibrantvolunteers.org 

This episode features a conversation with Leith Anderson, pastor emeritus of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, MN, and president emeritus of the National Association of Evangelicals.  We discuss strategies for effective leadership in times of division. Resources mentioned in this episode:Wooddale Church, Eden Prairie MNNational Association of EvangelicalsWorld VisionHosanna Church, Lakeville MN, series on religion and politicsRichard Mouw, Uncommon Decency: Christian Civility in an Uncivil WorldLeith Anderson and Galen Cary, Faith in the Voting Booth: Practical Wisdom for Voting Well Thank you for listening!  Please send feedback and suggestions for future episodes to whole-and-holy@bethel.edu. 

​​This week we bring you three messages at the beginning of the week by financial expert Larry Burkett. Then we’ll hear from pastor and ministry leader Leith Anderson on Thursday and Friday. Both were speakers at MBI Founder’s Week conferences in the early 2000s.

​​This week we bring you three messages at the beginning of the week by financial expert Larry Burkett. Then we’ll hear from pastor and ministry leader Leith Anderson on Thursday and Friday. Both were speakers at MBI Founder’s Week conferences in the early 2000s.

​​This week we bring you three messages at the beginning of the week by financial expert Larry Burkett. Then we’ll hear from pastor and ministry leader Leith Anderson on Thursday and Friday. Both were speakers at MBI Founder’s Week conferences in the early 2000s.

​​This week we bring you three messages at the beginning of the week by financial expert Larry Burkett. Then we’ll hear from pastor and ministry leader Leith Anderson on Thursday and Friday. Both were speakers at MBI Founder’s Week conferences in the early 2000s.

​This week we bring you three messages at the beginning of the week by financial expert Larry Burkett. Then we’ll hear from pastor and ministry leader Leith Anderson on Thursday and Friday. Both were speakers at MBI Founder’s Week conferences in the early 2000s.

Weekly Challenge So in response to this message, and as noted within the message. Here are some applications to preparing for Easter:   Lent in 2020 begins on February 26. Depending on what tradition you follow it is either 40 days or 46 days. The main reason and point of Lent is to prepare your heart for the Celebration of Easter, and to give more attention to the life, death and resurrection of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. There are so many ways to participate in the practice of Lent. Actively doing things helps to prepare your heart. Here are some ideas: Fasting from food, from a certain activity, or media activity in order to give more time to focus on prayer and reflection. Maybe fasting one day a week, or one meal a week or any variation. If fasting is new to you, don’t go all out, start small. Devotional & Bible Reading Guides to focus on the Easter Season Devotional guide from Pastor Curt Erb (at the Welcome Centre) or see attachment above. Find online many devotional guides that can be emailed daily to you. The Daily Bread Devotional is available at the Welcome Centre Reading one or two of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John): read one chapter per day. Reading some good books that talk about Jesus and his life, death and resurrection. Below is a small list of some good books. If you have read them before, maybe read them again. Max Lucado “No Wonder they call Him Savior” “He Chose the Nails” “Six Hours One Friday” “And the Angels Were Silent: The Final week of Jesus” Philip Yancey “The Jesus I Never Knew” Leith Anderson “Jesus: An Intimate Portrait” Watching some good movies on the Life of Christ The Jesus Film (1979) The Passion (with caution due to the graphic nature of movie. I do not recommend children nor Junior High students to watch at all.) Son of God (2014) Risen (2016) (some caution due to some violence)   Be sure to check out our Church Library, there are many great books and movies, and especially for children. If you are not sure about any of the suggestions above, just give any of our pastors a call and we can help you. The point is being intentional about your relationship with Jesus, using this season. Here’s to Happy Easter!

Message from Leith Anderson on February 23, 2020

Walter Kim is a pastor, scholar and thought leader, and he became president of the National Association of Evangelicals in January 2020. Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson, NAE president emeritus, and Walter Kim offers unique insight into Walter's background and his hopes for the future of American Christianity. In this podcast, you'll hear Walter describe: […] The post Walter Kim | A Leader for the Next Decade appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Ali talks with Leith Anderson, the president of the National Association of Evangelicals, an association of 40 evangelical denominations, as well as organizations, schools, churches and individuals. During his tenure, Leith has led efforts to engage American evangelicals around shared values related to poverty relief, prison reform, immigration, and more. Plus, how thousands of evangelical Christians are urging their state governors to accept refugees and welcome them into their communities.

Hosted by Leith Anderson, this podcast will help you understand: How the EFCA’s history with premillennialism influenced the decision; What resources and conversations were needed for pastors and churches to consider the change; Why some EFCA pastors didn’t want the Statement of Faith to change; and What recommendations EFCA leaders would offer to other groups ... The post Changing a Denomination’s Theological Statement appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

At its 2019 Conference, the Evangelical Free Church of America revised its Statement of Faith to change the word “premillennial.” EFCA leaders Kevin Kompelien and Greg Strand share about the process, the significance of the change, and what other organizations and denominations can learn about changing theological statements. Hosted by Leith Anderson, this podcast will […] The post Changing a Denomination's Theological Statement appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

An Interview with Leith Anderson, retiring president of the National Association of Evangelicals in the US. Anderson shares his analysis and hopes for a movement challenged on many fronts, but standing strong.

Commissioner David Hudson joins Today’s Conversation with Leith Anderson to explain: What most people don’t understand about The Salvation Army; How an organization that was started in the 1800s has adapted and remained relevant today; What the Army has learned about poverty through its enhanced case management program; and How the organization functions as a ... The post Behind the Scenes of The Salvation Army appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Many people think they know The Salvation Army. They've seen the red kettles and been to the thrift stores. But those are just a few pieces that speak to the reach of this international, social services and church-based organization. Commissioner David Hudson joins Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson to explain: What most people don't understand […] The post Behind the Scenes of The Salvation Army appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

John Stumbo was an avid runner and outdoorsman before a mysterious illness left him bedridden for 77 days and unable to swallow for over a year. John was forced to resign as a pastor, but he now serves as president of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. In Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson, John shares about […] The post Lessons Learned Through a Medical Crisis appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Today's Bible translation ministry isn't the same as it was a generation ago. New technology and an increased emphasis on partnerships has accelerated the pace. Yet there are still about 4,000 languages that don't have a Bible translation — half of which have not been started. Samuel Chiang joins Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson to […] The post The Future of Bible Translation appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Samuel Chiang joins Today’s Conversation with Leith Anderson to discuss the current state of Bible translation and what its future looks like. In this podcast, you’ll hear: How Bible translation is preserving endangered languages; What the most critical needs are for today’s translation ministry; What role orality plays in Bible translation work; and Whether there ... The post The Future of Bible Translation appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Almost every day we hear a news story about opioid addiction in America. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that over 2 million people in the United States are currently addicted to prescription opioids. In Today's Conversation, Leith Anderson talks with Dr. Lindsay Stokes about the opioid crisis and how churches and Christians […] The post Understanding the Opioid Crisis appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Welcome back to another incredible conversation here on Clarity, a podcast all about preaching and communicating for church leaders. Today, we have a titan in his field, someone we've been looking forward to talking to for a long time, Leith Anderson. Leith is the President of the National Association of Evangelicals, while he and Craig met while Craig was just beginning as faculty at Denver Seminary. Listen in today as they discuss how culture has changed, what it looks like to engage that culture, and the pieces that we (as preachers) need to hold on fast to!

Welcome back to another incredible conversation here on Clarity, a podcast all about preaching and communicating for church leaders. Today, we have a titan in his field, someone we've been looking forward to talking to for a long time, Leith Anderson. Leith is the President of the National Association of Evangelicals, while he and Craig met while Craig was just beginning as faculty at Denver Seminary. Listen in today as they discuss how culture has changed, what it looks like to engage that culture, and the pieces that we (as preachers) need to hold on fast to!

Randy Nabors pastored a cross-cultural church for 35 years and now works with the Presbyterian Church in America denomination to help plant churches that reflect the diversity within the new church's community. He's done a lot and seen a lot. In Today's Conversation, he joins Leith Anderson to talk about pastoring cross-cultural churches. In this podcast, […] The post Everything You Need to Know About Pastoring Cross-Cultural Churches appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

There are more Muslims now in America than Jews. Yet, many Americans are often confused, afraid and lack a basic understanding of Muslims and the Islamic faith. John Azumah joins Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson to help us understand the history of Islam and how it impacts our relationships with Muslims today. In this podcast, […] The post The History of Islam appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Bryant Wright has been the senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church outside of Atlanta since 1981 when the church had a membership of about 20 families. Now it has seven Sunday morning worship services with an average worship attendance of 4,000. In Today's Conversation, he joins Leith Anderson to talk about pastoring a large […] The post Everything You Need to Know About Pastoring Large Churches appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Our country seems to be increasingly divided along political lines. Technology has made it easy to reinforce biases in media silos and become deeply entrenched in particular ideologies. In Today's Conversation, NAE leaders Leith Anderson and Galen Carey talk about how Christians fit into this equation. In this podcast, Galen Carey, NAE's policy expert and […] The post Christians in a Politically Divided Country appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

God designed the Church to run on volunteer power. Every member of the congregation is a spiritually gifted individual, after all, called and empowered to do “the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12 ESV). And yet, many churches experience a chronic shortage of volunteers. What is the cause of this shortage, and what can pastors and other church leaders do about it? Those are the questions Influence magazine executive editor George P. Wood explores with Jill Fox in Episode 153 of the Influence Podcast. Fox is Ministry Initiatives and Next Gen pastor at Westwood Community Church in Excelsior, Minnesota, and co-author, with Leith Anderson, of two books: The Volunteer Churchand Volunteering, both published by Zondervan.

Doug Nuenke leads an organization devoted to making disciples, writes and speaks on discipleship, and practices making disciples in his own life. He joins Leith Anderson in Today's Conversation podcast to share about making disciples in the 21st century. In this podcast, you'll hear two seasoned ministry leaders discuss: How to start a discipleship relationship […] The post How to Make Disciples in the 21st Century appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Millennials are the largest generation in American history. In their 20s and 30s, they are entering the workforce and ministry contexts. Are our churches and ministries adapting to their needs? In Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson, Jolene Erlacher unravels the mysteries of Millennials with practical tips to engage them in ongoing ministry. In this podcast, […] The post Unravelling the Mysteries of Millennials appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

In Today's Conversation, Leith Anderson and George O. Wood discuss denominational leadership, including setting goals, inspiring growth from the top down, and speaking on behalf of a diverse constituency.  In this podcast, you'll be inspired in your place of leadership as George shares: What leadership examples in Scripture were particularly meaningful to him; How he […] The post Leading a Denomination appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

In Today's Conversation, Leith Anderson and Daniel Lee talk about how culture affects faith, differences between predominantly white churches and Asian American churches, how Asian Americans understand racism in the United States, and more. In this podcast, you'll also hear Daniel, who trains Asian Americans for church leadership and others for ministry to Asian Americans, […] The post What's Going on in Asian American Christianity? appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

How safe is religious freedom in the United States? Upcoming cases in the Supreme Court and lower courts could have a significant impact on our religious freedom. Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson and Thomas Berg gives an overview of religious freedom, including what is protected in U.S. law, and what is not. Based out of […] The post Religious Freedom and the Law appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

What do Muslims really believe? How is the Islamic community organized? Does the Qu'ran call for religious extremism? Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson and Joseph Cumming covers these questions and more.  In this podcast, you'll hear from an evangelical scholar on Islam, who has spent years in relationships with Muslims both overseas and in the United […] The post Understanding Islam From an Evangelical Perspective appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

In Today's Conversation, Leith Anderson and Brad Hewitt talk about how to be a money-wise Christian. As the CEO of a major Christian financial services organization, Brad guides listeners through biblical principles and practical tips for making wise financial decisions. In this podcast, Leith and Brad discuss: How to think about money from a biblical […] The post How to Be a Money-wise Christian appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Daniel Henderson is a man of prayer, and he speaks to thousands of people each year at conferences and churches across the country and world on prayer and spiritual renewal. In Today's Conversation, he shares what's happening with prayer in America, and what should we do. In this podcast, you'll also hear Leith Anderson, NAE president, […] The post Prayer in America — What's Happening & What Should We Do appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Christian colleges and universities face many challenges today. Some experience legal battles as they seek to maintain their faith identity in an increasingly secular society. Others must address the competing interests of various constituencies, such as students, donors, faculty and alumni. They all need to make exemplary education affordable and accessible. In Today's Conversation podcast, Leith Anderson […] The post Challenges for Christian Colleges appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Right now, there are 65 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. As Scott Arbeiter illustrates in Today's Conversation, that number would include the population of 12 Midwestern states in America. But, the crisis feels far from our doorstep, and information about refugees in the media can be confusing. In this podcast, you'll hear Leith Anderson, NAE […] The post Our Refugee Crisis appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

What do Mormons believe? Are they a cult? How is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized? What should evangelicals say when Mormon missionaries come to their door? Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson and Greg Johnson covers these topics and more.  In this podcast, you'll hear from a former Mormon, now evangelical leader in […] The post What's Up With Mormons? appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

In Today's Conversation, Leith Anderson and Claude Alexander talk about the history of the black church, leaders in the movement, distinctions between white and black theology, and more. In this podcast, you'll hear Bishop Alexander, a leader in the African American church, share: How African American Christians think about racism; What prevents black Christians from […] The post What White Christians Need to Know About Black Churches appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson features two innovators in Christian music: Eddie Carswell and David Crowder. Both have been in the Christian music industry for decades, producing award-winning albums and songs. In addition, Eddie launched Winter Jam, a Christian music tour that has outpaced any other tour's attendance — including non-Christian tours — for the […] The post Behind Christian Music appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

In Today's Conversation, Leith Anderson and Rob Lauer talk about how to search for and find the right pastor for your church. As the head of a pastor search firm, Rob guides listeners through the steps he takes in matching up pastors and churches. In this podcast, you'll learn: Guiding principles for sifting through candidates; […] The post Matching Up Pastors and Churches appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

There was a time this particular podcast would have been unimaginable.  But in this political season, all kinds of surprises have become commonplace.  Today our guest is Galen Carey, Vice President for Government Relations for the National Association of Evangelicals.  Galen has co-written a book with Leith Anderson entitled, “Faith in the Voting Booth,” and we’re adding it to other resources designed to help Christians in their decision-making this fall. We will talk with Galen about his personal journey and his Christian faith. We will also discuss what many might find surprising, that the National Council of Churches and the National Association of Evangelicals, or NAE, regularly work together and find common cause on Capitol Hill.  Republican and Democrats can’t seem to work together, but I find it exciting and even hopeful that Christians can.

In Today's Conversation, Leith Anderson and Dan Aleshire talk about trends in theological education, including most popular degree programs, student gender ratios, and what makes a seminary successful.  In this podcast, you'll hear the expert on theological education in the United States share: How changing expectations of pastors have impacted seminary training; How seminaries have adapted […] The post Trends in Theological Education appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Almost every day we hear about another tragedy in the world or in our country. Sometimes those tragedies hit home. In Today's Conversation, Leith Anderson talks with Joel Hunter about how to respond to crisis when it comes to your town. In this podcast, a longtime pastor and respected leader reflects on the recent Pulse nightclub shooting in […] The post When Crisis Comes To Town appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

In Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson, Kay Warren offers insights and advice from her experience as a pastor's spouse in the public limelight. In this podcast, you'll hear Kay share: How to manage spoken and unspoken expectations of the pastor's wife; What pastors' spouses can do to set boundaries; Her experience being vulnerable and grieving publicly; and Advice […] The post Being a Pastor's Wife appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

In Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson, Adelle Banks takes us inside the world of religion reporting.  Faith and spirituality are a powerful motivation or undercurrent in many stories of our day. Good religion reporting helps us understand these trends and motivations. In this podcast, you'll hear a veteran and well-respected religion reporter share: The challenges of reporting […] The post Reporting on Religion appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

In Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson, Vinh Chung shares his amazing refugee story of rescue and redemption.  Vinh was born in South Vietnam, just eight months after it fell to the communists in 1975. His family lost everything and fled the country when he was three and a half years old. They joined the legendary “boat […] The post A Refugee Story appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Do you consider culture to be the friend or enemy of the gospel of Jesus Christ? In 2014, the EFCA Theology Conference wrestled with questions like this as it took up the theme of "Christian Faithfulness in a Changing Culture." On this episode of the podcast, we share a thought-provoking conference message from Leith Anderson titled, “Evangelicals in 21st Century American Culture.” In this message, he challenges church leaders to think carefully about the enduring issue of how we should understand the relationship between culture and the gospel.Leith served as the senior pastor of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, for 35 years before retiring in 2011. He currently serves as the president of the National Association of Evangelicals.You can find more from the 2104 EFCA Theology Conference here.

Many of us are stunned by harsh and mean-spirited comments from both sides of the political aisle — whether from presidential candidates or our own Facebook friends. In Today's Conversation, Leith Anderson talks with Richard Mouw on incivility in the public square and how to address it. In this podcast, you'll hear from a distinguished evangelical statesman, who has […] The post Civility in Politics appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

In Today's Conversation, Leith Anderson and Nick Hall talk about evangelism among young people and the spirituality of young adults in America. In his junior year of college, Nick wrote a paper about how to reach his generation with the gospel. The paper went viral and turned into a student-led movement of over 1,000 students responding […] The post Young Evangelists appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

In Today's Conversation, Leith Anderson and Walter Kim discuss race and the Bible. We talk about race a lot in the United States. Whether it's the growing population of Asian Americans, trends in Latino immigration, or racial unrest in metropolitan cities, race plays a major role in the American experience. As evangelicals, we want to […] The post Theology of Race appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Everyone wants to know what evangelicals think — particularly in the election season. But who are researchers talking about when they refer to evangelicals? In Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson, Ed Stetzer talks about the challenges and opportunities in defining and researching evangelicals. In this podcast, you'll hear insight from a leading Christian researcher on: The different ways […] The post Who are Evangelicals & Where are They Headed? appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

In Today's Conversation, Leith Anderson and Marshall Shelley talk about hiring and firing pastors, and the relationships between pastors and their congregations and church board. In this podcast, you'll hear thoughts and advice on: How to handle pastoral transitions well; What the Bible says about letting pastors go; The legitimate reasons for pastoral terminations; and How […] The post How to Fire a Pastor appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

In Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson, Nicole Baker Fulgham talks about her work helping faith communities close the academic achievement gap in public schools. In this podcast, you'll hear from an education policy expert on: What the term “education inequality” means and looks like; The achievement trend lines in American classrooms; Her personal background growing up in Detroit; and […] The post What Churches Can Do About Educational Inequality appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

In Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson, Ian Hutchinson shares about his experience as a distinguished scientist and a committed Christian. In this podcast, you'll hear Leith and Ian discuss: Ian's personal faith journey; The relationship between science and faith; How pastors can support scientists in their midst; and The important distinction between science and scientism. Read a […] The post Being a Christian and a Scientist appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

In Today's Conversation with Leith Anderson, Robert Putnam shares his research and stories showing the growing class gap among kids in the United States and offers ideas for how we can address the disparity. In this podcast, you'll hear from a renowned social science researcher on: The experiences of young people growing up in different […] The post The Growing Class Gap Among American Young People appeared first on National Association of Evangelicals.

Summary of today's show: The US bishops sounded a clarion call to Catholics on April 12, 2012 with their landmark statement on religious liberty, “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty”. Scot Landry, Fr. Chip Hines, and Domenico Bettinelli go over the document in detail, discussing what it means for Catholics, showing how unprecedented is this courageous stance form the bishops, and how dangerous is the current threat to religious liberty, not for just Catholics, but for all people of faith—and even no faith—everywhere. They also discuss concert steps you can take to join the fight to protect your religious liberty Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines Today's guest(s): Domenico Bettinelli Links from today's show: Today's topics: The US bishops' statement on religious liberty 1st segment: Our First, Most Cherished Liberty: A Statement on Religious Liberty United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty We are Catholics. We are Americans. We are proud to be both, grateful for the gift of faith which is ours as Christian disciples, and grateful for the gift of liberty which is ours as American citizens. To be Catholic and American should mean not having to choose one over the other. Our allegiances are distinct, but they need not be contradictory, and should instead be complementary. That is the teaching of our Catholic faith, which obliges us to work together with fellow citizens for the common good of all who live in this land. That is the vision of our founding and our Constitution, which guarantees citizens of all religious faiths the right to contribute to our common life together. Freedom is not only for Americans, but we think of it as something of our special inheritance, fought for at a great price, and a heritage to be guarded now. We are stewards of this gift, not only for ourselves but for all nations and peoples who yearn to be free. Catholics in America have discharged this duty of guarding freedom admirably for many generations. In 1887, when the archbishop of Baltimore, James Gibbons, was made the second American cardinal, he defended the American heritage of religious liberty during his visit to Rome to receive the red hat. Speaking of the great progress the Catholic Church had made in the United States, he attributed it to the “civil liberty we enjoy in our enlightened republic.” Indeed, he made a bolder claim, namely that “in the genial atmosphere of liberty [the Church] blossoms like a rose.”1 From well before Cardinal Gibbons, Catholics in America have been advocates for religious liberty, and the landmark teaching of the Second Vatican Council on religious liberty was influenced by the American experience. It is among the proudest boasts of the Church on these shores. We have been staunch defenders of religious liberty in the past. We have a solemn duty to discharge that duty today. We need, therefore, to speak frankly with each other when our freedoms are threatened. Now is such a time. As Catholic bishops and American citizens, we address an urgent summons to our fellow Catholics and fellow Americans to be on guard, for religious liberty is under attack, both at home and abroad. This has been noticed both near and far. Pope Benedict XVI recently spoke about his worry that religious liberty in the United States is being weakened. He called it the “most cherished of American freedoms”—and indeed it is. All the more reason to heed the warning of the Holy Father, a friend of America and an ally in the defense of freedom, in his recent address to American bishops: Of particular concern are certain attempts being made to limit that most cherished of American freedoms, the freedom of religion. Many of you have pointed out that concerted efforts have been made to deny the right of conscientious objection on the part of Catholic individuals and institutions with regard to cooperation in intrinsically evil practices. Others have spoken to me of a worrying tendency to reduce religious freedom to mere freedom of worship without guarantees of respect for freedom of conscience. Here once more we see the need for an engaged, articulate and well-formed Catholic laity endowed with a strong critical sense vis-à-vis the dominant culture and with the courage to counter a reductive secularism which would delegitimize the Church's participation in public debate about the issues which are determining the future of American society.2 Religious Liberty Under Attack—Concrete Examples Is our most cherished freedom truly under threat? Sadly, it is. This is not a theological or legal dispute without real world consequences. Consider the following: HHS mandate for contraception, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs. The mandate of the Department of Health and Human Services has received wide attention and has been met with our vigorous and united opposition. In an unprecedented way, the federal government will both force religious institutions to facilitate and fund a product contrary to their own moral teaching and purport to define which religious institutions are “religious enough” to merit protection of their religious liberty. These features of the “preventive services” mandate amount to an unjust law. As Archbishop-designate William Lori of Baltimore, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, testified to Congress: “This is not a matter of whether contraception may be prohibited by the government. This is not even a matter of whether contraception may be supported by the government. Instead, it is a matter of whether religious people and institutions may be forced by the government to provide coverage for contraception or sterilization, even if that violates their religious beliefs.”3 State immigration laws. Several states have recently passed laws that forbid what the government deems “harboring” of undocumented immigrants—and what the Church deems Christian charity and pastoral care to those immigrants. Perhaps the most egregious of these is in Alabama, where the Catholic bishops, in cooperation with the Episcopal and Methodist bishops of Alabama, filed suit against the law: It is with sadness that we brought this legal action but with a deep sense that we, as people of faith, have no choice but to defend the right to the free exercise of religion granted to us as citizens of Alabama… . The law makes illegal the exercise of our Christian religion which we, as citizens of Alabama, have a right to follow. The law prohibits almost everything which would assist an undocumented immigrant or encourage an undocumented immigrant to live in Alabama. This new Alabama law makes it illegal for a Catholic priest to baptize, hear the confession of, celebrate the anointing of the sick with, or preach the word of God to, an undocumented immigrant. Nor can we encourage them to attend Mass or give them a ride to Mass. It is illegal to allow them to attend adult scripture study groups, or attend CCD or Sunday school classes. It is illegal for the clergy to counsel them in times of difficulty or in preparation for marriage. It is illegal for them to come to Alcoholic Anonymous meetings or other recovery groups at our churches.4 Altering Church structure and governance. In 2009, the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut Legislature proposed a bill that would have forced Catholic parishes to be restructured according to a congregational model, recalling the trusteeism controversy of the early nineteenth century, and prefiguring the federal government's attempts to redefine for the Church “religious minister” and “religious employer” in the years since. Christian students on campus. In its over-100-year history, the University of California Hastings College of Law has denied student organization status to only one group, the Christian Legal Society, because it required its leaders to be Christian and to abstain from sexual activity outside of marriage. Catholic foster care and adoption services. Boston, San Francisco, the District of Columbia, and the state of Illinois have driven local Catholic Charities out of the business of providing adoption or foster care services—by revoking their licenses, by ending their government contracts, or both—because those Charities refused to place children with same-sex couples or unmarried opposite-sex couples who cohabit. Discrimination against small church congregations. New York City enacted a rule that barred the Bronx Household of Faith and sixty other churches from renting public schools on weekends for worship services even though non-religious groups could rent the same schools for scores of other uses. While this would not frequently affect Catholic parishes, which generally own their own buildings, it would be devastating to many smaller congregations. It is a simple case of discrimination against religious believers. Discrimination against Catholic humanitarian services. Notwithstanding years of excellent performance by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Migration and Refugee Services in administering contract services for victims of human trafficking, the federal government changed its contract specifications to require us to provide or refer for contraceptive and abortion services in violation of Catholic teaching. Religious institutions should not be disqualified from a government contract based on religious belief, and they do not somehow lose their religious identity or liberty upon entering such contracts. And yet a federal court in Massachusetts, turning religious liberty on its head, has since declared that such a disqualification is required by the First Amendment—that the government somehow violates religious liberty by allowing Catholic organizations to participate in contracts in a manner consistent with their beliefs on contraception and abortion. Religious Liberty Is More Than Freedom of Worship Religious liberty is not only about our ability to go to Mass on Sunday or pray the Rosary at home. It is about whether we can make our contribution to the common good of all Americans. Can we do the good works our faith calls us to do, without having to compromise that very same faith? Without religious liberty properly understood, all Americans suffer, deprived of the essential contribution in education, health care, feeding the hungry, civil rights, and social services that religious Americans make every day, both here at home and overseas. What is at stake is whether America will continue to have a free, creative, and robust civil society—or whether the state alone will determine who gets to contribute to the common good, and how they get to do it. Religious believers are part of American civil society, which includes neighbors helping each other, community associations, fraternal service clubs, sports leagues, and youth groups. All these Americans make their contribution to our common life, and they do not need the permission of the government to do so. Restrictions on religious liberty are an attack on civil society and the American genius for voluntary associations. The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America issued a statement about the administration's contraception and sterilization mandate that captured exactly the danger that we face: Most troubling, is the Administration's underlying rationale for its decision, which appears to be a view that if a religious entity is not insular, but engaged with broader society, it loses its “religious” character and liberties. Many faiths firmly believe in being open to and engaged with broader society and fellow citizens of other faiths. The Administration's ruling makes the price of such an outward approach the violation of an organization's religious principles. This is deeply disappointing.5 This is not a Catholic issue. This is not a Jewish issue. This is not an Orthodox, Mormon, or Muslim issue. It is an American issue. The Most Cherished of American Freedoms In 1634, a mix of Catholic and Protestant settlers arrived at St. Clement's Island in Southern Maryland from England aboard the Ark and the Dove. They had come at the invitation of the Catholic Lord Baltimore, who had been granted Maryland by the Protestant King Charles I of England. While Catholics and Protestants were killing each other in Europe, Lord Baltimore imagined Maryland as a society where people of different faiths could live together peacefully. This vision was soon codified in Maryland's 1649 Act Concerning Religion (also called the “Toleration Act”), which was the first law in our nation's history to protect an individual's right to freedom of conscience. Maryland's early history teaches us that, like any freedom, religious liberty requires constant vigilance and protection, or it will disappear. Maryland's experiment in religious toleration ended within a few decades. The colony was placed under royal control, and the Church of England became the established religion. Discriminatory laws, including the loss of political rights, were enacted against those who refused to conform. Catholic chapels were closed, and Catholics were restricted to practicing their faith in their homes. The Catholic community lived under these conditions until the American Revolution. By the end of the 18th century, our nation's founders embraced freedom of religion as an essential condition of a free and democratic society. James Madison, often called the Father of the Constitution, described conscience as “the most sacred of all property.”6 He wrote that “the Religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate.”7 George Washington wrote that “the establishment of Civil and Religious Liberty was the Motive that induced me to the field of battle.”8 Thomas Jefferson assured the Ursuline Sisters—who had been serving a mostly non-Catholic population by running a hospital, an orphanage, and schools in Louisiana since 1727—that the principles of the Constitution were a “sure guarantee” that their ministry would be free “to govern itself according to its own voluntary rules, without interference from the civil authority.”9 It is therefore fitting that when the Bill of Rights was ratified, religious freedom had the distinction of being the First Amendment. Religious liberty is indeed the first liberty. The First Amendment guarantees that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Recently, in a unanimous Supreme Court judgment affirming the importance of that first freedom, the Chief Justice of the United States explained that religious liberty is not just the first freedom for Americans; rather it is the first in the history of democratic freedom, tracing its origins back the first clauses of the Magna Carta of 1215 and beyond. In a telling example, Chief Justice Roberts illustrated our history of religious liberty in light of a Catholic issue decided upon by James Madison, who guided the Bill of Rights through Congress and is known as the architect of the First Amendment: [In 1806] John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in the United States, solicited the Executive's opinion on who should be appointed to direct the affairs of the Catholic Church in the territory newly acquired by the Louisiana Purchase. After consulting with President Jefferson, then-Secretary of State James Madison responded that the selection of church “functionaries” was an “entirely ecclesiastical” matter left to the Church's own judgment. The “scrupulous policy of the Constitution in guarding against a political interference with religious affairs,” Madison explained, prevented the Government from rendering an opinion on the “selection of ecclesiastical individuals.”10 That is our American heritage, our most cherished freedom. It is the first freedom because if we are not free in our conscience and our practice of religion, all other freedoms are fragile. If citizens are not free in their own consciences, how can they be free in relation to others, or to the state? If our obligations and duties to God are impeded, or even worse, contradicted by the government, then we can no longer claim to be a land of the free, and a beacon of hope for the world. Our Christian Teaching During the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, Americans shone the light of the Gospel on a dark history of slavery, segregation, and racial bigotry. The civil rights movement was an essentially religious movement, a call to awaken consciences, not only an appeal to the Constitution for America to honor its heritage of liberty. In his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in 1963, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. boldly said, “The goal of America is freedom.” As a Christian pastor, he argued that to call America to the full measure of that freedom was the specific contribution Christians are obliged to make. He rooted his legal and constitutional arguments about justice in the long Christian tradition: I would agree with Saint Augustine that “An unjust law is no law at all.” Now what is the difference between the two? How does one determine when a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of Saint Thomas Aquinas, an unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law.11 It is a sobering thing to contemplate our government enacting an unjust law. An unjust law cannot be obeyed. In the face of an unjust law, an accommodation is not to be sought, especially by resorting to equivocal words and deceptive practices. If we face today the prospect of unjust laws, then Catholics in America, in solidarity with our fellow citizens, must have the courage not to obey them. No American desires this. No Catholic welcomes it. But if it should fall upon us, we must discharge it as a duty of citizenship and an obligation of faith. It is essential to understand the distinction between conscientious objection and an unjust law. Conscientious objection permits some relief to those who object to a just law for reasons of conscience—conscription being the most well-known example. An unjust law is “no law at all.” It cannot be obeyed, and therefore one does not seek relief from it, but rather its repeal. The Christian church does not ask for special treatment, simply the rights of religious freedom for all citizens. Rev. King also explained that the church is neither the master nor the servant of the state, but its conscience, guide, and critic. As Catholics, we know that our history has shadows too in terms of religious liberty, when we did not extend to others the proper respect for this first freedom. But the teaching of the Church is absolutely clear about religious liberty: The human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that in matters religious no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs … whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits… . This right of the human person to religious freedom is to be recognized in the constitutional law whereby society is governed. Thus it is to become a civil right.12 As Catholics, we are obliged to defend the right to religious liberty for ourselves and for others. We are happily joined in this by our fellow Christians and believers of other faiths. A recent letter to President Obama from some sixty religious leaders, including Christians of many denominations and Jews, argued that “it is emphatically not only Catholics who deeply object to the requirement that health plans they purchase must provide coverage of contraceptives that include some that are abortifacients.”13 More comprehensively, a theologically rich and politically prudent declaration from Evangelicals and Catholics Together made a powerful case for greater vigilance in defense of religious freedom, precisely as a united witness animated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.14 Their declaration makes it clear that as Christians of various traditions we object to a “naked public square,” stripped of religious arguments and religious believers. We do not seek a “sacred public square” either, which gives special privileges and benefits to religious citizens. Rather, we seek a civil public square, where all citizens can make their contribution to the common good. At our best, we might call this an American public square. The Lord Jesus came to liberate us from the dominion of sin. Political liberties are one part of that liberation, and religious liberty is the first of those liberties. Together with our fellow Christians, joined by our Jewish brethren, and in partnership with Americans of other religious traditions, we affirm that our faith requires us to defend the religious liberty granted us by God, and protected in our Constitution. Martyrs Around the World In this statement, as bishops of the United States, we are addressing ourselves to the situation we find here at home. At the same time, we are sadly aware that religious liberty in many other parts of the world is in much greater peril. Our obligation at home is to defend religious liberty robustly, but we cannot overlook the much graver plight that religious believers, most of them Christian, face around the world. The age of martyrdom has not passed. Assassinations, bombings of churches, torching of orphanages—these are only the most violent attacks Christians have suffered because of their faith in Jesus Christ. More systematic denials of basic human rights are found in the laws of several countries, and also in acts of persecution by adherents of other faiths. If religious liberty is eroded here at home, American defense of religious liberty abroad is less credible. And one common threat, spanning both the international and domestic arenas, is the tendency to reduce the freedom of religion to the mere freedom of worship. Therefore, it is our task to strengthen religious liberty at home, in this and other respects, so that we might defend it more vigorously abroad. To that end, American foreign policy, as well as the vast international network of Catholic agencies, should make the promotion of religious liberty an ongoing and urgent priority. “All the Energies the Catholic Community Can Muster” What we ask is nothing more than that our God-given right to religious liberty be respected. We ask nothing less than that the Constitution and laws of the United States, which recognize that right, be respected. In insisting that our liberties as Americans be respected, we know as bishops that what our Holy Father said is true. This work belongs to “an engaged, articulate and well-formed Catholic laity endowed with a strong critical sense vis-à-vis the dominant culture.” As bishops we seek to bring the light of the Gospel to our public life, but the work of politics is properly that of committed and courageous lay Catholics. We exhort them to be both engaged and articulate in insisting that as Catholics and as Americans we do not have to choose between the two. There is an urgent need for the lay faithful, in cooperation with Christians, Jews, and others, to impress upon our elected representatives the importance of continued protection of religious liberty in a free society. We address a particular word to those holding public office. It is your noble task to govern for the common good. It does not serve the common good to treat the good works of religious believers as a threat to our common life; to the contrary, they are essential to its proper functioning. It is also your task to protect and defend those fundamental liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. This ought not to be a partisan issue. The Constitution is not for Democrats or Republicans or Independents. It is for all of us, and a great nonpartisan effort should be led by our elected representatives to ensure that it remains so. We recognize that a special responsibility belongs to those Catholics who are responsible for our impressive array of hospitals, clinics, universities, colleges, schools, adoption agencies, overseas development projects, and social service agencies that provide assistance to the poor, the hungry, immigrants, and those faced with crisis pregnancies. You do the work that the Gospel mandates that we do. It is you who may be forced to choose between the good works we do by faith, and fidelity to that faith itself. We encourage you to hold firm, to stand fast, and to insist upon what belongs to you by right as Catholics and Americans. Our country deserves the best we have to offer, including our resistance to violations of our first freedom. To our priests, especially those who have responsibility for parishes, university chaplaincies, and high schools, we ask for a catechesis on religious liberty suited to the souls in your care. As bishops we can provide guidance to assist you, but the courage and zeal for this task cannot be obtained from another—it must be rooted in your own concern for your flock and nourished by the graces you received at your ordination. Catechesis on religious liberty is not the work of priests alone. The Catholic Church in America is blessed with an immense number of writers, producers, artists, publishers, filmmakers, and bloggers employing all the means of communications—both old and new media—to expound and teach the faith. They too have a critical role in this great struggle for religious liberty. We call upon them to use their skills and talents in defense of our first freedom. Finally to our brother bishops, let us exhort each other with fraternal charity to be bold, clear, and insistent in warning against threats to the rights of our people. Let us attempt to be the “conscience of the state,” to use Rev. King's words. In the aftermath of the decision on contraceptive and sterilization mandates, many spoke out forcefully. As one example, the words of one of our most senior brothers, Cardinal Roger Mahony, thirty-five years a bishop and recently retired after twenty-five years as archbishop of Los Angeles, provide a model for us here: “I cannot imagine a more direct and frontal attack on freedom of conscience than this ruling today. This decision must be fought against with all the energies the Catholic community can muster.”15 A Fortnight for Freedom In particular, we recommend to our brother bishops that we focus “all the energies the Catholic community can muster” in a special way this coming summer. As pastors of the flock, our privileged task is to lead the Christian faithful in prayer. Both our civil year and liturgical year point us on various occasions to our heritage of freedom. This year, we propose a special “fortnight for freedom,” in which bishops in their own dioceses might arrange special events to highlight the importance of defending our first freedom. Our Catholic institutions also could be encouraged to do the same, especially in cooperation with other Christians, Jews, people of other faiths, and indeed, all who wish to defend our most cherished freedom. We suggest that the fourteen days from June 21—the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More—to July 4, Independence Day, be dedicated to this “fortnight for freedom”—a great hymn of prayer for our country. Our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power—St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter and Paul, and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. Culminating on Independence Day, this special period of prayer, study, catechesis, and public action would emphasize both our Christian and American heritage of liberty. Dioceses and parishes around the country could choose a date in that period for special events that would constitute a great national campaign of teaching and witness for religious liberty. In addition to this summer's observance, we also urge that the Solemnity of Christ the King—a feast born out of resistance to totalitarian incursions against religious liberty—be a day specifically employed by bishops and priests to preach about religious liberty, both here and abroad. To all our fellow Catholics, we urge an intensification of your prayers and fasting for a new birth of freedom in our beloved country. We invite you to join us in an urgent prayer for religious liberty. Almighty God, Father of all nations, For freedom you have set us free in Christ Jesus (Gal 5:1). We praise and bless you for the gift of religious liberty, the foundation of human rights, justice, and the common good. Grant to our leaders the wisdom to protect and promote our liberties; By your grace may we have the courage to defend them, for ourselves and for all those who live in this blessed land. We ask this through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, our patroness, and in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with whom you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. * Acknowledgements* Excerpts from The Documents of Vatican II, Walter M. Abbott, SJ, General Editor, copyright © 1966 by America Press, Inc. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. Excerpt from Pope Benedict XVI, Ad limina address to bishops of the United States, January 19, 2012, copyright © 2012, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2012, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder. The document Our First, Most Cherished Liberty: A Statement on Religious Liberty, was developed by the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). It was approved by the Administrative Committee of the USCCB at its March 2012 meeting as a statement of the Committee and has been authorized for publication by the undersigned. Msgr. Ronny E. Jenkins, JCD General Secretary, USCCB Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty Chairman Most Rev. William E. Lori, Archbishop-designate of Baltimore Bishop Members Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap, Archbishop of Philadelphia Most Rev. Wilton D. Gregory, Archbishop of Atlanta Most Rev. John C. Nienstedt, Archbishop of St. Paul–Minneapolis Most Rev. Thomas J. Rodi, Archbishop of Mobile Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain, Archbishop of Seattle Most Rev. John O. Barres, Bishop of Allentown Most Rev. Daniel E. Flores, Bishop of Brownsville Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix Most Rev. Thomas J. Paprocki, Bishop of Springfield, IL Bishop Consultants Most Rev. José H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles Most Rev. Stephen E. Blaire, Bishop of Stockton Most Rev. Joseph P. McFadden, Bishop of Harrisburg Most Rev. Richard E. Pates, Bishop of Des Moines Most Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades, Bishop of Fort Wayne–South Bend ENDNOTES Cardinal James Gibbons, Address upon taking possession of Santa Maria in Trastevere, March 25, 1887. Benedict XVI, Ad limina address to bishops of the United States, January 19, 2012. Most Rev. William E. Lori, Chairman, USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty, Oral Testimony Before the Judiciary Committee of the United States House of Representatives, February 28, 2012. Most Rev. Thomas J. Rodi, Archbishop of Mobile, August 1, 2011. Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, Statement, January 24, 2012. James Madison, “Property,” March 29, 1792, in The Founding Fathers, eds. Philip B. Kurland and Ralph Lerner (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1987), accessed March 27, 2012. http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch16s23.html James Madison, “Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessment,” June 20, 1785, in The Founding Fathers, accessed March 27, 2012. http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/amendI_religions43.html Michael Novak and Jana Novak, Washington's God, 2006. Anson Phelps Stokes, Church and State in the United States (Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1950), 678. Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC, 565 U.S. _, 132 S. Ct. 694, 703 (2012). Martin Luther King Jr., “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” April 16, 1963. Second Vatican Council, Declaration on Religious Liberty (Dignitatis Humanae), no. 2, in The Documents of Vatican II, ed. Walter M. Abbott (New York: Guild Press, 1966). Letter from Leith Anderson et al. to President Obama, December 21, 2011 (available at www.becketfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/To-President-NonCatholics-RelExemptionSigned.pdf). Evangelicals and Catholics Together, “In Defense of Religious Freedom,” First Things, March 2012. Cardinal Roger Mahony, “Federal Government Mandate for Contraceptive/Sterilization Coverage,” Cardinal Roger Mahony Blogs L.A. (blog), January 20, 2012, cardinalrogermahonyblogsla.blogspot.com/2012/01/federal-government-mandate-for.html