- Tuesday, April 4, 2023
- 7:00 PM–9:00 PM
- Prince Conference Center Oak Room
The 24th annual Paul B. Henry Lecture featured Dr. Richard Mouw speaking on "The Christian Use of Political Power." According to Mouw, Paul Henry wrote a number of years ago that when things go wrong in politics, it isn't just the fault of those who have substituted faith in politics for faith in God. Some of the blame also rests on the shoulders of Christians who "have denied the full legitimacy of politics." We rightly honor God's purposes for political life when we make loving use of coercive power to aim at justice, while also learning significant lessons—unique to political engagement—about our shared humanity.
Richard Mouw is a senior research fellow at the Henry Institute for the Study of Religion and Politics at Calvin College (Grand Rapids, MI), joining the Institute founded in honor of Paul Henry, a long-time friend and colleague whom Dr. Mouw helped recruit to Calvin in 1970. Mouw is continuing his research in Christian political thought, as well as working with faculty and students on special projects and helping to organize conferences and symposia. He is on the Calvin campus for several one-week stays during each academic year while he continues to live in California.
Prior to his return to Calvin and the Institute in 2020, Mouw served as the President of Fuller Theological Seminary (1993-2013) and directed their Institute of Faith and Public Life (2013-2020). His initial career in academia began at Calvin College, where he taught philosophy from 1968 to 1985.
A philosopher and scholar, Dr. Mouw is the author of more than 20 books, has been an editor of the Reformed Journal, and served for many years as a panelist for the Washington Post’s online forum “On Faith.” He received the Abraham Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology in 2007. Mouw has participated on many councils and editorial boards, served as president of the Association of Theological Schools and as co-chair of the official Reformed-Catholic Dialogue, and is a leader in interfaith theological conversations, particularly with Mormons and Jewish groups.
The lecture and dessert reception following are free and open to the public.
