2008 Speakers

Michael Mandelbaum

Democracy's Good Name

Thursday, January 3
Underwritten by: Meijer, Inc.

One of America 's leading authorities on international affairs, known for his ability to explain with great clarity the meaning and consequences of complicated global developments and trends. He is the Christian A. Herter Professor of American Foreign Policy at The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington , DC , and the author or co-author of 10 books. His most recent book, just released in Fall 2007, is entitled "Democracy's Good Name: The Rise and the Risks of the World's Most Popular Form of Government".

Bill McKibben

Deep Economy

Friday, January 4
Underwritten by: Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Former staff writer for the New Yorker, he has written ten books in recent years dealing with the environment and culture, his most recent book is "Deep Economy". He is the Scholar in Residence in Environmental Studies at Middlebury College and founder of StepItUp07.org which focused on building grass roots movements to support curbs on carbon emissions.

Sonia Nazario

Enrique's Journey

Monday, January 7
Underwritten by: Macatawa Bank

LA Times reporter who has written the book "Enrique's Journey" which documents the stories of Central American children riding the tops of freight trains (known as the "death trains") through Mexico to be with their mothers who are working illegally in the States. It's a fascinating book that gives a new perspective on the complex issue of illegal immigration.

Chris Seiple

Stewarding American Power: Recommendations for the Next President

Tuesday, January 8
Underwritten by: The Richard & Helen DeVos Foundation

President of the Institute for Global Engagement in Washington DC which promotes sustainable environments for religious freedom worldwide. As a faith-based organization, IGE believes firmly in universal human dignity and is committed to the protection of all faiths through the rule of law. Dr. Seiple combines expertise with experience in fashioning some practical suggestions about how we, through the president we elect, might steward American might - spiritual, cultural, economic, and military - in a globalizing and hurting world."

Eleanor Clift

Countdown to Election 2008

Wednesday, January 9
Underwritten by: Huntington Bank

Contributing editor for Newsweek magazine, she reports on the White House, presidential politics, and a variety of national issues. Her column, "Capitol Letter," is posted each week on Newsweek.com and MSNBC.com. She is a regular panelist on the nationally syndicated show, "The McLaughlin Group," and a political analyst for the Fox News Network.

Words Wear Out: How Writers Help Us Renew Religious Language

Thursday, January 10
Underwritten by: Peter & Pat Cook

Ishmael Beah

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

Friday, January 11
Underwritten by: John & Mary Loeks

At the age of 11 Ishmael's life in Sierra Leone was derailed by the outbreak of a brutal civil war. After the death of his parents and two brothers, Ishmael was recruited to fight as a child soldier. He fought for over two years before he was removed from the army by UNICEF and placed in a rehabilitation home. After rehabilitation he won a competition to attend a conference at the United Nations to talk about the devastating effects of war on children in his country. This was the beginning of his career as a representative to help bring international attention to the issue of child soldiering and war affected children.

James Abbington

100 Years of Black Gospel Music in an Hour

Monday, January 14
Underwritten by: Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett

Associate Professor of Music and Worship at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Dr. Abbington's research interests include music and worship in the Christian church, African American sacred folk music, organ, choral music and ethnomusicology. He serves as Executive Editor of the African American Church Music Series by GIA Publications.

Margaret Lowman

It's a Jungle Up There: Exploration of the Treetops

Tuesday, January 15
Underwritten by: Israels Designs for Living

Tropical Rain Forest Canopy Biologist and Educator, Director of Environmental Initiatives and Professor of Biology & Environmental Studies at New College of Florida . She is the author of "Life in the Treetops" and "More Stories from the Treetops". With 20 years of experience in all of the world's rain forests, she will share her fascinating research and amusing adventures as one of the first woman pioneers in this field of science.

Timothy George

Theology for an Age of Terror

Wednesday, January 16
Underwritten by: Van Wyk Risk & Financial Management

Founding Dean of Beeson Divinity School and author or editor of over 20 books including "Theology of the Reformers" and his latest book "God the Holy Trinity". He is the executive editor for Christianity Today and is on the editorial advisory board for Books and Culture, Harvard Theological review , and Christian History.

Michael Griffin

American Competitiveness: NASA's Role & Everyone's Responsibility

Thursday, January 17
Underwritten by: Barnes & Thornburg

Griffin was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the US Senate in April 2005 as the 11th Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He leads the NASA team and manages the U.S. vision for space exploration.

Douglas Diekema

Love, Justice, and Humility: A Bioethicist meets the Pillow Angel

Friday, January 18
Underwritten by: Spectrum Health

Pediatrician and Medical Ethicist at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, WA. Diekema has been featured as the spokesperson for the hospital ethics board that allowed the surgery that stunted the growth of a severely mentally and physically disabled child named Ashley in 2004 in order to allow her parents to give her better care. The case became public in 2007 and has drawn national attention including stories in People and Time Magazines as well as a debate with Joni Erickson Tada on Larry King Live on CNN. Whether you feel the decision was the correct one or not, it is a case that will continue to be considered and will serve as an influence for future cases.

Stages Theatre Company

A Lion in Winter

Monday, January 21

The Gloriae Dei Artes Foundation from the Community of Jesus in Orleans , MA returns to TJS after an outstanding presentation by their choir in 2007. This year their theatre company will entertain us with their special one hour adaptation of their production Lion in Winter by James Goldman. Stages Theatre Company performs year-round on Cape Cod and has toured the east coast and many southern states performing at conferences, schools, and churches, as well as leading theater workshops. They are dedicated to exploring the eternal answers that offer hope and inspiration for the human condition. The company strives to "give you the truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion" (Williams, The Glass Menagerie). Past productions include works ranging from Shakespeare to Neil Simon, T.S. Eliot to Tennessee Williams.

Sigval Berg

Energy: Our Responsibility

Wednesday, January 23
Underwritten by: GMB Architects + Engineers

Senior Vice President for UniStar Nuclear, the nation's largest supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial customers and the nation's largest wholesale power seller. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he served in the U.S. nuclear program until 1981. He will discuss from a business, social, and environmental perspective, what are the issues, policies, and responsibilities associated with being responsible stewards for the world in which we live and how might the future of nuclear power contribute.