By Joan C. McKinney, director of university communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – “Evangelical Christian Perspectives on Public Policy Issues Confronting Our Nation” will be discussed Tuesday, Oct. 30 and Wednesday, Oct. 31 at Campbellsville University through the university’s Kentucky Heartland Institute on Public Policy. The discussion will feature Dr. Richard Cizik, vice president for governmental affairs with the National Association of Evangelicals in Washington, D.C. His primary responsibilities include editing publications such as NAE Washington Insight, directing NAE’s Washington Insight Briefing and Christian Student Leadership Conferences and setting its policy direction on issues before Congress, the White House and Supreme Court. The Oct. 30 session is at 5 p.m. in the Little Auditorium and will specifically address the topic of “For the Health of the Nation – An Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility.”
Cizik will also be speaking at CU’s convocation/chapel Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 10 a.m. discussing the subject of “Creation Care – Concerns on Global Warming and Climate Change.” The convocation/chapel is in the Ransdell Chapel and is part of CU’s “Earth Stewardship Series.” Both addresses are open to the public free of charge.
John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president, who founded KHIPP, said the session will be “very informational,” and he hopes everyone will take advantage of the event to learn more the topic.
Cizik is a primary author of the NAE’s highly lauded public policy paper of 2005 entitled “For the Health of the Nation – A Call to Civic Responsibility,” which outlines key public policy stances of the group on a wide range of issues including sanctity of human life, world hunger and poverty, the environment, race relations, and a host of other topics.
Chowning said, “Dr. Cizik is a frequent contributor to numerous publication and news segments in discussing the wide range of public policy issues that abound today.”
Cizik’s primary responsibilities include setting NAE’s policy direction on issues before Congress, the White House and Supreme Court, as well as serving as a national spokesman on issues of concern to evangelicals. His background includes a bachelor of arts (cum laude) in political science from Whitworth College; master of arts in public affairs from the George Washington University School of Public & International Affairs (now called the Elliot School of International Affairs); master of divinity from Denver Seminary and an honorary doctorate of ministry from the Methodist Episcopal Church in Christian Leadership.
Post-graduate research awards include a Scottish-Rite Graduate Fellowship to George Washington University and a Rotary International Graduate Fellowship to the Republic of China. He is the author of over 100 published articles and editorials, author and editor of The High Costof Indifference (Regal Books), a contributor to On Christian Freedom (University Press of America), and the Dictionary of Christianity in America (Inter-Varsity Press).
Cizik was ordained in 1992 to a specific ministry calling in public affairs with the National Association of Evangelicals by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (one of 60 member denominations of NAE) and maintains an active preaching and speaking schedule.
Married to Virginia Cizik for 24 years, he is the father of two sons, Rich Jr. and John. The family resides in Fredericksburg, Va.
Chowning said, “Campbellsville University has established the institute that primarily focuses focus its attention on facilitating public policy study and issues debate, while encouraging the involvement of Christian leaders in the public and civic arenas. “A wide range of public issues will be studied and presented by the institute for the purposes of engaging Campbellsville University students, faculty and staff, and the general public, in a greater awareness and understanding of the myriad issues confronting our culture,” he said.
Chowning said KHIPP is “committed to preparing Christian civic and political leaders for the 21st century.”
He said, “A greater awareness of the public policy process and understanding of the numerous issues being debated in our nation is essential for the citizenry as a whole.” All events are free and open to the public. Anyone requesting more information about KHIPP, can contact Chowning at (270) 789-5520.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,310 students who represent 100 Kentucky counties, 32 states and 28 foreign nations. Listed in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” 15 consecutive years, CU was listed 22nd in the “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” this fall. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his ninth year as president.