PELLA — The Staley Distinguished Scholar Lecture Series, sponsored by Central College campus ministries, welcomes James Skillen to campus Tuesday, Nov. 3. His message “The Crisis of American Civility and Governance” at the community worship service will be in the Upper Chapel at 11 a.m.
Skillen is a senior fellow for the Center for Public Justice, an independent, nonpartisan organization devoted to policy research and civic education. Skillen directed the Center for Public Justice from 1981 through September 2009, serving as president since 2000. As a senior fellow, he carries forward his research, writing and mentoring on political thought, statecraft and public policy. His writing project for the next few years focuses on the biblical story as foundation for the human responsibility of governance in God’s world, the challenge that story presents to the ways Christians have exercised political responsibility, and the resources of that story for the continuing work of governance, citizenship and statecraft today.
He has written and edited several books including The Prospects and Ambiguities of Globalization: Critical Assessment at a Time of Growing Turmoil, With or Against the World? America’s Role Among the Nations and Recharging the American Experiment: Principled Pluralism for Genuine Civic Community.
Skillen received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Wheaton College and a degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. After graduate study in philosophy at the Free University of Amsterdam, he completed a master’s and doctorate from Duke University, both in political science.
The Staley Distinguished Scholar Lecture Series, sponsored by Central College campus ministries, is a project of the Thomas F. Staley Foundation of New York. The foundation seeks to bring to college and university campuses distinguished scholars who can clearly communicate with students. The 2009-10 Staley Lecture Series is in its 38th year at Central College.
