Civility: Becoming People of Peace in an Age of Deep Division

Held on October 13, 2016.Jesus – and Abraham Lincoln – once said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Yet the current state of America is just that: divided. Right vs. Left, Republican vs. Democrat, conservative talk radio vs. liberal mainstream media – the rhetoric, especially in an election year, has fomented deep divides among Americans. A recent Gallup poll shows that “dissatisfaction with government” is the most pressing non-economic problem facing America today. Some believe our nation is coming apart.Yet when the Bible speaks to the topic of working with those with whom we disagree, a deeply counter-cultural ethic emerges. Paul writes, “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone” (Titus 3:1-2).What would it be like to recover a spirit of politeness, courtesy, and even gentleness – in short, civility – in our American public life?What can the men and women working in law, government, business and media do to restore civic virtues in a time of raucous discord? Can the church host a space of reconciliation among those with differing convictions?This interactive discussion featured Jay Hein, president of the Sagamore Institute and former Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, and Albus Brooks, president, Denver City Council (District 9), and State Senator Owen Hill (District 10).