Christianity, Pluralism, and Public Life

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
We are tremendously thankful for the support of the Democracy Fund for making this
project possible. We are especially grateful for Chris Crawford, without whose vision,
support, ideas, and guidance this report would not have been produced. We are also
thankful to The Trinity Forum and Cherie Harder, who provided insight and advice
every step of the way, and whose contributions to a healthy pluralism enrich public
life.
Thank you, also, to Melissa Wear, who provided critical assistance throughout this
project.
We are especially grateful to the men and women who graciously agreed to be
interviewed for this project and whose contributions make up the heart of this report.
Every individual we spoke to has significant demands on their time and attention as
they seek to steward their roles, responsibilities, and influence, and we are humbled
that they so graciously chose to share their time with us.
Michael thanks his colleagues and clients for their partnership and the opportunity
to do work he loves. Amy thanks her departmental colleagues for their prayers and
encouragement and thanks the Wheaton College Sabbatical Fund for its support.
Finally, we acknowledge our families and their tremendous support throughout our
work on this project. Michael will always associate this report with his daughter’s
first year of life, and he’s ever thankful for the love and confidence of Melissa. Amy is
grateful to Dan and Anna for their love, good humor, and patience.
Michael Wear is the founder of Public Square Strategies,
LLC, a consulting and research firm at the intersection
of faith and public life. He served in The White House
Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
from 2009-2012, and led religious outreach for President
Obama’s re-election campaign. Michael is a Senior
Fellow at The Trinity Forum, and has written for The New
York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Catapult
Magazine and Christianity Today.
Amy E. Black is Professor of Political Science at
Wheaton College (IL). A specialist in American
Politics, her research interests include religion and
politics, fostering civil dialogue, and Congress. She
is a past president of Christians in Political Science
and served as an APSA Congressional Fellow in the office
of Melissa A. Hart (R-PA). She is the author or editor of
six books and has written for Capital Commentary, The
Review of Faith and International Affairs, International
Journal of Public Opinion, The Christian Science Monitor,
and Christianity Today.
This report is funded and made possible by the Democracy Fund.