The Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics provides lectures and panel discussions with scholars, practitioners and public officials for Wheaton College students and the surrounding community on issues related to market economies, representative democracies and limited government.
2023-2024 Lecture Schedule
Immigrant Nation: What Happened?
Panel Discussion
April 11, 7:00-8:00pm, Bakke Auditorium, Wade Center
A discussion between experts from theology, politics, law enforcement, and the media, on the current immigration situation, examining what makes this current problem so different and pressing than previous immigration crises. Panel guests include nationally syndicated columnist, Ruben Navarrette, Former US Attorney for Arizona, Paul Charlton, and Scripture Press Ministries Professor of Biblical Studies and Pedagogy at Wheaton College, Dr. Daniel Carroll R.
Leadership Through Liberal Arts: Why Divergent Thinkers Are Needed in a Convergent World.
Vice Adm. Ann E. Rondeau (ret.), President, Naval Postgraduate School.
November 16, 7:00-8:00pm, Bakke Auditorium, Wade Center
Divergent thinking empowers creative problem solving and is a crucial counterpart to analytic decision making. Vice Admiral Ann Rondeau, President of the Naval Postgraduate School, elaborates on the powerful role a liberal arts education plays in developing idea generating skills that equip us to navigate effectively and lead thoughtfully in an increasingly complex world.
How Christianity Can Be a Healing Force in American Society
Peter Wehner
September 11, 7:00-8:00pm, Amerding Concert Hall
Peter Wehner, a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum, served in the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations and the George W. Bush White House. He is a contributing editor at The Atlantic Monthly and a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times.
2019-2020 Lecture Schedule
Politics - The Role of Faith in the Public Square
Bill Haslam, Governor of Tennessee, 2011-2019
October 29, 7:00-8:00pm, Coray Gymnasium
Former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam will share how his faith has impacted both his business and political practices.
Under Haslam’s results-driven, common sense leadership, Tennessee is recognized as a national leader in education, job creation and fiscal responsibility. Born and raised in Knoxville, he was blessed with parents who instilled their strong faith and work ethic in their children. As a young man, he excelled in academics and sports and was a leader in student government.
When he was 16 years old, the sudden, unexpected death of his mother marked a turning point in his young life. His family leaned on each other and on their faith to get through the tough days. After graduating from Emory University, Haslam returned to Knoxville, where he managed his family’s chain of gas stations. When he first went to work for the company, Pilot Corporation had 800 employees, and when he left, it had more than 14,000 employees in 39 states. Haslam was elected mayor of Knoxville in 2003 and re-elected in 2007. As mayor, he balanced eight consecutive city budgets, tripled the Rainy Day Fund, insisted that city government focus on providing services in an efficient manner, helped found key education initiatives and recruited and retained thousands of jobs to Knoxville
This event is free and open to the public and will take place in Todd M. Beamer Center, Room 136 Coray Alumni Gym, located at 421 N. Chase St. in Wheaton.
For more information, contact Heidi Leffler at 630.752.5975 or heidi.leffler@wheaton.edu.
Location: Beamer Center 136 Coray Alumni Gym
Faith - Missions Impact - Cancelled and rescheduled for March 3, 2021 at 7:00pm via Zoom
Robert Woodberry, director of the Project on Religion and Economic Change and senior research professor, Baylor University
March 18, 7:00-8:00pm, Meyer Science Center
Economics - C.S. Lewis and Freedom: Christianity's Famous Apologist meets Adam Smith - Cancelled
Ken Elzinga, Robert C. Taylor Chair in Economics, University of Virginia
April 20, 7:00-8:00pm, Barrows Auditorium
View Videos from past events
2017-2018 Lecture Schedule
Robotics and Emerging Technologies: Friend or Foe of the American Worker?
Wednesday, November 1, 7:30-9:00pm
View Event Video
The Healthcare Labyrinth: Where do we go from here?
Wednesday, February 28, 7:30-9:00pm
Meyer Science Center, Lecture Hall 145
More info