The A.J. Muste Memorial Lecture Series at Hope College will feature the address “White Christian Nationalism vs. the Gospel of Jesus” by Jim Wallis on Monday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. in the Maas Center auditorium.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
Wallis is a writer, teacher, preacher and justice advocate who believes the gospel of Jesus must be transformed from its cultural and political captivities, and always be “good news” to the poor and oppressed. He is the author of multiple New York Times bestselling books, including his latest book, “The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy,” which was released on April 2, 2024.
He is the inaugural holder of the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Chair in Faith and Justice at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, and the director of its new Center on Faith and Justice. He served on President Obama’s first White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. In 2022 and 2023, Washingtonian magazine named Wallis one of the 500 most influential people shaping policy in D.C. Wallis is also the founder of Sojourners.
The A. J. Muste Memorial Lecture Series was founded in 1985 to celebrate the life and accomplishments of pacifist, labor leader, and Hope College alumnus Abraham Johannes Muste (1885-1967). Muste became one of the most well-known and influential peace activists in the United States, working for many years as the executive director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. The lecture series seeks to explore issues that would have been of interest to Muste, who died in 1967, including topics related to labor, civil rights, and peace.
The lecture will be followed by a book signing. Wallis’ books will be available for sale on site and in the Hope College Bookstore leading up to the event.
To inquire about accessibility or if you need accommodations to fully participate in the event, please email accommodations@hope.edu. Updates related to events are posted when available at hope.edu/calendar in the individual listings.
The Maas Center is located at 264 Columbia Ave., between 10th and 13th streets.