Hello, welcome to while we're added, a new series of occasional interviews.

I'll be inviting interesting and thoughtful friends of first things to my editor's desk.

We'll discuss what's going on in the world, theology, literature, the arts, and, of course, that fractious realm known as politics.

Here at First Things, nothing is off limits.

I'm Rusty Reno, the editor of First Things magazine.

This is While We're at it.

Well, I'm delighted to welcome on to the podcast, Cameron Sexton.

He's been a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives since 2011 and Speaker of the House since 2019.

And I have him on the podcast because as a man of faith in political leadership, I just think it's great to have an opportunity to talk about the role of faith in political and public life. So welcome to the podcast.

Thank you. Nice to be here. Great. Well, I think, could you tell us a little bit about your own faith background?

Yeah, I grew up Southern Baptist.

I attend Central Baptist Church in Crossville, Tennessee.

Faith is an important part of my life and my family's life.

And it's a way to continue to keep you grounded in the world sometimes

where people aren't grounded and keep you understanding that there's a bigger picture in life

when times are tough and also when times are good and understanding that you are called to do

things in your life that you may not know what those are, but things will come to you if you

listen and believe. And that's happened to me several times throughout my life. I think people don't realize

to extent to which you really have to make quite a sacrifice of family life in order to serve

in political office. Was that a factor in your thinking about getting into politics?

Were you concerned?

Yeah, I mean, look, that's a factor.

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