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I'd like to welcome everyone to tonight's conversation on the hopes and challenges of faith and politics.

And we have some distinguished guests with us that I'll introduce in a moment.

First, I'd like to say that the Center for Christianity and Scholarship and the Duke Program in American Grand Strategy are really pleased to be co-sponsoring

our fifth lecture together over the past five years, all examining intersections of faith in the

political realm. And tonight we are especially delighted to be co-hosting this event along with

the Road to Now podcast series, which is also recording the event. And the Road to

Now is a series which sets out to explore the history behind important events and outstanding

individuals in today's world. We do hope that tonight's moderated discussion will both shed light

on some of the deep contention and division that abounds

right now in the political and religious realm in America. And maybe even this conversation

can offer some pathways of hope. We think as importantly, we hope the conversation and the audience

Q&A afterwards will embody thoughtfulness, respect for others, and a presumption of good faith to those with whom we disagree.

It seems to be that if there's one thing we can agree on right now, it is that our country is really starved for conversation that embodies these characteristics.

And this is a joint effort for all of us in the room tonight. We all have to exercise perhaps

restraint at moments internally and externally with our words. But to help us navigate some of

these issues, we do have three special guests. Michael Ware, to the far right, my far right, directed faith outreach for President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign.

He was also one of the youngest White House staffers in modern American history, serving in the Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnership during President Obama's first term.

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