ACU students learn about Christianity and government: two political experts to speak this week

This week, two ACU alumni with Washington, D.C. ties, will speak to students about their responsibilities as Christians in government, Oct. 6 and Oct. 8.

On Monday, Oct. 6, Kasey Pipes, Republican political consultant and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, will speak on "A Christian's Responsibility to Government." This forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Hart Auditorium in the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building on the ACU campus.

On Thursday, Oct. 9, Dr. Shaun Casey, associate professor of Christian Ethics at Wesley School of Seminary, and senior religious advisor for Sen. Barack Obama, will speak on "Rendering to Caesar: Christians in American Public Life." This forum will also be held in Hart Auditorium at 7 p.m.

Pipes, honored with the Young Alumnus of the Year in 2006, graduated from ACU with bachelor's degrees in communication and political science in 1995. He began his career in Washington on the staff of Rep. Kay Granger and in 1999 left to join George W. Bush's campaign staff.

During Bush's first term, Pipes worked in the Bush administration as associate director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives. His duties included writing speeches for the President, Mrs. Bush, Vice President Cheney, Mrs. Cheney and other cabinet secretaries.

In 2004, Pipes rejoined the presidential campaign staff for the 2004 election. In 2006, he became chief speech writer for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's re-election campaign in California.

Today, Pipes lives in Fort Worth with his wife, where he operates his full-service consulting and public relations firm, The Pipes Co. He recently wrote a biography of President Dwight Eisenhower titled Ike's Final Battle. He also is the managing editor for ACU's Center for Building Community online journal, The Middle Cities Monitor.

Shaun Casey received his bachelor's degree from Abilene Christian University in 1979, and also holds three graduate degrees from Harvard University- a Master of Divinity, Doctorate of Theology and Master of Public Administration.

Casey became an official part of Obama's faith outreach staff in July, working to communicate Obama's story and political position to the leaders of the evangelical Christian world.

"We are very excited about Shaun's visit," said Dr. Jack Reese, professor of ministry at ACU. "Shaun is not merely a thoughtful scholar, a devoted student of the role of Christians in the public square, he actually lives it. He is a committed Christian who understands politics and public policy, who hasn't remained on the sidelines but has put his life and values into the fray, and who has done so without compromising his beliefs or his commitments. He is an important national figure who hasn't forgotten who he is. He is exactly the kind of person our students need to know and emulate."

A visiting fellow at the Center for American Progress, Casey’s research interests include ethics and international affairs, the public implications of religious belief, and the intersection of religion and politics.

He has written on the ethics of the war in Iraq, as well the role of religion in American presidential politics. His book, The Making of a Catholic President: Kennedy vs. Nixon 1960, will be published by Oxford University Press in January 2009.

"Casey's background and experience brings to the ACU campus someone who has thought deeply about why and how Christians ought to engage society and, in particular, politics," said Dr. David Dillman, professor of political science at ACU. "He brings theological thinking and political practice and a deep understanding of and sensitivity to the evangelical mind."

During their visits, both Pipes and Casey will speak to several classes from many different disciplines.

Both presentations are non-partisan.

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