The Trinity Forum Update

“Consider what often passes for friendship today. We enjoy social activities with those wealthy enough to access our circles. Is this real friendship?” —Peter Sanlon

This Trinity Forum Update highlights recent features on immigration, friendship, poetry, altruism, and faith in public life. David Aikman has two columns on China.

The application process is now open for Trinity Forum Academy fellowships for the class of 2009. We also note the formation of a new Board of Advisors for the Trinity Forum.  

Board of Advisors Inaugural Meeting

A newly formed Advisory Board to the Trinity Forum will be meeting on Monday, January 28 at our Washington, D.C. offices at Evermay in conjunction with a meeting of the Board of Trustees. Among the items on the agenda are presentations from three Senior Fellows—Bill McClay on purpose-driven organizations, David Miller on leadership, and David Cook on how neuroscience will shape our future. The members of the Board of Advisors are listed on our web site.

New on our Provocations Journal

• Justice and Civility in the Immigration Debates. Meanness adds no value to the process. A Provocations short by Luder Whitlock.
• Losing Touch with a Friend. Do We Need God to Experience True Friendship? A Provocations short by Peter Sanlon.
• Shoring up the Fragments: Thoughts on T. S. Eliot’s Poetry. Senior Fellow William Edgar offers an overview of T. S. Eliot’s life and thinking to help introduce readers to his poetry. He also compares the approaches of Eliot and his contemporary and critic C. S. Lewis, to ask some deeper questions about the role of the arts.
• Making a Difference: ‘Young Altruists’ Need a Broader View of Doing Good. Donald Bishop, a U.S. Foreign service officer, looks at ways to do good in the world in careers other than the traditional NGO.
• Professor Putnam and the City on a Hill: Modeling Diverse Community. Pete Peterson looks at the new report from sociologist Robert D. Putnam and sees some evidence that American churches are living out their faith in ways that will help the country learn to live with its ethnic diversity.

David Aikman’s column

• A Church in China: Independent, but not Underground.
• Those Hard-Worked Chinese Ideologists
• ‘Christian America, this is Your Columbine’: Isn’t this a hate crime?

Trinity Forum Academy Now Accepting Fellowship Applications for the Class of 2009

Each year the Academy grants twelve full fellowships to young leaders who are passionate about engaging strategically with today's culture. The Academy is a nine-month residential academic community where Fellows study the integration of faith and culture, explore their personal calling before God, and are challenged to think seriously about our role in contributing to society. During the year Fellows are partnered with a mentor and have the chance to interact with experienced leaders in a wide range of career fields. Recent college graduates, graduate students and young professionals are encouraged to apply. Learn more.