Classes for Adults

Living with Confidence and Hope in a Turbulent Time: The Message of Daniel 7

Wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Partisan conflict in the United States. Fluctuating tariff policies. If there is one thing on which we can all agree, it is that we live in uncertain times. Daniel, taken as a young man as a political hostage to Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon, also lived during uncertain times. The book that bears his name has two main parts. Daniel 1-6 has six stories about Daniel living in a foreign court. Daniel 7-12 contains four apocalyptic visions. Every story and every vision has the same message to the people of God living in anxious times: “In spite of present troubles, God is in control and will have the final victory.” We will take a close look at Daniel 7, the vision of one like the son of man riding a cloud and defeating four terrifying monsters that have emerged from a chaotic sea. While strange to us, we will see that the imagery was clear to its contemporary audience. Its message is important for the church to hear today.

Tremper Longman (BA, Ohio Wesleyan; MDiv, Westminster Theological Seminary; MPhil, PhD, Yale University) is the Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies emeritus at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA. Prior to joining Westmont in 1998, he taught at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He is an adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, also Visiting Professor of Old Testament at the Seattle School of Theology & Psychology as well as Ambrose University Seminary (Calgary). He has written over thirty books, including several biblical commentaries, as well as Science, Creation and the Bible: Reconciling Rival Theories of Origins with physicist Richard F. Carlson. He is an editor and contributor to the Zondervan Dictionary of Christianity and Science. With John Walton he wrote, The Lost World of the Flood.

Tremper was with us last summer in conversation on Looking at Jesus through Old Testament Eyes. He has been a regular summer Sunday speaker for many years, and was one of the speakers for our 2019 conference with the Biologos Foundation, dealing with the question “can you trust the Bible in a scientific age?” There is a video recording of that conference, including Dr. Longman’s perspective on the relationship between creation and evolution.

Challenges Facing Higher Education: A Conversation with a University President

We’ll explore the complex and evolving landscape of higher education through a conversation with a sitting university president who is a faithful member of our congregation. This session will address critical issues such as rising costs, enrollment pressures, diversity and inclusion, the impact of technology, and the future of academic institutions in a rapidly changing world. We’ll hear insights into the decisions, dilemmas, and opportunities shaping the future of colleges and universities.

Jonathan Alger (B.A., Swarthmore College, Phi Beta Kappa; J.D., Harvard Law School, with Honors) is the 16^th president of American University.  He is an experienced and visionary higher education leader who spent the last 12 years as president of James Madison University (JMU). Under his leadership, JMU created and implemented a bold and visionary strategic plan focused on engaged learning, community engagement, and civic engagement, and developed many new initiatives such as the Valley Scholars Program for first-generation students, the comprehensive and highly successful Unleashed fundraising campaign, and the comprehensive Task Force on Racial Equity. President Alger also led JMU to achieve the R2 national research university designation and helped to grow the university’s external research funding by 92 percent from 2019 to 2023.

Jon is a nationally recognized scholar and speaker on higher education policy and law, who has published numerous articles for scholarly journals and publications such as The Journal of College and University Law and The Law of Higher Education.

A national leader in the field of civic engagement in higher education, he received the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Standout Campus President Award in 2019 and is past chair of that organization’s Presidents Council. He co-taught a leadership seminar in JMU’s Honors College and previously taught graduate and undergraduate courses at Rutgers University and the University of Michigan in law, higher education, public policy, and diversity.

Jon currently serves as chair of the national board of directors for the American Association of Colleges and Universities, as chair of the Association of Governing Boards’ Council of Presidents, and on the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. He also is a member of the Council on Competitiveness, Council on Foreign Relations, and Institute of Citizens and Scholars’ College Presidents for Civic Preparedness. He is past board chair of Campus Compact and the National Association of College and University Attorneys and has served in many other higher education board and national leadership roles.

He previously served as senior vice president and general counsel at Rutgers University, and as assistant general counsel at the University of Michigan, where he played a key leadership role in the university’s efforts in two important Supreme Court cases on diversity and admissions and coordinated one of the largest amicus brief coalitions in Supreme Court history. Earlier in his career he worked for the American Association of University Professors and the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

Jonathan Alger is an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). He and his wife Marianne returned to NPC last fall after many years away.

Stewards, Not Owners: The Joy of Aligning Your Money with Your Faith

A Time for Peace... in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine, now over two years long, has proved a severe test to President Zelensky and his people. Though still sovereign, Ukraine faces a worsening military situation, with Russia regaining momentum through mobilization and foreign support. Despite this, Ukraine continues to resist, both militarily and culturally. The U.S. and allies have so far avoided direct conflict with Russia, and public support for Ukraine remains strong, even as the issue becomes more politically divisive in Washington.

The war in Ukraine faces a complex future of amid changing U.S. leadership. Since the re-election of Donald Trump, his past rhetoric and relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin has intensified the situation. Yet President Trump appears also to a stake in preventing a complete Russian takeover of Ukraine. While Trump has so far indicated that he may not match President Biden’s level of support, the possibility for peace negotiations remains open regardless of who is in office.

The need for a negotiated settlement that preserves Ukraine’s independence and security, even if territorial compromises, seem to be required. Precisely how to strike a balance is complex. Here this morning to help us think, and pray, concerning Ukraine is Matthew Duss, Matthew Duss, is Executive Vice-President, Center for International Policy. Prior to that Matt spent a year (2022-23) as Visiting Scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. From 2017–2022, he served as foreign policy advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders. He also served as foreign policy director for the Sanders 2020 presidential campaign. From 2014–2016, he served as president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace. From 2008–2014, he was a policy analyst and national security editor at the Center for American Progress, where he directed the Center’s Middle East Progress program. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, the New Republic, the Nation, the American Prospect, and many other publications. He holds an M.A. in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Washington.

His parents are well known to many of us, and Matt can be seen worshipping with them at various times throughout the year.

The Rule of Law in Times of Turmoil: An Historical Perspective

James C. Duff has served as the Executive Director of the Supreme Court Historical Society since February 2021. He has taken a temporary leave of absence from these responsibilities to become the Interim Dean of the J. David Rosenberg College of Law at the University of Kentucky. Prior to this he was Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, by appointment of Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., from 2015 to 2021. He also served an earlier term as AO Director from 2006 to 2011. As AO Director, Duff was the Secretary of the Judicial Conference of the United States and a member of the board of the Federal Judicial Center.

Jim graduated magna cum laude from the University of Kentucky Honors Program in 1975 with a degree in political science and philosophy, where he was Phi Beta Kappa. He also was a walk-on on the university's basketball team. After studying at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in 1974, he returned to the U.S. in 1975 and worked for four years as an aide in the chambers of Chief Justice Warren E. Burger. He graduated from Georgetown Law in 1981, then worked in two law offices in Washington. From 1996 to 2000, Duff was Chief Justice William Rehnquist's Administrative Assistant, now called "Counselor to the Chief Justice," serving as his liaison with the other branches of government and as executive director of the Judicial Fellows Commission. Jim is a longtime member of National Presbyterian Church.

Faith in Turbulent Times

THE REVEREND DOCTOR MARGARET GRUN KIBBEN

CHAPLAIN, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

REAR ADMIRAL, U.S. NAVY (RETIRED)

These are the best of times (for some) and the worst of times (for others), but even Charles Dickens would agree, they are indeed turbulent times. How does faith help us to find our way through the turbulence? Margaret Kibben, Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives has a unique perspective on faith during times of turbulence, whether the context is Washington politics or combat tours on sea or land.

On January 3, 2021, Chaplain Margaret Grun Kibben was elected by the House and sworn in as the 62nd Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives, giving her 3 days to become oriented prior to the January 6 violence. Since that time she has led lawmakers spiritually in a non-partisan, focusing on God’s perspective and belief in divine sovereignty.

Chaplain Kibben is an ordained Presbyterian Minister (PCUSA) and served over thirty years as a chaplain in the United States Navy, completing her career as the U.S. Navy’s 26^th Chief of Chaplains, and previously the 18^th Chaplain of the Marine Corps. Her military service comprises variety of both Navy and Marine Corps assignments where she served ashore, at sea, and abroad, to include a combat-tour in Afghanistan.

Dr. Kibben is a graduate of Goucher College in Towson, Maryland.  She received both her Master of Divinity and her Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey.  She served as a Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace and holds a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.

Chaplain Kibben has spent her life at the intersection of faith and service. As the first woman to serve as Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives, and previously as the first female Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Navy, her leadership has been both historic and deeply grounded in spiritual conviction. Across decades of military and public service, she has guided individuals and institutions through moments of uncertainty, conflict, and transformation—always with a steady voice of wisdom and compassion.

Today, as we navigate our own turbulent times—marked by global unrest, political division, and personal uncertainty—Chaplain Kibben invites us to explore what it means to anchor our lives in faith. Her insights, shaped by firsthand experience ministering in combat zones and the halls of power alike, offer not only reflection, but also hope.

Peace and Justice in the Middle East: A Christian Perspective

What does it mean to pursue a sustainable, just peace in one of the most contested and conflict-ridden regions of the world? Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace and an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church is a respected author, theologian, and human rights advocate, who offers a Christian perspective on the urgent issues facing the Middle East—particularly in Israel and Palestine, as well as in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt.

Dr. Cannon has years of experience working with Christian communities, peacebuilders, and policy leaders in the region. We will have a conversation that explores how Christians can engage thoughtfully and faithfully in the pursuit of justice, reconciliation, and peace. The presentation will address questions such as:

· How should Christians respond to the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians?

· What is the role of the Church in advocating for human rights in countries like Syria and Egypt?

· What role do justice and peacemaking play in the Christian witness?

· How can we engage constructively across political, ethnic, and religious divides?

Especially in these divisive times, understanding the geopolitics, social considerations, and other aspects of the conflict demands that we, as people of faith, look beyond the headlines into the daily realities of people living on the ground. Join CMEP Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon to learn what it means for us as individuals and the global church to pursue peace while also advocating for justice in Israel/Palestine and beyond.

Mae Elise Cannon is the executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace and an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC). She formerly served as the senior director of Advocacy and Outreach for World Vision U.S. on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC; as a consultant to the Middle East for child advocacy issues for Compassion International in Jerusalem; as the executive pastor of Hillside Covenant Church located in Walnut Creek, California; and as director of development and transformation for extension ministries at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois. Cannon holds an MDiv from North Park Theological Seminary, an MBA from North Park University’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management, and an MA in bioethics from Trinity International University. She received her PhD in American History with a minor in Middle Eastern studies from the University of California (Davis) focusing on the history of the American Protestant church in Israel and Palestine and a DMin in Spiritual Formation from Northern Theological Seminary. She is the author of several books including the award-winning Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World and editor of A Land Full of God: Christian Perspectives on the Holy Land. Her work has been highlighted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, Chicago Tribune, Christianity Today, Leadership Magazine, The Christian Post, Jerusalem Post, EU Parliament Magazine, Huffington Post, and other international media outlets.

Finding Calm Amidst Life's Storms

Finding Calm Amidst Life’s Storms
By many measures, American are more stressed out, distracted, addled, and anxious than ever. It is easy to feel under assault, with our widespread agitation stoked by social media algorithms and exploited by commercial and political actors, and our attention monetized even as it is eroded. Amidst such tempests, how do we find calm? What practices and rhythms of rest and renewal reorient us towards walking the pilgrim way?

Longtime friend of National Presbyterian Church Cherie Harder will share how a three month sabbatical that included a significant pilgrimage that included an extended time on the Camino de Santiago in Spain offers her a renewed perspective as she has recently returned to life in Washington, DC.

Cherie Harder is President of the Trinity Forum, which is committed to the transformation and renewal of society through the transformation and renewal of society’s leaders. Prior to joining the Trinity Forum in 2008, Cherie served in the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Policy and Projects for First Lady Laura Bush. Earlier in her career she was Policy Advisor to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a member of this congregation. From 2001 to 2005, she was Senior Counselor to the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), where she helped design and launch the We the People initiative to enhance the teaching, study, and understanding of American history. Prior to that Ms. Harder was the Policy Director for Senator Sam Brownback and also served as Deputy Policy Director at Empower America.

Cherie has contributed articles to several publications and various newspapers; Her ghost-written speeches and articles have appeared in Vital Speeches of the Day, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today, and others.

She holds an Honors B.A. (magna cum laude) in government from Harvard University and a post-graduate diploma in literature from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, where she was a Rotary Scholar. She serves on the several boards, including Gordon College, and the National Museum of American Religion. Previously she served in the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Policy and Projects for First Lady Laura Bush. Earlier in her career she served as Policy Advisor to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

Faith and Foreign Policy

With an increasingly complex global landscape, there is significant debate about the role of the United States and its foreign policy. We will explore the current global challenges, the United States' foreign policy and how it has evolved, and what it means for the Christian community.

Nicole Bibbins Sedaca is the Kelly and David Pfeil Fellow at the George W. Bush Institute. Bringing her expertise on American foreign policy, democracy, freedom, human rights, and leadership, she writes and speaks on behalf of the Institute and serves as faculty in their various leadership programs.

Before joining the Bush Institute Nicole served as the executive vice president for strategy and programs at Freedom House, an organization dedicated to defending and expanding freedom throughout the world by promoting accountable government, the rule of law, civil liberties, and political rights.

Previously, she taught at Georgetown University’s Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) program, and served as the Deputy Director and Chair for the Global Politics and Security Concentration, as well as a Professor in the Practice of International Affairs in MSFS.

Nicole has held numerous positions in the public and non-governmental sectors in the United States and Ecuador. She served for ten years in the United States Department of State, working on democracy promotion, human rights, human trafficking, religious freedom, refugees, and counterterrorism. Following her governmental service, she opened and directed the International Republican Institute’s local governance program in Ecuador. She also taught at the Universidad de San Francisco de Quito (Ecuador) on democratization and conflict resolution. She also co-led the university’s Model United Nations team that won several awards in April 2009. Prior to returning to Georgetown full-time, she served as the Director of the Washington Office of Independent Diplomat, a diplomatic advisory group. Nicole has served on numerous academic and non-profit boards, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the International Justice Mission, on of NPC’s mission partners.

Nicole holds a Master’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from The College of William and Mary, where she was a Presidential and Monroe Scholar. She studied at Humboldt Universitaet in Berlin, Germany, while on a Rotary International Scholarship.