WASHINGTON (RNS) Religion News Service is pleased to announce that Richard J. Mouw, theologian, philosopher, scholar, educator and author, will begin writing the “Civil Evangelicalism” column, focusing on how evangelicals can model a gracious spirit in addressing important issues pertaining to the common good.

Mouw is Professor of Faith and Public Life at Pasadena, Calif.-based Fuller Theological Seminary, which he led for 20 years as president (1993–2013).

A longtime educator, Mouw served for 17 years as professor of philosophy at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. He has also served as a visiting professor at the Free University in Amsterdam.

A graduate of Houghton College, Mouw studied at Western Theological Seminary and earned a master’s degree in philosophy at the University of Alberta. His Ph.D. in philosophy is from the University of Chicago.

“We are very excited that Dr. Mouw is joining Religion News Service and will provide our readers important and valuable insights,” said Thomas Gallagher, RNS CEO and Publisher.  “In this deeply polarized political environment involving issues of religious freedom, practice and persecution, Dr. Mouw’s voice is critical.”

“Richard Mouw is a man of great intellect who cares deeply about his faith and our country,” added Jerome Socolovsky, RNS Editor-in-Chief. “I have no doubt his column will become a must read for many people looking for an authoritative, sensible perspective on evangelicalism and politics today.”

“We evangelicals have not exactly established a reputation for modeling civility,” Mouw has observed.  “This is both a moral and spiritual failure on our part. I am delighted and honored to join the gifted writers at Religion News Service in promoting a much-needed—and civil!— conversation about important topics of faith and public life.”

Mouw’s inaugural column can be found here.

Mouw’s column adds to an RNS lineup that includes columnists Jonathan Merritt, David Gushee, Jeffrey Salkin, Jeffrey Weiss, Jana Riess, Mark Silk and Martin Marty.

###

About Religion News Service
Religion News Service (RNS) is an independent, nonprofit and award-winning source of global news on religion, spirituality, culture and ethics, reported by a staff of professional journalists. RNS distributes its content to some 100 print and digital commercial and faith-based news outlets.  Founded in 1934, RNS seeks to inform readers with objective reporting and insightful commentary, and is relied upon by secular and faith-based news organizations in a number of countries. RNS is affiliated with the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri.

About Dr. Richard Mouw
In addition to his academic credentials, Mouw has written widely. He has been an editor of the Reformed Journal and has served on many editorial boards, including Books and Culture. He is the author of more than 20 books, including “The God Who Commands,” “The Smell of Sawdust,” “He Shines in All That’s Fair, Culture and Common Grace,” “Uncommon Decency: Christian Civility in an Uncivil World,” “The Challenges of Cultural Discipleship,” “Talking with Mormons: An Invitation to Evangelicals,” and, most recently, “Adventures in Evangelical Civility: A Lifelong Quest for Common Ground.”

Mouw served for many years as a panelist in the online forum “On Faith” offered by the Washington Post. In 2007, Princeton Theological Seminary awarded him the Abraham Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Life. Mouw has also participated on many councils and boards, serving a term as president of the Association of Theological Schools. He served for six years as co-chair of the official Reformed-Catholic Dialogue, and is a leader in interfaith theological conversations, particularly with Mormons and Jewish groups.