Spring 2012: (March) "Is America Under Siege? The Threat of Religion to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" IPS is co-sponsoring, with The Buxton Initiative and the Ethica Foundation, to host a roundtable discussion with Christian and Muslim thought leaders to discuss and address the role of Islam and Christianity in America.  The goals of hosting this discussion include:

• to personalize each religion by giving Islam and Christianity a name and a face
• to educate guests and viewers on both religions in order to dispel ignorance
• to address controversial and sensitive topics in a thoughtful, authentic manner
• to create an educational tool (DVD) that can be used in high school/college classrooms

No topic or question will be off-limits.  Within the context of a 'safe table' built on relationship and trust, the presenters will candidly address the difficult issues.  Generating the most robust discussion and obtaining the best answers possible starts with asking the presenters the right questions. Planning topics to be discussed are about Sharia law and its implications, the evangelical Christian view on homosexuality and marriage, the Tea Party movement and abortion.  NOTE: This event is by invitation only. If interested in attending, please contact Meredith Duncan, Director of Operations.

Fall 2011: (Nov. 30) "Generational Conflict: The New Economic Landscape from Different Faith-Centered Perspectives". The congressional deficit "Super Committee" (the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction) was scheduled to announce recommendations at the end of November 2011. IPS hosted a faith-centered, cross-generational conversation among people representing diverse perspectives on this issue. Select speakers and respondents examined the policy priorities that must be taken into account when considering the recommendations of the Super Committee.  Keynote speakers included Doug Bandow (Cato Institute) and Ron Sider (Evangelicals for Social Action).  Distinguished panel respondents included Lisa Sharon Harper (Sojourners), Christine Kim (Heritage Foundation) and Jeremy White (RestoreHope Consulting).  This event was held in the Rayburn House Office building.  

Fall 2011: (Oct. 19) IPS held its first event in honor of former Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR). Mr. Hatfield was former governor of Oregon and then served for three decades in the U.S. Senate.  He exemplified a person who carried his faith in Jesus Christ into his daily life.  President Bill Clinton said, "Senator Hatfield loves his enemies and thus he has no enemies." Rich Gathro, Dean of Nyack College DC, opened the evening sharing about Nyack, followed by personal testimony about his relationship with the Senator.  Next, the evening featured a presentation by Tom Getman, CEO of the Getman Group, who served as Mr. Hatfield's legislative director and subsequently become executive director of International Relations for World Vision. Getman then introduced the film, "Little Town of Bethlehem," a documentary produced by Ethnographic Media about three peacemakers in the Middle East: a Christian, a Muslim and a Jew. Friends of Nyack, the Green family, had a major role in producing the film.  IPS plans to have an annual lecture in honor of the Senator. 

Spring 2011: (May 23) IPS hosted an event, "The New Winds: A Faith-based Perspective on Changes in the Middle East." It was a confidential, off-the-record conversation with professionals who work in the Middle East.  Speakers included Mike Boda (Principal, Boda Consultancies), Andrew Bruce (Political Affairs Officer, United Nations Department of Political Affairs) and David Lowe (International Advisory Board member at Oxford Analytica Inc. and advisor to Open Source Works, an arm of the CIA).

Fall 2010: (Nov. 3, Oct. 13 and Sept. 22) IPS co-sponsored a series of three panel discussions titled "Advancing Human Dignity & Responsibility through Immigration Reform".  The series featured leading Christian experts discussing the relationship between immigration and three key topics: social integration, the workforce, and security.Other series sponsors were The Center for Public Justice, The Institute for Global Engagement, The National Association of Evangelicals and The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.  All discussions were held in the Senate Building. 

Spring 2010: (May 19, Apr. 29 and Mar. 17) IPS and the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) sponsored a series of lectures related to faith-based responses to the Middle East Conflict. Lecturers were Michael Gerson (The Washington Post), E.J. Dionne (The Washington Post) and Andrea Bartoli (The School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University). Gerson's "Faith or Fanaticism" addressed the problem and promise of faith and politics in the Middle East.  Dionne spoke about hunger, housing and social justice in "Cries for Justice".  Bartoli's "Overcoming Violence" looked at fresh approaches to conflict resolution in the Middle East.

Fall 2009: (Nov. 11, Oct. 22 and Sept. 24) IPS hosted a series of free, public lecture series entitled "The Imperiled Promise of the Common Good" topromote conversations about elements that make our democratic society unique and the challenges that threaten it.  Lecturers were Thomas Gibson (USA Today), Clarke Cochran (Covenant Health Mission) and Michael Duffy (TIME Magazine).  Gibson discussed the role of freedom of the press and the daily challenges that threaten it in his lecture "The Imperiled Promise of Freedom of the Press". Cochran looked at health care in "The Imperiled Promise of Health Care Reform" and Duffy addressed the freedom of religion in "The Imperiled Promise of Religious Leadership in Politics".

IPS often partners with similarly-driven institutions, individuals and organizations to offer free or reduced-cost events.  If you would like to sponsor an upcoming event, then please direct inquiries to Meredith Duncan, Director of Operations, via email or phone (202) 220-1302.

IPS partners include:

• The Buxton Initiative
• The Center for Public Justice
• The Ethica Foundation
• The Institute for Global Engagement
• The National Association of Evangelicals
• The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
• The Washington Institute