Past Events

GOING THE DISTANCE: Navigating the Path To Pastoral Vitality Frequently discussed are the pastoral hazards of acting out, burning out and falling out. Yet there is emerging clarity about the essential domains of “pastoral persistence” – and they have remarkable parallels in the writing of the Apostle Paul. There is a path to pastoral vitality – and through it many clergy are experiencing greater meaning and longevity in ministry.

This conference will aim at obtaining greater understanding of the claims for individual and political liberty contained in the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence has come to be seen as a text that is central not only to our political order, but to understanding ourselves as a people. One argument, long advanced, contends that the Constitution can only be understood in light of the animating principles of equality as enunciated in the Declaration of Independence.

Schedule Appetizers, Beverages, Cash Bar 5:00pm – Doors Open 5:30pm – Art Discussion 6:15pm – Meet & Greet, View Art

How do we shepherd the flock in the search for economically healthy and socially just urban communities? What is the role of the local church in sustainable human development? Where do we find guidance for those facing unemployment and neighborhood displacement? Join us to explore how moral and economic clarity give direction in our mission to be true disciples, fostering effective charity, empowering our congregations and creating a context for urban flourishing.

Throughout the world today, freedom is often taken for granted. Yet freedom is the exception rather than the norm in human history. It is also the case that the institutions of freedom, and particular liberties such as political freedom, religious liberty, civil freedoms, and economic liberty in the West, were decisively shaped by Judaism and Christianity. Knowledge of these contribution, however, is dangerously absent from many public discussions of freedom, and its relationship to other important values, such as dignity and solidarity.

Today, government is involved in nearly every waking second of our lives, from regulating things like the water we drink and the quality of the food we eat to preventing amateur hair stylists from ruining our hair and making sure that the roads we drive on are safe. What began as a means of promoting the general welfare has morphed into a regulatory burden that costs Americans $1.8 trillion annually--more than the GDP of all but nine countries in the world today!

Much has changed in Michigan in terms of human trafficking in the past year. No, there is not less of it; in fact, Michigan is ranked by some to be number two in the nation for trafficking. However, we are making progress in the fight: better laws, better understanding of the crime, more awareness. Much remains to be done, though. At Acton on Tap, Acton Communication Specialist, Elise Hilton, will take a look at what we know about trafficking in Michigan, what we don’t know, and what we can do in our communities to stop trafficking.

It’s no secret that the millennial generation’s prospects are lower than their parents’—but this is not an inevitable “new normal,” as we’ve been led to believe. At Acton on Tap, Jared Meyer, fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, will reveal that the millennials’ plight is the result of a generational war taking place in Washington, one in which government policies are systematically stacked against young Americans to bolster their elders.

Over the past few years there has been an increasing awareness of a need to change the models used to address the challenge of poverty in the U.S. and abroad. PovertyCure has aimed to share the voices of leaders that are asking for a new paradigm that puts the person at the center. Based on her work at the PovertyCure initiative and her experience working in her home country of Nicaragua, Anielka will share some insights regarding what communities need to thrive and how we can be part of the solution.

You're invited to enjoy dinner and a great lecture at Acton University 2015! Join us from 6pm to 8:30 on June 16, 17, 18, and 19 at the DeVos Place for four outstanding speakers. Choose one or choose all four--the choice is yours! If you've ever wanted to experience Acton University, but didn't have the time or resources, this is a perfect option.