George Heartwell on Public Theology as Mayor of Grand Rapids

Abstract

A conversation with former Grand Rapids mayor Rev. George Heartwell (WTS '88): “I believe that politics, narrowly defined, has no place in the pulpit. That said, to not preach a prophetic gospel is to diminish and de-fang if you will the power of the Gospel. The pastor in her or his preaching has to walk that really really difficult line between not being political, but being prophetic.”