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As a budding political scientist, Seppanen also appreciates the opportunity to think through political questions in explicitly Christian terms. Coming from a Christian college, she admits, she had perhaps taken a Christian perspective on political theory for granted. But that perspective is missing from most political-science seminars at UNC. "It is refreshing," she says, "to be able to spend the summer thinking some of these policy questions through in an atmosphere that actually encourages bringing our faith to bear on topics like school choice and gay marriage."

As for Inboden, he's thankful for his Civitas experience, even if he's not totally sold on the Kuyperian model as the best framework for his consideration of faith and public policy. There are other worthy theological paradigms to consider, he explains. Still, Inboden says he is certain of at least two things: "First, there is a lot that's compelling in the Kuyperian model's notion that Christ is the Lord over all creation, everything comes under his lordship, and there's no more or less spiritual activity. Everything can be kingdom work." Second, he adds, you don't hear a lot about kingdom work in the hallowed halls at Yale.

Lauren Winner is a staff writer for Christianity Today. The application deadline for the Civitas Summer Institute 2001 is December 1. For more information, call (410) 571-6300 or send e-mail to civitas@cpjustice.org.

"The Civitas homepage may be found at http://www.cpjustice.org/civitas/

The Pew Charitable Trusts, a Philadelphia-based foundation, invested over $250 million in 206 nonprofit organizations (including Civitas) in 1999.

Civitas is also sponsored by the Brookings Institution, the American Enterprise Institute, and the Center for Public Justice.

"Abraham Kuyper: A Christian Worldview" ran in New Horizons magazine in 1999.

Kuyper's works are available from The Kuyper Foundation.

Read Christianity Today's "Abraham Kuyper: A Man for This Season."

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

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November 13 2000, Vol. 44, No. 13