Daniel Montanez:The Evangelical Crisis and the Future of Christian Social Engagement
Channel: GIRES-Global Research Institute
Date: 2021-08-09

Daniel Montañez was born in Visalia, CA to a Mexican mother and a Puerto Rican father. He is a Ph.D. student at Boston University in the area of Theology, Ethics, and Philosophy, and an adjunct instructor for the Latino and Global Ministries Program at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is the founder and director of Mygration Christian Conference, a non-profit organization that seeks to explore God’s heart through the stories of migration in the Bible. He is also the national director for the Church of God Migration Crisis Initiative, a ministry that seeks to provide church leaders with the biblical, pastoral, and ministerial preparation to positively and proactively respond to the crisis facing our immigrant communities in the United States. Daniel is dedicated to serving his Latino/a community at the intersection of the Church, the academy, and the public square.

ABSTRACT
Throughout the history of the Christian Church, a fundamental question that has occupied the minds of its members has been, how should the Church balance its witness in the public square alongside its commitment to social engagement? This article will diagnose the central problem to achieve this goal as the evangelical crisis. This crisis manifests itself in numerous ways, such as through the exodus of the younger generation from the American evangelical church, the polarization of politics and social issues, and a toxic loyalty to partisan politics. The methodology for this investigation will be achieved through the integration of the complementary ethics and visions of evangelical leaders who have advocated for concrete implementations of social justice. The investigation seeks to a propose a socio-political system for fostering human flourishing of all members of society. I will suggest that by understanding of the history of the Church’s involvement in the public square, the evangelical Church can gain new insight and understanding on how to address the present crisis and how to properly posture itself in its commitment to social engagement today. Finally, as the evangelical Church’s commitment to social engagement is often at odds with its religious counterparts, I will also address the ethos of pluralism and religious liberty in American society and its implications for the Church’s posture.

CONFERENCE INFORMATION
"Religion and Politics in the United States"
Organizer: GIRES-Global Institute for Research Education & Scholarship  
Date: 17-18 July 2021
Place: Amsterdam (Virtual)
More information: https://www.gires.org/activities/conferences/religion-and-politics-in-the-united-states/