Yet another introduction
Thanks to Andy for inviting me to join this very interesting conversation. A few words by way of introduction...
I’m a political scientist who works at the intersection of economics and politics. Most of my prior work has examined the way central bank independence and international capital mobility influence the ability of elected leaders to use macroeconomic policy for political purposes. I am currently working on two projects: on examines the link (or absence, thereof) between foreign aid and economic growth, the second examines what might called the industrial organization of religions “firms.” Specifically, I’d like to see if who “hires and fires” local pastors influences church growth.
I came to the University of Michigan a year ago after six years at NYU, one at Princeton as a post-doc, and three at Georgia Tech. I received my Ph.D. from Rutgers in 1993 (if memory serves me).
I was (in a somewhat rebellious way) a devout Catholic as a youth but spent most of my “adult” life as an agnostic. I put my faith in Christ while attending a Christian & Missionary Alliance Church in the greater Princeton area several years ago and have been attempting to balance an active ministry life and my academic career ever since. My wife Laurie and I were part of a small team of people that helped start a church in lower Manhattan (Mosaic Manhattan) and we now attend one of the fastest growing mega churches in the country (Northridge Church), where I play bass and guitar in the churches worship band. (Andy, I'll provide links to these places at some point, but it didn't work the first time I tried and I'll have to play with it when I have more time).
I'm doggedly post-denominational and don't feel comfortable under any category, but most of my colleagues think of me as an evangeligcal. I like C.S. Lewis' notion of a "Mere Christian" . I know Lewis was clearly not advocating people avoiding denominational commitments - to use his metaphor I'm happy out in the hallway.
I look forward to learning a lot from the impressive and diverse group of thinkers contributing to this discussion.
I’m a political scientist who works at the intersection of economics and politics. Most of my prior work has examined the way central bank independence and international capital mobility influence the ability of elected leaders to use macroeconomic policy for political purposes. I am currently working on two projects: on examines the link (or absence, thereof) between foreign aid and economic growth, the second examines what might called the industrial organization of religions “firms.” Specifically, I’d like to see if who “hires and fires” local pastors influences church growth.
I came to the University of Michigan a year ago after six years at NYU, one at Princeton as a post-doc, and three at Georgia Tech. I received my Ph.D. from Rutgers in 1993 (if memory serves me).
I was (in a somewhat rebellious way) a devout Catholic as a youth but spent most of my “adult” life as an agnostic. I put my faith in Christ while attending a Christian & Missionary Alliance Church in the greater Princeton area several years ago and have been attempting to balance an active ministry life and my academic career ever since. My wife Laurie and I were part of a small team of people that helped start a church in lower Manhattan (Mosaic Manhattan) and we now attend one of the fastest growing mega churches in the country (Northridge Church), where I play bass and guitar in the churches worship band. (Andy, I'll provide links to these places at some point, but it didn't work the first time I tried and I'll have to play with it when I have more time).
I'm doggedly post-denominational and don't feel comfortable under any category, but most of my colleagues think of me as an evangeligcal. I like C.S. Lewis' notion of a "Mere Christian" . I know Lewis was clearly not advocating people avoiding denominational commitments - to use his metaphor I'm happy out in the hallway.
I look forward to learning a lot from the impressive and diverse group of thinkers contributing to this discussion.
Posted by William Clark on
Saturday September 10, 2005 at 10:41am