Does today’s political climate leave you frustrated and discouraged? When you think about politics, do you get a sinking feeling in your stomach? Do you wonder if there is a way to speak truth without caving to fits of anger and name calling?
Two-term Governor of Tennessee Bill Haslam reveals how faith -- too often divisive and contentious -- can be a redemptive and unifying presence in the public square.
As a former mayor and governor, Bill Haslam has long been at the center of politics and policy on local, state, and federal levels. And he has consistently been guided by his faith, which influenced his actions on issues ranging from capital punishment to pardons, health care to abortion, welfare to free college tuition. Yet the place of faith in public life has been hotly debated since our nation's founding, and the relationship of church and state remains contentious to this day—and for good reason. Too often, Bill Haslam argues, Christians end up shaping their faith to fit their politics rather than forming their politics to their faith. They seem to forget their calling is to be used by God in service of others rather than to use God to reach their own desires and ends.
Faithful Presence calls for a different way. Drawing upon his years of public service, Haslam casts a remarkable vision for the redemptive role of faith in politics while examining some of the most complex issues of our time, including:
- partisanship in our divided era;
- the most essential character trait for a public servant;
- how we cannot escape "legislating morality";
- the answer to perpetual outrage; and
- how to think about the separation of church and state.
For Christians ready to be salt and light, as well as for those of a different faith or no faith at all, Faithful Presence argues that faith can be a redemptive, healing presence in the public square—as it must be, if our nation is to flourish.
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PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
If you’re burned out on political discourse in America, you’re not hearing from voices like Bill Haslam. Refreshing, funny, nuanced, and insightful, this book will give you hope in the country you love.
-DONALD MILLER, author and CEO of Business Made Simple
If you’re concerned about the ways in which the Christian faith has become such a divisive factor in our national politics, Faithful Presence is the book you must read. At a time when our political discourse has devolved into a ‘Hatfields vs. McCoys’ kind of blood feud, Governor Bill Haslam offers a desperately needed third way—not angry divisiveness, not passive-aggressive conflict avoidance, but a way of humble and authentic engagement—with faith serving not as a political weapon but as a moral compass.
-RICHARD STEARNS, president emeritus of World Vision US and
author of The Hole in Our Gospel and Lead Like It Matters to God
I can think of no leader in public life who better exemplifies character, reasonableness, prudence, and tenacity more than Bill Haslam. This book takes the reader through major decision points in Governor Haslam’s life while elaborating on how we could have a politics of principle and even humility. This book calls us away from the way of Machiavelli and toward the way of Jesus. This book is not just for those in or considering a political life, but for everyone who leads in any arena of life. This is the book we need right now, and it comes not a moment too soon.
-RUSSELL MOORE, president of Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
Bill Haslam has written a superb book on faith and politics, drawing on lessons from the Bible, history, and his own consequential life. Faithful Presence is engaging and insightful, challenging and candid, and oh-so-timely. In an age in which prominent figures have discredited the Christian witness in the political arena, Haslam shows us the way out and the way up. This book will give you hope.
-PETER WEHNER, New York Times op-ed contributor and senior advisor to President George W. Bush
As our country seems to be more divided than ever, Faithful Presence seems to be written for such a time as this. Guided by his faith and leadership experience, and with refreshing humor and humility, Bill Haslam has written a book that takes on the complexities of being a Christian in public office. As a Democrat who served with Governor Haslam, I cannot recommend this book enough. Whether you are in elected office or not, it’s a voice we need to help heal our nation.
-RAUMESH AKBARI, Tennessee State Senate, Democratic caucus chair
Bill Haslam uses his remarkable political experience to explore how people who believe in truths beyond power politics can be a key part of healing the deep divides in our country. Perhaps people who understand the reality of the image of God in all of our neighbors—and who believe in the Gospels that free us to love unconditionally—can humbly point to a different way of living with even our scary differences.
-SEN. BEN SASSE, United States Senator
For too long, politics has been treated as an area of life in which Jesus is at a terrible disadvantage. Those who follow Jesus, then, are best advised to be involved in politics only to mitigate their losses, if even that. Of course, throughout American history—indeed, the history of politics around the world—there are countless examples of those who have acted in politics not to be served, but to serve. Christians are called to be faithful in all of life, including politics, and the church desperately needs to hear and heed this call. My friend, Bill Haslam, is a Christian who has heeded that call. In Faithful Presence, you’ll learn from someone who has been at the very height of our politics, who has borne the burden of political leadership, and insists faithfulness is the best way to meet the challenges of our day. I share Bill’s conviction. I encourage people of every political persuasion to read this valuable book. Consider how your pursuit of faithfulness might influence how you think about political life and the positive contribution you can make.
-MICHAEL WEAR, author of Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America
Bill Haslam is the former two-term mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee, and former two-term governor of Tennessee, reelected in 2014 with the largest victory margin of any gubernatorial election in Tennessee history. During his tenure, Tennessee became the fastest improving state in the country in K-12 education and the first state to provide free community college or technical school for all of its citizens, in addition to adding 475,000 net new jobs. Haslam serves on the boards of Teach for America and Young Life. In the fall of 2019, Haslam became a visiting professor of political science at Vanderbilt University. He and his wife of forty years, Crissy, have three children and ten grandchildren.