As our nation approaches a decision of another presidential election, they're also faced with the great challenge of discussing political issues with grace, truth, and love. Many believers fall into one of two traps: becoming so outspoken that their political fervor becomes a detriment to their Christian testimony or fearing controversy to the point of silence on important issues of faith and community. Dr. Black brings a sensibility and urgency to the issue with this nonpartisan guidebook for debating key issues with respect and conviction. For anyone frustrated until they're red in the eyes or blue in the face--or those who bite their tongues or withdraw completely from the discussion, this book is a critical manifesto to improving both our government and our sense of civility in the discourse.

DR. AMY E. BLACK is Associate Professor of Political Science and chair of the department of Politics & International Relations at Wheaton College (IL). Prior to joining the Wheaton faculty in 2001, she taught at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A specialist in American Government, her research interests include religion and politics and Congress. Her books include Religion and American Politics: Classic and Contemporary Perspectives, edited with Douglas Koopman and Larycia Hawkins (Pearson Longman, 2011), Beyond Left and Right: Helping Christians Make Sense of American Politics (Baker Books, 2008), From Inspiration to Legislation: How an Idea Becomes a Law (Prentice Hall, 2007), and, with Douglas Koopman and David Ryden, Of Little Faith: The Politics of George W. Bush's Faith Based Initiatives (Georgetown, 2004). She and her husband, Wheaton theology professor Dan Treier, live in Wheaton with their daughter Anna.