2009 CACE Penner Debates

Exploring Christian Identity: Can you be Catholic and Evangelical?

Thursday, September 3, 2009
featuring Francis Beckwith and Timothy George,
moderated by Chris Castaldo.

Francis J. Beckwith is Professor of Philosophy & Church-State Studies at Baylor University. He teaches in the departments of philosophy and political science as well as the J. M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies, where he served as its Associate Director from July 2003 until January 2007. He is also a Resident Scholar in Baylor's Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR). A graduate of Fordham University (Ph.D. and M.A. in philosophy), he also holds the Master of Juridical Studies (M.J.S.) degree from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. His books include Return to Rome: Confessions of an Evangelical Catholic (Brazos Press, 2009); Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Case Against Abortion Choice (Cambridge University Press, 2007). He and his wife, Frankie, are parishioners of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and live in Woodway, Texas.

Timothy George has been the dean of Beeson Divinity School since its inception in 1988. As founding dean, George has been instrumental in shaping its character and mission. He teaches church history and doctrine. He serves as executive editor for Christianity Today, and on the editorial advisory boards of The Harvard Theological Review, Christian History and Books & Culture. He has served on the Board of Directors of Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. George has written more than 20 books and regularly contributes to scholarly journals. His book, Theology of the Reformers, has been translated into several languages, and is used as a textbook in many schools and seminaries. His most recent books are Is the Father of Jesus the God of Muhammad? and The Mark of Jesus: Loving in a minister, he has been pastor Way the World Can See (with John Woodbridge). He has been active in evangelical-Roman Catholic Church dialogue. An ordained of churches in Tennessee, Alabama and Massachusetts. He and his wife, Denise, have two adult children.

Moderator, Chris Castaldo serves as Pastor of Outreach and Church Planting at College Church in Wheaton, IL. Chris has earned degrees from Moody Bible Institute (BA, Bible and theology), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (MDiv), and has completed graduate work at Harvard Divinity School. He lives outside of Chicago with his wife Angela and three boys. As a cradle Catholic, Chris has enjoyed many long term relationships with Catholic friends and family, and for years worked in the Catholic Church alongside of bishops, priests, and nuns. Currently, he serves in a community with a sizable Catholic presence. Chris is author of Holy Ground, Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic.