For the Good of the Public 2025

Join the Center for Christianity and Public Life for our third annual summit, For the Good of the Public on October 20-21, 2025, in Washington D.C.

For the Good of the Public is the premier national event that gathers service-minded leaders to learn and act together, inspired by the potential for Christian contributions to our politics and public life, for the good of all. At this event, we consider carefully curated conversations that lead to practical action: how to know and care for our neighbors, build stronger neighborhoods, fight poverty, pursue justice, and influence policy.

Our speakers include elected officials and policymakers, theologians and scholars, next-generation voices and nonprofit practitioners—offering both inspiration and tools for meaningful work. In a time of cynicism and disillusionment, our summit lifts up the good, and spurs creative action.

Here’s a glimpse of some of the inspiring voices you can look forward to hearing:

• The Hon. John Kasich, the former Governor of Ohio and author of the new book Heaven Help Us, will share his deep conviction that this is a vital time for religious communities to lead with service. We’ll also host a special book signing with Governor Kasich exclusively for summit attendees.
• Freya India, one of the leading public interpreters of modern life and Gen-Z, India will discuss why young people are reconsidering purpose, morality, and meaning in light of massive technological and cultural changes.
• Meghan Sullivan, Notre Dame philosophy professor and co-author of The Good Life Method, shares what the “good life” has to do with the public good.
• Joshua DuBois, CEO of Values Partnerships and former head of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and Richard Reeves, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and President of the American Institute for Boys and Men, will participate in a conversation about the well-being of boys and men in American life.
• Justin Giboney, co-founder of the AND Campaign, will share how the Black Church’s social action tradition can inspire hope and healing in the face of today’s polarized culture wars — you’ll also be able to get prerelease copies of Justin’s new book, Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around.
• Joanna Taft, Executive Director at the Harrison Center for the Arts, and Shamichael Hallman, Director of Civic Health and Economic Opportunity at Urban Libraries Council and author of Meet Me at the Library, explore how we might think about the power of civic infrastructure and the place of beauty and design in public, civic spaces.
• Jonathan Eig, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of King: A Life, reflects on what the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., means for our current moment.
• Dan Cardinalli, Murdock Trust; Julia Moore, UNC Charlotte; and Alexia Salvatierra, Fuller Theological Seminary, share paradigms for peacemaking.

…and much, much more

In the last three years, For the Good of the Public has become a distinct gathering where pastors, nonprofit leaders, policymakers, educators, and business professionals consider some of the most pressing issues in our public life. Attendees leave our summit with deepened faith, renewed commitments, fresh ideas and catalytic relationships.

But don't just take our word for it — check out last year's recap video below!