restoringourfaithvermont

Rebuilding marriage and the family as an essential unit in society instituted by God will require navigating the culture intent on destroying it. How do we lead in our churches, schools and communities? What should the messages be and how can faith leaders effectively communicate to their constituents the importance of following God’s plan for life? Featuring Mary Hasson, Dr. Pat Fagan, Tyson Langhofer, and Delano Squires

Where do we go from here? Taking our message of faith, hope and charity to the streets takes courage as well as strategic and intentional actions. As communities of faith, as individuals and as pastors and clergy, what can we do to battle back against the deceptive cultural trends – take legal action, communicate through the media, use persuasion with truthful arguments and reinforce messages from the pulpit that will lead people back to their faith in God. Featuring Mary Eberstadt, Tyson Langhofter, and Carrie Sheffield

Many cultural and faith leaders predict the difficulties of passing on the faith to the next generation. The promise of our youth becoming more religious, with a hunger for truth is a positive development. How can we continue to motivate and activate young people to study and follow the truths of God’s word including the moral practices that lead to contentment, fulfillment, and freedom? Featuring Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm and Carrie Sheffield

Without Adam and Eve, identity must be created from scratch. The rise of identity politics and the fallout of the sexual revolution has led to the collapse of the family and search for connection elsewhere. The world now looks like science fiction with a culture that no longer reflects truth, beauty and scientific reality. How has the decline of the family affected faith? How has the failure of church leaders to correct these cultural breakdowns led to a more divided and disordered society?

Throughout its history, the United States has experienced several faith revivals including “The Great Awakening” in the 18th Century. What led to these moments in church history and what was their impact? Some scholars are predicting a new awakening, while others forecast a dark time ahead for Americans of faith. Can a new understanding between Christians and Jews usher in a revival now? Featuring Pastor Gerald McDermott and Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm

The religious values and worldviews that were, once, common are now anathema as Americans of faith find themselves under attack. People are “canceled” if they express devotion to time-honored values or fail to laud the practices that deny those values. Should Christians take the path of Jews who have faced persecution throughout the centuries and separate from this antagonistic culture bent on destroying them? Featuring Liel Leibovitz

What are the repercussions of family breakdown – divorce and fatherless families while children are under attack by a secularized culture that exposes them to sexualization and violence. What has happened to our understanding of men as protectors? How has the collapse of marriage and the resulting decline in resident fatherhood contributed to the decline in Christianity and religion in the U.S.? Featuring Mary Hasson, Dr. Pat Fagan, and Delano Squires

The Biblical foundations on which Christians and Jews carryout their responsibilities in society to live faithful to their calling is a unique bond that can never be destroyed. Early Jewish civil laws, religious and political practices carried over to the U.S. and still guide the halls of power. What are the modern-day affinities between Israel and America that are essential to our understanding and how we can work together to bring a flourishing faith back to the nation? Featuring Francis X. Maier, Liel Leibovitz, and Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik

Rediscovering America through a Biblical lens as we review the Judaic participation in the American revolution and the country’s founding documents. How did the Hebrew Bible inform the American intellectual debate? How do we preserve the truths on which America was founded and restore Jewish and Christian influences in our laws and practices? Featuring Rabbi Dr. Meir Y. Soloveichik

Without a vision, the people perish according to scripture. What is our vision and how do we transform our communities, our churches, and our country with the tools we have?

Our lack of faith in God, in trusted institutions and in science has led to a societal upheaval and allowed radical ideologies to flourish. The redefinition of marriage, the belittlement of men and fathers, the children we neglect to raise are all very costly alternatives. Mary Hasson, J.D. – The Kate O’Beirne Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington D.C., Mrs. Hasson directs the Catholic Women’s Forum and is co-founder of the Person and Identity Project that helps equip parents to promote truth of the human person. Mrs. Hasson has co-authored several books on education and is frequently called upon to provide expert counsel on federal and state legislation. Pat Fagan, PhD – Founder and director of the Marriage and Religion Research Institute at The Catholic University of America, Dr. Fagan has authored over thirty synthesis papers and has commissioned dozens of original research projects in marriage, family, child development and religious practice. A native of Ireland, Dr. Fagan received his Bachelor of Social Science in sociology and social administration and a professional graduate degree in psychology as well as a Ph.D. from University College Dublin. He has been a grade school teacher, a clinical therapist specializing in child, family and marital therapy Jay Richards, Ph.D. – Director of the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Life, Religion, and Family and the William E. Simon Senior Research Fellow in Religious Liberty and Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation. He researches, writes, and speaks on policy that protects life, marriage, religious liberty, and civil society. Dr. Richards previously served as a research assistant professor in the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America. Miriam Grossman, MD – Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist, and author of Unprotected: Campus Psychiatrist Reveals How Political Correctness Endangers Every Student and Your Teaching My Child What? Dr. Grossman attended New York University Medical School and completed her residency in psychiatry, followed by a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry through Cornell University.

Throughout the Covid pandemic, Americans were receiving mixed messages from government institutions, from healthcare experts, from virologists and scientists. Mask mandates and vaccine mandates were the tip of the sphere. What was going on behind the scenes at the Centers for Disease Control, at the White House, in the media and at hospitals and why were those who raised concerns about the policies shut out of the discussion? Robin Armstrong, MD – Board Certified Physician and Co-Owner of Armstrong Medical Group,a group of hospital and nursing home physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Robin has been involved at all levels of hospital leadership including on the Board of Directors of the hospital, President of the Medical Staff, Chief of Staff, Chair of Internal Medicine. Janci Lindsay, PhD – Director of Toxicology and Molecular Biology for Toxicology Support Services, LLC. Dr. Lindsay has over 30 years of scientific experience, primarily in the areas of toxicology and immunology. Aaron Kheriaty, MD – Chief of Psychiatry & Ethics at Doc1 Health and Chief of Medical Ethics at The Unity Project. Dr. Kheriaty earned his MD degree from Georgetown University. For many years he was Professor of Psychiatry at UCI School of Medicine and Director of the Medical Ethics Program at UCI Health. He also chaired the ethics committee at the California Department of State Hospitals. Dr. Kheriaty is the author of two books. Roger Severino, JD – Vice president of Domestic Policy and The Joseph C. and Elizabeth A. Anderlik Fellow at The Heritage Foundation. A former director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Roger served during the 2020 outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic. Severino is a national authority on civil rights, conscience and religious freedom, the administrative state, and information privacy, particularly as applied to health care law and policy. Severino holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School, a master’s degree in public policy, with highest distinction, from Carnegie Mellon University.