George G. Hunter III is a professor of church growth and evangelism at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. He is the author of Christian, Evangelical & … Democrat? (2006), in which he questions the identification of the gospel with the Republican Party. He writes, “I am especially concerned for the soul and the credibility of evangelical Christianity […]

Kenneth J. Collins studies American Christianity at the Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. He can comment on the evolution of evangelicalism in the United States.

Clarke E. Cochran is an expert on religion and politics in America. His numerous books include, as co-author, Catholics, Politics and Public Policy: Beyond Left and Right and the 2007 release Church, State and Public Justice: Five Views.

P. Kent Smith is a professor of missions at the graduate school of theology at Abilene Christian University in Texas, where he teaches a course on culture and evangelism in North America. Smith has ministered for churches in Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana and Missouri.

Joel C. Hunter is pastor of the megachurch Northland, A Church Distributed, in Longwood, Fla., and author of Right Wing, Wrong Bird: Why the Tactics of the Religious Right Won’t Fly With Most Conservative Christians. He says Christians should be politically involved without sacrificing the Christian mission of service to the poor and weak. Hunter has also been involved […]

Marty Duren is a pastor of New Bethany Baptist Church in Buford, Ga., and a Southern Baptist author of the Kingdom in the Midst blog. He considers himself a “bedrock theological conservative” but has said that at Baptist meetings he feels “like a stranger in a strange land.” On his blog he has said that […]

Paul J. Dean is the pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Greer, S.C., and is a prominent radio host and commentator on conservative Christian activities. Dean wrote a January 2008 essay on Crosswalk.com titled “Cultural Engagement: Every Christian’s Obligation.”

Allison Calhoun-Brown is associate professor of political science at Georgia State University. She specializes in religion and politics and African-American politics.

David Neff is chief of Christianity Today, the leading evangelical periodical. It is based in Carol Stream, Ill. He continues to explore the relationship between history and current events in his bimonthly column, “Past Imperfect.” Contact through Paulette DePaul.