The Center for Christianity and Public Life (CCPL), a nonprofit founded in 2022 to promote Christian engagement in civic renewal, reported continued expansion of its programs and influence across the United States as it seeks to foster a more constructive public discourse.
According to its recently published annual report, the organization supported civic renewal initiatives in 100 cities across all 50 states in 2024, hosting more than 55 events with a combined attendance of 23,000 people. While providing an overview of activities and milestones, the group emphasized its broader mission to strengthen the credibility of Christian contributions to American public life.
“The Center was founded with two core assumptions: that the future of American democracy is inextricably linked to the shape and character of Christianity in this country, and that the kind of people we are has much to do with the kind of politics that we will have,” said Michael Wear, CCPL’s president and CEO, in an interview with Christian Daily International. “We believe spiritual formation is central to civic renewal.”
Wear, a former White House faith advisor, said he launched CCPL out of a conviction that Christian formation has a vital role in shaping the character of American democracy. “Our hope is that this report also acts as an invitation to others who have great hope for the church, and loving concern for the state of our politics and public life, to add their voice to ours,” he said.
Among the group’s core initiatives is the Public Life Fellowship, a nine-month program designed for an intergenerational cohort of Christian civic leaders. The fellowship emphasizes community-based learning at the intersection of faith and public service.
Another initiative focuses on young professionals in government and policy. The “Community of Young People in Politics” gathers participants under age 35—including staffers from the U.S. Senate, White House, and federal agencies—for monthly discussions on spiritual well-being and the integration of faith and vocation.
In 2024, CCPL also launched the Public Good Generation program, a five-day "immersive experience" aimed at high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates interested in faith and public service.
“During a tumultuous and challenging election year, CCPL advanced a vision of politics as service, and provided tangible support to civic leaders, churches, families and the general public to live into that vision,” the organization stated.
Wear said the group sought to inform public conversation around the 2024 election year “without being consumed by it,” describing the past year as foundational for creating sustainable, imaginative communities of civic leadership.
Looking ahead, Wear extended an open invitation to attend CCPL’s third annual summit, For the Good of the Public, scheduled for October 20–21, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
More information is available through the organization’s website.
