Faithful Christianity in a Polarized Culture | Justin Giboney

2026 Baccalaureate Service - Evan Tinkenberg

This was recorded live at our annual Baccalaureate Service on May 8, 2026.  In his role as Campus Pastor, Evan Tinkenberg reaches out to students, faculty, and staff to encourage the integration of learning and faith. He grew up 30 miles south of Chicago in northwest Indiana, where he was raised in a generously loving family and a rich community of Reformed churches. He enjoys drinking good coffee and reading eclectically; ask him for a book recommendation. Evan graduated with a B.A. in Theology from Trinity Christian College and an M.Div. from Covenant Theological Seminary, where he was awarded the Exegesis Prize. Kim, Evan’s wife, is a nurse who loves baking and cooking new foods. Together they enjoy going for coffee or bookshop dates, hiking, kayaking, and bike rides. They do much of this with their two young kids in tow. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599653/fan_mail/new] Upper House Commons gathers the university community for spiritual, intellectual, and vocational formation. We explore big ideas and engage in conversations that matter within arts and humanities, justice and society, leadership and vocation, science and technology, spiritual formation, and theology. Whether you are a student or faculty member at UW–Madison or beyond, working in the marketplace, or serving in the church, we see you as part of our university community. Gather with us for one of our programs —our “commons”— each a pasture for shared spiritual, intellectual, and vocational formation. Head over to our events [https://slbf.org/events] page to see what's coming soon, or mark your calendar for these upcoming programs. Find out more slbf.org/upperhousecommons [https://slbf.org/upperhousecommons]

2026 Baccalaureate Service - Michael Knapstad

This was recorded live from our annual Baccalaureate Service at Upper House on May 8, 2026.  Michael Knapstad is the Pastor of College Ministry & Internships at Blackhawk Church, where he has faithfully served for nearly eight years. A graduate of Fuller Seminary, Michael previously served in ministry in San Francisco. He's known for his creative and thoughtful approach to inviting students into meaningful community and encounters with the gospel. You'll often find him in the space with students on Tuesday nights and Sundays. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599653/fan_mail/new] Upper House Commons gathers the university community for spiritual, intellectual, and vocational formation. We explore big ideas and engage in conversations that matter within arts and humanities, justice and society, leadership and vocation, science and technology, spiritual formation, and theology. Whether you are a student or faculty member at UW–Madison or beyond, working in the marketplace, or serving in the church, we see you as part of our university community. Gather with us for one of our programs —our “commons”— each a pasture for shared spiritual, intellectual, and vocational formation. Head over to our events [https://slbf.org/events] page to see what's coming soon, or mark your calendar for these upcoming programs. Find out more slbf.org/upperhousecommons [https://slbf.org/upperhousecommons]

Let the Art Speak - On Hope

At the heart of the 5th annual Let the Art Speak conference — held at Upper House, a Christian study center near the University of Wisconsin–Madison — visual artist Tim Lowly and United Methodist minister and writer Rev. Sherrie Lowly delivered the Saturday plenary session: "Trying to Get a Sense of Scale." Their talk began not with art theory, but with a life: their daughter Temma, now 40, who has lived with profound cognitive and physical disabilities since a cardiac arrest in the first days of her life. For Tim, Temma has been the center of his artistic practice for decades. For Sherrie, she has been the subject of a memoir and a guide into mystery. Together, they asked the question every artist must eventually face — Who, or what, is truly at the center of your work? Rooted in resurrection theology and the writings of N.T. Wright, this session reframes artistic vocation as participation in God's ongoing work of new creation. No sketch, no song, no poem made in the Spirit is "mere." Every act of beauty and care, Wright argues, finds its way into the world God is making. Tim Lowly — who spent nearly three decades as gallery director and artist-in-residence at North Park University in Chicago — walked through his paintings, collaborative works, and a current drawing series, each one a meditation on human dignity, presence, and scale. Sherrie read from her memoir-in-progress, offering a rare and unflinching portrait of what it means to raise a child the world would rather set aside, and to find God precisely there. The session also engaged Rebecca Solnit's Hope in the Dark, exploring how history-changing movements often grow unseen — like mushrooms underground — until the right moment. A message for artists who wonder whether their work matters. This recording is an invitation to artists, makers, writers, musicians, clergy, and communities of faith who are wrestling with hope in a divided and often discouraging world. ABOUT Let the Art Speak: is an annual conference for artists, writers, musicians, makers, and all who believe that creative expression is essential to hope and human flourishing. Hosted by the SL Brown Foundation at Upper House — a Christian study center near the University of Wisconsin–Madison. 🌐 Learn more: https://slbf.org/ltas [https://slbf.org/ltas] 📍 Upper House | Madison, Wisconsin Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599653/fan_mail/new] Upper House Commons gathers the university community for spiritual, intellectual, and vocational formation. We explore big ideas and engage in conversations that matter within arts and humanities, justice and society, leadership and vocation, science and technology, spiritual formation, and theology. Whether you are a student or faculty member at UW–Madison or beyond, working in the marketplace, or serving in the church, we see you as part of our university community. Gather with us for one of our programs —our “commons”— each a pasture for shared spiritual, intellectual, and vocational formation. Head over to our events [https://slbf.org/events] page to see what's coming soon, or mark your calendar for these upcoming programs. Find out more slbf.org/upperhousecommons [https://slbf.org/upperhousecommons]

Faithful Christianity in a Polarized Culture | Justin Giboney

Our culture—and our churches—are growing increasingly polarized, leaving many Christians unsure of how to function faithfully within their communities. Families, neighbors, and congregations feel divided, even paralyzed, by widening gulfs. How should Christians think and talk about this moment, and what paths toward reconciliation are possible? Join us for an inspiring and timely evening with Justin Giboney, co-founder of the AND Campaign and author of Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around. Drawing on the Black church’s legacy of holding together justice and moral order, Justin will challenge us to move beyond the culture wars and recover a faithful, courageous Christian public witness. With clarity and conviction, he will offer a hopeful roadmap for civic engagement rooted in humility, truth, and love—inviting us to rethink partisan assumptions, cultivate moral imagination, and pursue bridge-building engagement shaped by the kingdom of God. This event was recorded live at Upper House on April 9, 2026. Justin E. Giboney (JD, Vanderbilt University) is cofounder and president of the AND Campaign, a Christian civic organization equipping believers to engage public life with the love and truth of Jesus Christ. An ordained minister, attorney, and political strategist, he is the author of Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around and coauthor of Compassion (&) Conviction. He has been featured in The New York Times and Christianity Today, and lives in Atlanta with his wife and three sons. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599653/fan_mail/new] Upper House Commons gathers the university community for spiritual, intellectual, and vocational formation. We explore big ideas and engage in conversations that matter within arts and humanities, justice and society, leadership and vocation, science and technology, spiritual formation, and theology. Whether you are a student or faculty member at UW–Madison or beyond, working in the marketplace, or serving in the church, we see you as part of our university community. Gather with us for one of our programs —our “commons”— each a pasture for shared spiritual, intellectual, and vocational formation. Head over to our events [https://slbf.org/events] page to see what's coming soon, or mark your calendar for these upcoming programs. Find out more slbf.org/upperhousecommons [https://slbf.org/upperhousecommons]

Singleness is for Everyone - Lecture 2

Singleness is increasingly common in the church. At the time of this event, nearly 40% of Christians ages 30–49 identified as single, yet many described this season as marked by confusion, marginalization, or a lack of clear theological guidance. What does Scripture say about singleness—and how might it be understood not as a problem to solve, but as meaningful within the life of faith? We gathered at Upper House for an evening conversation open to anyone who had considered questions about singleness—whether single, married, seeking deeper community, or simply curious about God's design for human life and calling. Together, we explored how the Christian tradition speaks thoughtfully and honestly about singleness at every stage of life. Even if you were not single yourself, chances were that someone you loved was. This gathering aimed to build understanding and empathy across life stages, offering theological depth alongside genuine community for those seeking clarity, encouragement, and a more faithful imagination for singleness. The evening allowed time to build new relationships, enjoy food and worship, and receive insightful teaching from Dr. Devin White on the theology of singleness. We concluded with prayer ministry and open dialogue, creating a welcoming, low-pressure space to seek God together and respond personally. Dr. Devin L. White serves as Fellow in Biblical Studies at the Lumen Center and is the author of Teacher of the Nations, a study of Paul's engagement with ancient educational traditions, and Christ Reads in Me (forthcoming), which explores how Paul's approach to Scripture continues to shape Christian interpretation today. His scholarship has appeared in peer-reviewed journals, and he regularly teaches, preaches, and facilitates learning experiences in local churches, bridging rigorous scholarship and the life of faith. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599653/fan_mail/new] Upper House Commons gathers the university community for spiritual, intellectual, and vocational formation. We explore big ideas and engage in conversations that matter within arts and humanities, justice and society, leadership and vocation, science and technology, spiritual formation, and theology. Whether you are a student or faculty member at UW–Madison or beyond, working in the marketplace, or serving in the church, we see you as part of our university community. Gather with us for one of our programs —our “commons”— each a pasture for shared spiritual, intellectual, and vocational formation. Head over to our events [https://slbf.org/events] page to see what's coming soon, or mark your calendar for these upcoming programs. Find out more slbf.org/upperhousecommons [https://slbf.org/upperhousecommons]