In this episode of Faith & Clarity, Dr. Mark Turman is joined by Bishop Mark Beckwith of Braver Angels to explore how Christians can engage a deeply divided culture with conviction, courage, and Christlike love. They discuss the rise of polarization and declining trust in America, and why rebuilding relationships is essential for a healthier public witness. The conversation highlights practical ways believers can pursue unity without compromising truth, grounded in the Imago Dei, love of neighbor and enemy, and a commitment to faithful presence in everyday life. Bishop Beckwith also shares how initiatives like Braver Angels are helping people listen better, engage across differences, and model what it means to live as citizens of heaven in a divided world. Topics(0:00) Introduction (2:29) Meet Bishop Beckwith (6:40) How Braver Angels began (11:32) Braver Faith in churches (17:17) Politics versus faith (25:31) Faith and citizenship (28:34) Religion as democracy support (30:55) Imago Dei in practice (33:16) Love as a command (36:17) Surviving family politics (40:41) Bridgebuilding without compromise (44:51) Handling anger and ego (47:20) Conclusion ResourcesBraver AngelsDenison Forum: Our political future and an interview that moved me deeplyPew Research: Public trust in government Ask Us Anything: info@denisonforum.orgSign-up for a Denison Forum newsletter: DenisonForum.org/subscribeAbout Bishop Mark BeckwithOrdained in the Episcopal Church in 1979, Mark Beckwith served parishes in Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Elected Bishop of Newark (NJ), he served in that capacity for twelve years until his retirement in 2018. In the wake of gang violence in Newark, he helped found the Newark Interfaith Coalition for Hope and Peace. With a local Rabbi and Imam from that coalition, he appeared several times on Morning Joe, and did two PBS interview shows hosted by Jon Meacham. The three of them co-hosted A Matter of Faith, a NJ Public TV show that focused on local issues. He currently serves as the Bishop Liaison for Bishops United Against Gun Violence, a network of 100 bishops he co-founded after the Newtown, Ct. killings in 2012. He is the co-founder of Faith Leaders for Ending Gun Violence, a national ecumenical group of diverse religious leaders. He has been co-chair of Braver Faith, a department of Braver Angels, a national movement that seeks to depolarize America. He is the author of Seeing the Unseen: Beyond Prejudices, Paradigms and Party Lines (Morehouse Publishing, 2022). He posts weekly on his website, markbeckwith.net. He hosts a podcast, Reconciliation Roundtable, which involves conversations with religious and civic leaders. He offers spiritual direction and coaching for clergy. A graduate of Amherst College and Yale Divinity School, he lives in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. His passion is to invite people to look beyond and beneath their political and theological positions, which in today’s climate of polarization can be overly confining; and find hope and blessing – and a way forward. About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman serves as the Executive Director of Denison Forum, where he leads with a passion for equipping believers to navigate today’s complex culture with biblical truth. He is best known as the host of the Faith & Clarity podcast and the lead pastor of the Possum Kingdom Lake Chapel, the in-person congregation of Denison Ministries. Dr. Turman is the coauthor of Sacred Sexuality: Reclaiming God’s Design and Who Am I? What the Bible Says About Identity and Why it Matters. He earned his undergraduate degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, and received his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He later completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco. Before joining Denison Forum, Mark served as a pastor for thirty-five years, including twenty-five years as the founding pastor of Crosspoint Church in McKinney, Texas. Mark and his high school sweetheart, Judi, married in 1986. They are proud parents of two adult children and grandparents to three grandchildren. About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of our day from a biblical perspective, helping believers discern today’s news and culture through the lens of faith. Led by Dr. Jim Denison and a team of contributing writers, we offer trusted insight through The Daily Article, a daily email newsletter and podcast, along with articles, podcasts, interviews, books, and other resources. Together, these form a growing ecosystem of Christ-centered content that equips readers to respond to current events not with fear or partisanship, but with clarity, conviction, and hope. To learn more visit DenisonForum.org.
