photo by John Corriveau Former Michigan Speaker of the House Paul Hillegonds emphasized a balance of personal responsibility and a sense of social justice.

Attendees at the fifth annual Paul B. Henry Lecture on April 30 expected to hear U.S. Speaker of the House Denny Hastert. Instead, they got a self-proclaimed “dead duck.”

Paul Hillegonds, former Michigan Representative and Speaker of the House, spoke on the topic of “Faith in Politics,” focusing on the life of Paul Henry, former Calvin educator and civil servant, as an example. Henry, Hillegonds pointed out, did not always do what was popular, but those things that sought after justice and were grounded in principle. “He didn’t always pick the easy issues to differ with constituents on,” Hillegonds said.

Hillegonds also told his own story, illustrating the challenges that he faced in the political world, speaking to issues of importance and explaining how Henry’s leadership speaks to us today.

First, the former Speaker said, Henry’s leadership as a Christian in politics focused on issues. When it comes to issues, he said, each side of the political spectrum has different downfalls – the religious conservatives dwell mainly on the personal aspects of faith that leads them to largely push aside issues of social justice, and the religious liberals have become increasingly secularized, resulting in a loss of personal drive. Most important, he stressed, is a combination of passion for social justice balanced with a healthy sense of personal responsibility.

The second thing learned from Henry is the transcendence of partisan lines, he said. Because of past wrongs and radical historical partisanship, the American people no longer trust the government to solve problems. This cynicism, he pointed out, makes it all the harder for both Republicans and Democrats to govern once they are elected.

What Hillegonds called for is activism and “consensus building.” Legislators, he said, have to spend more time getting people active rather than solely focusing on policy. Also, in order to make a difference in politics, leaders need to come together to identify problems and propose solutions. Future leaders, he said, are those who see the pursuit of a political majority not as an end in and of itself, but as a way to promote social justice.

Also included in consensus building is recognizing the gifts God has bestowed on others. Hillegonds recognized the tension between remaining open to God’s gifts to others and our personal convictions. When do you and how do you compromise? he asked. “There is no simple formula for making moral decisions.”

Finally, he said, personal integrity should always prevail. Hillegonds saw his job as Speaker to maintain civility and the institution that “brings together a truly diverse group of men and women.” The success of a legislature depends on the relationships built, which are founded on trust and integrity. And, he said, integrity is not about winning and losing – a politician of integrity must follow the dictates of his or her conscience and soul, whether the constituency likes it or not.

After his address, Hillegonds opened up for questions and addressed topics of term limits and the church in politics.

Reaction to Hillegonds’ message was very positive.

“What Paul Hillegonds talked about was very pertinent to what I thought about public service,” said sophomore Travis Norton. “It was nice to see a public servant talk about the more enlightening aspects of public service. He didn’t talk about abstract issues, but issues he interacted with on a personal level.”

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