Two former United States Senators from Indiana, Dan Coats and Joseph Donnelly, came to IWU’s Globe Theater on October 15 to discuss democracy, Christianity in American politics and their own experience of serving in U.S. governmental positions.
Dan Coats was a United States Senator from Indiana from 2011 to 2017 and Director of National Intelligence from 2017 to 2019. Joseph Donnelly was another United States Senator from Indiana from 2013 to 2019 and United States Ambassador to the Holy See from 2022 to 2024.
The event was hosted by Jerry Pattengale, an IWU professor and co-director of the Lumen Research Institute.
Shirley Hoogstra, the President Emerita of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities, moderated the discussion. Before the event began, Hoogstra addressed the audience.
“Listen in as the three of us talk about what is meaningful and necessary in the world of politics today, focusing through the lens of faith and virtue, because that is what is so key at Indiana Wesleyan University,” Hoogstra said.
Cooperation between political parties was a major part of the evening’s discussion. Hoogstra asked about how “walking across the aisle” worked sometimes and not others.
“It worked for me because I knew that if we couldn’t walk across the aisle and have the respect for the other side, we weren’t going to win anything,” Coats said.
Donnelly said that an attitude of cooperation among politicians on either side is essential. Even if they do not agree on every issue, it is still better to spend time on what is agreed on rather than fighting about differences.
“The key is that 70% of something is better than 100% of nothing,” Donnelly said.
Coats agreed.
“Together, we can get something done. Apart, we’re not going to get anything done for our families, for our state, for our country,” Coats said.
Faith shaped both of the senators’ approach to their duties.
“You try to do the best you can, but making prayer and asking God for help to see you through is very, very important,” Coats said.
The discussion was followed by Hoogstra asking the senators questions from IWU students. Pattengale ended the night by thanking Coats and Donnelly for taking the time to address the importance of democracy and a Christian perspective on American politics.
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