FEBRUARY 2025 NEWSLETTER

At the beginning of last month, I could scarcely imagine that, before it ended, I would be walking through a wintry Central Park in New York City. Yet that's exactly what happened, as I will recount below. The past month has been a busy one, as my recently published book, Citizenship Without Illusions, is being read and reviewed. I have participated in several events related to this book, with more to come in the near future.

In my new book, I make a case for electoral reform, something we are discussing here in Canada but not, as far as I know, in the United States. Our current first-past-the-post system, which divides the country into territorial constituencies, artificially props up existing political parties and prevents new ones taking their place. Even when the parties become dysfunctional, the system continues to inflate their level of support through what amounts to arithmetical sleight of hand. I am encouraged that The New York Times recently published an extended discussion of proportional representation, an alternative that I believe is fairer in that it more faithfully reflects public opinion. This is the first sign that Americans might be rethinking their current system, which is needlessly exacerbating the current polarization. I myself published a short piece on the subject: Fixing what's broken.

There have been four more reviews of my new book since I posted my January newsletter: Faithfully political, by James R. Wood; Christian Citizenship in an Age of Trump: Participation without Illusions, by Callum MacLeod; Local Politics and Concrete Communities, by Stephen O. Presley; and Ordering our loyalties, by Ian DeJong. All are largely positive reviews, although Wood expressed reservations significant enough to warrant a reply on my part: A more nuanced ecclesiology: a response to Wood.

Over the past couple of years, I have come to know fellow IVP author, Caleb Campbell, whose Disarming Leviathan was published last summer. Late last year he interviewed me on my new book for his podcast, and that interview has now been posted online: Disarming Leviathan interview: citizenship and nationalism.

Late last month, Carmen LaBerge interviewed me for "The Reconnect" over Faith Radio, which you can listen to here. And then, on sunday, 9 February 2025, I was interviewed by Fr. Ron Lengwin for his "Amplify" programme over Pittsburgh radio station KDKA. It was a late evening two-hour interview over possibly the oldest commercial radio station in North America—a 104-year-old clear channel station reaching millions of potential listeners east of the Rockies. A minor thrill for someone who was a huge clear channel and shortwave radio fan as a boy. I was also interviewed by Sharon Kay over WFSK Radio's programme, "What's the 411?" at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Then my New York sojourn. It was an exceedingly brief visit, lasting only from the 25th to the 27th of January. On the evening of the 26th I spoke on citizenship to the assembled congregation of City on a Hill NYC, a PCA church plant that meets in rented studio space in midtown Manhattan. You can watch my talk here. An adult education group at that church is currently reading through my new book, and, as a follow-up, I spoke again remotely to the group during the evening of 13 February. Both City on a Hill and Central Presbyterian Church, a two-century-old congregation where I worshipped that morning, have been positively influenced by the late Tim Keller's ministry. Keller, you may recall, endorsed my Political Visions and Illusions several times between 2020 and 2022. I hope to stay connected with this marvellous group of Christians living and working in America's largest city.

Incidentally, my wife recently came across the observation that, if New York had remained a Dutch colony rather than going to the English, it might today be called the Big Orange rather than the Big Apple. (Well, I thought it was funny!)

Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as president, I wrote the following as a commentary on his actions during these first weeks of his second term: Executive orders versus genuine leadership.

I have recently reorganized my YouTube channel, creating playlists for different topics, as indicated here: YouTube channel organized.

And finally, I have penned a qualified tribute to a recently deceased centenarian president of the United States: Jimmy Carter's exemplary life.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support for my work. If you have contributed financially on a one-time basis in the past, please consider a regular monthly contribution, as it makes it easier for Global Scholars to set an annual budget, including the modest salary I receive from the organization. GSC's page for giving can be found here. Once you are in the page, scroll down to the heading marked DONATION DETAILS, and then choose one of the options under FUND. Americans may donate through our sister organization in the US.

Or, if you prefer, Canadian donors can donate publicly traded securities (shares or mutual funds) directly to charities without having to pay the capital gains tax. This is a cost-effective and painless way to make a donation that comes with a substantial tax incentive. By donating securities, donors pay no tax on capital gains, receive a tax receipt for the fair market value of the securities, as well as reduce their taxes. Watch this video for more information about this option: Link Charity Canada: Donation of Securities. If interested, please visit the Link Charity Canada Inc. website, and call for details at 1-800-387-8146. Link Charity Canada is a partner organization of Global Scholars Canada, so Link Charity can easily direct funds for my work. Thank you!

Yours in God's service,

David Koyzis, Global Scholar