In the 3rd and final part of our conversation with Jim Lagrone of Family Council's Church Ambassador Network, April and Glen explore with Jim issues of political polarization and civil discourse. Jim stressed the importance of character in political leadership, noting that leaders mirror the values of their culture. He shared his admiration for forgiveness shown amidst tragedy. Jim also provided practical advice for navigating political polarization within congregations, advising pastors to emphasize spiritual guidance, love, and respectful communication. The discussion touched upon concerns about the divisiveness of issues like abortion and the role of the 24-hour news cycle. Jim also affirmed the importance of caring for the environment, a value he admits some Christians have not always appreciated. Given the knowledge we now have of its importance, he suggests environmental concerns should be embraced. Jim also promoted the idea of political unity through initiatives like Braver Angels, discussing the challenges of engaging conservative churches, and he shared his mixed personal feelings about figures like Donald Trump, while advising against criticizing or endorsing politicians when advocating for unity.

In part 2 of our conversation with Jim Lagrone, he tells of a Baptist pastor who moved his family into a troubled neighborhood to turn it around, showing the positive ways faith-based efforts can have impacts beyond what occurs on Sundays in church. He also described pilot programs in Arkansas and other states where churches successfully collaborated to address social needs like crime and homelessness. Jim emphasized the importance of faith leaders collaborating with government officials on shared community goals, despite potential policy disagreements. He also said he advises pastors against endorsing political candidates, despite recent IRS statements that now allow those actions in churches. Jim then argues that misconceptions of "Christian nationalism" serve primarily as a political "attack line" used to target churches. He urged Christians to focus on building genuine relationships with others and approaching them with the love and understanding of Jesus rather than resorting to judgment of others or focusing on legislating morality.

April and Glen talk with Jim Lagrone, director of the Family Council’s Church Ambassador Network (CAN). In this first part of our conversation, Jim describes his journey in ministry of nearly 50 years, which includes diverse roles like hospice chaplaincy and pastoral leadership. He shared his core leadership philosophy, which is rooted in humility, service, and a love for people. Jim admits to unexpected lessons learned about how there are people with self-serving motivations even in religious and civic spheres. He then detailed CAN's mission and operations, stressing that their work focuses on approaching and building personal relationships between pastors and legislators, while avoiding lobbying for specific legislation. These pastors help legislators by, for example, providing resources and offering guidance on political engagement. One disclosure he felt some would find surprising was that during a prior period of service on a school board, Jim voted against banning a book that was targeted locally.