Prof. Charles J. Emmerich, J.D., LL.M. (Founder and President)
Charles J. Emmerich is Professor of Legal Studies and Legal Scholar in Residence at Olivet Nazarene University. He is also the founder of the Center for Law and Culture, a non-profit organization housed at Olivet that inspires virtuous leadership in public life by providing worldview education in the Judeo-Christian tradition. In particular, the Center’s programs educate future public leaders how to glorify God, serve their neighbors, and care for creation. Under a partnership titled “Restoring Our Noble Legal Heritage,” the Center has launched the 1215 Project at Olivet, a unique legal studies program honoring the legacy of Magna Carta that consists of seven courses tracing the Anglo- American tradition of “higher law.”
After earning a B.A. (theology and archeology) from Wheaton College, Emmerich completed a law degree (J.D.) at the University of Idaho and an advanced law degree (LL.M.) in constitutional law and history at the University of Pennsylvania. While at Penn he studied under esteemed federal appellate judge Arlin M. Adams. Prior to accepting the position at Olivet, Emmerich served as national director of law student ministries of the Christian Legal Society, as pre-law director at Wheaton College and at Trinity International University, and as executive director of the Center for Church/State Studies at DePaul University College of Law. Between 2002- 2012, Emmerich implemented and taught a rigorous politics and law curriculum at Trinity Christian College, which partnered with the Center for Law and Culture during its first decade.
He has published extensively on worldview formation and, along with his mentor Judge Adams, has co- authored articles and a book on the historical development of religious liberty. Published by the University of Pennsylvania Press and graced with a foreword by former Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, A Nation Dedicated to Religious Liberty has been praised by prominent legal scholars and cited frequently by state and federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court.
Emmerich resides with his wife, Susan, and their daughter, Lydia, in Bourbonnais, Illinois.
Mr. Jonathan D. Penner (Treasurer)
Mr. Penner owns Capital Access Corporation, a company that pairs worthy projects with investment capital. He is also a residential and commercial lender, serving in this profession for more than 20 years. Mr. Penner attended Calvin College, double-majoring in business and political science. He serves on the board of directors for the Penner Foundation, which sponsors lectures and debates on university campuses that feature expert scholars tackling controversial ethical issues.
Mr. Penner is an active member of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, currently serving in the STARS disability ministry. Mr. Penner lives in Wheaton, Illinois, with his wife, Terri, and their three children.
