Transylvania Partners for Democracy invites citizens representing all political viewpoints to attend a talk by Tom and Elizabeth (Lib) Campbell at the Mary C. Jenkins Center in Brevard on Wednesday, July 10 at 7 p.m.

In their joint presentation—“Have We Witnessed America’s Best Days?”—Tom and the Rev. Campbell will reflect upon their own life-long involvement and observations about the difficult challenges Americans—and particularly North Carolinians—face in these divided times.

Their talk will be followed by a question-and-answer period and a discussion.

Rev. Campbell, Pastor Emeritus at Saint Mark’s United Methodist Church in Raleigh, received her BA in Religion from Meredith College and her MDiv from Duke Divinity School.

A frequent retreat leader, teacher, and preacher she led the North Carolina Academy for Spiritual Formation with her husband, Tom, for nearly ten years. A regular columnist in the Transylvania Times and other newspapers, she is the author of articles in the Journal of Worship Resources, Upper Room Disciplines and other publications. Her compassionate, but forthright sermons and articles are perhaps best captured in the closing line of a recent column in which she reflected upon the challenges of aging. “We are called,” she wrote, “to live each day boldly with hope that our life’s work is enough.”

Joining Rev. Campbell will be her husband, Tom, a “Hall of Fame” broadcaster who began his career as a part-time radio announcer in Greenville while still in high school. He went on to manage (and own) television and radio stations across the state. He is perhaps best known to North Carolinians for having created, produced and moderated the Public Television weekly talk show, NC Spin, for more than 21 years.

After ending NC Spin in 2021, he has continued his extensive involvement in state and community organizations and in North Carolina politics. Like his wife, Lib, he has been a regular columnist in newspapers across the state, including the Transylvania Times.

Always ready to listen to opposing views and to disagree with civility, Campbell has increasingly become concerned about the nation’ss bitter divisions over the past decades. As he said in a recent column, “The future of this democratic republic we have loved for 248 years is threatened and unless enough of us come together to make dramatic changes we may be another notation in history of a grand experiment that failed.”

The appearance of the Campbells is the third in a series of public talks sponsored by the Transylvania Partners for Democracy (TPD). A group of local citizens formed the organization earlier this year in an effort to bring together Transylvania County neighbors to explore the critical importance of November’s local, state and national elections in shaping the future of democracy in the United States.

 TPD welcomes supporters and financial contributions from concerned citizens as we develop monthly public forums that explore the critical consequences of the fall, 2024 elections.