Popular Political Science Prof Dies

James Penning, co-author of widely respected works examining the role religion played in politics and a longtime and well-known professor in the political science department at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., died on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, of undetermined causes.

Penning was in his second year as director of the Center for Social Research at Calvin. In his 35th year of teaching in Calvin's political science department, Penning's forte' was state and local politics. He developed many internship opportunities for students at the local level of politics. "He recognized that public life was an important calling," said Corwin Smidt, a colleague of Penning's since 1977.

For more than 25 years, Penning collaborated with Smidt on research relating to religion and politics, which resulted in their work being published in a handful of books and dozens of scholarly articles. They most recently worked together on "The Disappearing God Gap?: Religion in the 2008 Presidential Election," a book that examines the role religion played in the 2008 campaign.

Within hours of learning of Penning's passing, political science professionals from near and far were e-mailing his Calvin colleagues, praising Penning. "It is just a testimony, not just among his colleagues in the political science department, but also among his colleagues around the country," added Smidt.

Penning graduated from Calvin College with a bachelor of arts degree in 1971. He did his graduate work at the University of Kentucky, graduating with both a master's degree and PhD. Penning is survived by his wife Marge, and a number of extended family members.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 19 at La Grave Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. There will be a visitation from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Sunday, July 18 at Zaagman Memorial Chapel.