Jerry Zandstra
Encyclopedia
Gerald "Jerry" Zandstra is an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church
and a conservative
activist from Michigan
. He is the head of the Pro-Life Federation of Michigan.
nomination for the U.S. Senate
in 2006, for the seat now held by Democrat Debbie Stabenow
, who is running for re-election. Running as an outsider candidate with little funding, Zandstra failed to make the ballot after the Michigan Secretary of State's office determined he filed too few signatures (712 short of 15,000). Zandstra decided not to legally challenge that determination despite his claim to the Board of Canvassers that enough of the 1400 challenged signatures were legally valid.
Zandstra was most noted for his support of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
, or Proposal 2. He was the only Senate candidate in the Republican field that supported the initiative, which eventually went on to win 58% - 42%.
On August 1, 2006, Zandstra announced his support for Keith Butler at a press conference held in Grand Rapids. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, the front-runner, went on to win the Republican primary, but lost to Stabenow in the general election.
from Calvin College
, two Master's degree
s from Calvin Theological Seminary
, a Doctor of Divinity
from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
, and is completing a second doctorate
from the Western Michigan University
School of Public Affairs
. He has taught in several colleges and graduate schools, focusing mostly on economics and leadership. He is a former director of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. He has published articles in newspapers throughout the United States and has traveled the world extensively. Zandstra was an advisor to the Kenyan Constitutional Committee.
Zandstra serves as the chairman for the Michigan chapter of Americans for Prosperity
.
He currently is preaching at Wayland CRC and Hillside Community Church.
He teaches classes at Cornerstone University.
Zandstra played the character Reverend Jerry Wells in The Genesis Code, produced by American Epic Entertainment, of which he is the vice-president.
Christian Reformed Church in North America
The Christian Reformed Church in North America is a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States and Canada. Having roots in the Dutch Reformed churches of the Netherlands, the Christian Reformed Church was founded by Gijsbert Haan and Dutch immigrants who left the Reformed Church in...
and a conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
activist from Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. He is the head of the Pro-Life Federation of Michigan.
Politics
Zandstra sought the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination for the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 2006, for the seat now held by Democrat Debbie Stabenow
Debbie Stabenow
Deborah Ann Greer "Debbie" Stabenow is the junior United States Senator from Michigan and a member of the Democratic Party. Before her election to the U.S. Senate, she was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Michigan's 8th congressional district from 1997 to 2001...
, who is running for re-election. Running as an outsider candidate with little funding, Zandstra failed to make the ballot after the Michigan Secretary of State's office determined he filed too few signatures (712 short of 15,000). Zandstra decided not to legally challenge that determination despite his claim to the Board of Canvassers that enough of the 1400 challenged signatures were legally valid.
Zandstra was most noted for his support of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
The Michigan Civil Rights Initiative , or Proposal 2 , was a ballot initiative in the U.S. state of Michigan that passed into Michigan Constitutional law by a 58% to 42% margin on November 7, 2006, according to results officially certified by the Michigan Secretary of State. By Michigan law, the...
, or Proposal 2. He was the only Senate candidate in the Republican field that supported the initiative, which eventually went on to win 58% - 42%.
On August 1, 2006, Zandstra announced his support for Keith Butler at a press conference held in Grand Rapids. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, the front-runner, went on to win the Republican primary, but lost to Stabenow in the general election.
Miscellaneous
Zandstra holds a Bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Calvin College
Calvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
, two Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
s from Calvin Theological Seminary
Calvin Theological Seminary
Calvin Theological Seminary is a seminary affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and closely tied to Calvin College, though each institution has its own board. Rev...
, a Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is an evangelical Christian seminary located in Deerfield, Illinois. TEDS is one of the largest seminaries in the world, enrolling more than 1,200 graduate students in professional and academic programs, including more than 150 in its PhD programs...
, and is completing a second doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from the Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
School of Public Affairs
. He has taught in several colleges and graduate schools, focusing mostly on economics and leadership. He is a former director of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. He has published articles in newspapers throughout the United States and has traveled the world extensively. Zandstra was an advisor to the Kenyan Constitutional Committee.
Zandstra serves as the chairman for the Michigan chapter of Americans for Prosperity
Americans for Prosperity
Americans for Prosperity is a Washington, D.C.–based political advocacy group. According to their literature, they promote economic policy that supports business, and restrains regulation by government...
.
He currently is preaching at Wayland CRC and Hillside Community Church.
He teaches classes at Cornerstone University.
Zandstra played the character Reverend Jerry Wells in The Genesis Code, produced by American Epic Entertainment, of which he is the vice-president.