Starting in 1991 as Calvin Forum, Inner Compass (2000–2013) sought to provide refreshingly candid conversations with articulate people who have thought broadly and deeply about issues that matter. It served as a venue for exploring how people use faith and ethics to guide them through the critical issues of the day and was “unafraid of wide territory, knowing everything belongs to God.” The program was a public service to the community and Calvin’s constituents, guiding viewers through ethical decisions as Inner Compass promoted a belief in the absolutes of right and wrong while encouraging openness to challenge one another on ethical judgments. Starting as a public access program, Inner Compass moved to WGVU, a local PBS affiliate, where it aired nationally for 15 years, eventually being syndicated on about 60 PBS stations. It was the only public television series in the country offered by a Christian college.
Submissions from 2008
Season 8 Episode 17: Is More Better? Rethinking Consumption, Bill McKibben and Karen Saupe
Season 8 Episode 18: Stand If Able: Disability & the Church, Christopher Smit and Karen Saupe
Season 8 Episode 19: The Life of a Scientist Mom, Margaret Lowman and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 8 Episode 20: Christians in the Courtroom, Stephen Bloom and Karen Saupe
Season 8 Episode 6: Suffering in Marriage, David Gushee and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 8 Episode 7: Lower to Middle Class: Building Bridges, Ron Jimmerson and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 8 Episode 8: Equality or Equity? Defining Justice, Michelle Lloyd-Paige and Karen Saupe
Season 8 Episode 9: Women in Political Leadership, Eleanor Clift and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 9 Episode 10: Giving Advice, Amy Dickinson and Karen Saupe
Season 9 Episode 11: An Orphan Crisis, Kerry Hasenbalg and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 9 Episode 1: Striving Toward Multiethnic Church, Geraldo Marti and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 9 Episode 2: Evangelicals and Mary, Timothy George and Karen Saupe
Season 9 Episode 3: Questioning 'Emergent' Churches, Kevin DeYoung, Ted Kluck, and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 9 Episode 4: Progressive Evangelical Politics, Jim Wallis and Karen Saupe
Season 9 Episode 5: Politics by the Bible, Stephen Monsma and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 9 Episode 6: Socially Responsible Clothing, Marta Swain and Karen Saupe
Season 9 Episode 7: Setting Personal & Professional Boundaries, Henry Cloud and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 9 Episode 8: Silent Racism, Barbara Trepagnier and Karen Saupe
Season 9 Episode 9: Explaining 'Emergent' Churches, Peter Rollins and Shirley Hoogstra
Submissions from 2007
Season 7 Episode 10: Immigration's Effect on American Religion, Jose Casanova and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 7 Episode 11: Supporting Locally-Owned Businesses, Michael Shuman and Karen Saupe
Season 7 Episode 12: The New Central Asia, S. Frederick Starr and June Hamersma
Season 7 Episode 13: Racial Report Card for Sports, Richard Lapchick and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 7 Episode 14: Christian Dating: Is Dating an Appropriate Practice for Christians?, Lauren Winner and Karen Saupe
Season 7 Episode 15: Authentic Race Relations, Brenda Salter-McNeil and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 7 Episode 16: Fighting Poverty with Film, Gerald Straub and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 7 Episode 17: Enjoying the Bible, N.T. Wright and June Hamersma
Season 7 Episode 18: Giving Forgiveness, Miroslav Volf and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 7 Episode 19: Why Visit Battlefields?, Jeff Shaara and Karen Saupe
Season 7 Episode 20: The Church in African AIDS, Peter Okaalet and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 7 Episode 21: Designing a Lecture Series, June Hamersma and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 7 Episode 22: Socially Responsible Investing, Leonard Van Drunen and Karen Saupe
Season 7 Episode 23: Mothering A Soldier, Donna Allen, Sharon VanderKodde, and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 7 Episode 24: Prisoners Re-Entering Society, David Schuringa and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 8 Episode 1: Christians in Palestine, Maria Khoury and Karen Saupe
Season 8 Episode 2: Adults with A.D.D., Oren Mason and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 8 Episode 3: Moral Messages of Disney Films, Annalee Ward and Karen Saupe
Season 8 Episode 4: Moving to South Africa, Jennifer Adams, Jared Adams, and Karen Saupe
Season 8 Episode 5: What Are Schools For?, David Purpel and Karen Saupe
Submissions from 2006
Season 7 Episode 1: Making Decisions, Hari Singh and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 7 Episode 2: Saving Community Access Media, Lori Cirivello and Karen Saupe
Season 7 Episode 3: Suburban Christianity, David Goetz and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 7 Episode 4: West Michigan Black History, Randal Jelks and Karen Saupe
Season 7 Episode 5: Fighting Sexual Assault, Steve Thompson and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 7 Episode 6: Teens and the Church, Darwin Glassford and Karen Saupe
Season 7 Episode 7: Separation of Church and State, Michael McConnell and Shirley Hoogstra
Season 7 Episode 8: Short-Term Mission Trips: Helpful to Whom?, David Livermore and Karen Saupe
Season 7 Episode 9: Activism Through Music, John Francis and Karen Saupe
Submissions from 2005
Season 6 Episode 1: Issues With Alzheimer's, Hessel Bouma III, Karen Saupe, Ken Andree, and Jean Andree
Submissions from 2003
Season 3 Episode 14: Ethics of Forensic Science, Rod Englert and Shirley Hoogstra