Former Vice President Mike Pence addressed students and faculty at Colorado Christian University on Thursday as part of the university’s President’s Speaker Series.

“I am Christian, conservative and Republican. In this order,” Pence said as he took the stage. This phrase became his traditional introduction.

He told campus members that it was a difficult time to be a conservative.

“What does it mean to be a conservative?” Pence asked the students. “A conservative, to me, is by definition an individual who is called to preserve what is best about this nation…And for me, the foundations of our greatness will always be faith and freedom.”

Pence focused on the students’ futures and beliefs, as well as abortion and gay marriage.

“I truly believe that marriage is ordained by God. It is the glue of the American family. “This is the source of our civilization,” Pence said. “And I know that defending traditional marriage has fallen out of favor. But when we ask the question of what conservatism is, I can assure you that it must be the duty of our age to defend traditional marriage between one man and one woman, whether it is in favor or not.”

Earlier Friday, Pence’s conservative advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom (AAF), made headlines by opposing the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services due to his pro-abortion stance.

“I believe the nomination of RFK Jr. to serve as HHS Secretary is an abrupt departure from our administration’s pro-life record and should deeply concern the millions of Pro-Life Americans who support the Republican Party and our candidates,” AAF said in a statement published on X :

Kennedy was nominated by Pence’s former vice president and current President-elect Donald Trump. Pence has distanced himself from Trump since the January 6 insurrection. refused to topple The results of the 2020 election, despite the orders of then-President Trump.

CCU

The talk was designed by CCU as a “lecture-style” conversation and has previously included breakout sessions with campus members and other guest speakers. Pence also answered questions after his speech.

Pence also gave a brief speech Friday afternoon. where it mainly touches on leadership and freedom.

“I want to recognize each of you, your board members, your faculty, the Chancellor, all of you who make Colorado Christian University an extraordinary place,” Pence said. “Thank you for developing leaders and God bless you all.”

Earlier in the day, longtime educator and watercolor artist Karen Pence was joined by singer-songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth Chapman, president of Show Hope, a national nonprofit organization in adoption advocacy and orphan care. for a discussion panel.