Geography matters. Moving young makes a difference. Policy has real-life implications. Social interactions affect economic opportunity.

With these and other similar observations, Raj Chetty has transformed thinking about economic mobility and claimed a place as a visionary trend-setter among policy makers, civic and community leaders and those working on the frontlines to address poverty across the U.S.

Recently, we wrote about Chetty’s background and his rise to become a national economic thought leader. This month, to further prepare Indy for Chetty’s participation in the Faith & Action Fall Event on Sept. 25, we’re sharing more about his research and ideas.

A Harvard University professor and researcher, Chetty highlights the power of data to illuminate the factors putting and keeping children in poverty and offers insights into the ways communities can leverage data to improve children’s economic prospects and, ultimately, their shot at the American dream.

Chetty first drew broad national attention with his 2014 study, “Where is the Land of Opportunity?” Drawing from massive data resources, Chetty used his research not simply to point out problems but, rather, to identify issues that contribute to economic mobility. The implications from that report can be grouped under six themes:

• Geography matters … a lot. The data made it clear that certain cities do a better job of offering a child opportunities for upward economic mobility, while growing up in other cities could leave a child locked into the economic status into which they were born.
• Five key factors affect the chances for upward mobility. Chetty and his colleagues identified five characteristics of places associated with better upward mobility:
  • Less residential segregation, by race and income
  • Lower levels of income inequality
  • Better K-12 schools
  • More two-parent households
  • Greater social capital, such as civic engagement and religious participation
• Moving early helps. Children who move from a low-mobility area before age 13 are more likely to have higher earnings, better education and lower rates of teen parenthood. The earlier the move occurs, the better.
• Neighborhood effects are real and cumulative. It’s not just cities that can decide a child’s economic mobility. Neighborhoods within cities can play a role, and the effect compounds over time.
• Race plays a role. Black children, especially boys, face worse economic outcomes than whites, even when they grow up in similar environments. The culprit? Systemic barriers.
• Policy has an impact. Governments cannot sit back and expect the community to affect change. The federal Moving to Opportunity housing voucher program, for example, showed long-term benefits when introduced early in a child’s life.

Chetty’s recent studies have focused more on race and economic mobility, revealing that the black-white gap in upward mobility shrank significantly in the past 15 years but did not completely disappear. He also saw some changes in geographic trends, with the coasts no longer outpacing other areas in terms of pathways to economic mobility and noted that parental employment contributes to gaps between races and classes. One consistent point: social interactions and networks continue to play a big role in economic mobility.

As Chetty brings his insights and perspectives to Indianapolis, those working to mitigate poverty will have an opportunity to hear how his findings translate into meaningful action, what sorts of initiatives are having the greatest impact and what we should build, shift or reimagine in order to make a difference in Central Indiana. In this way, Chetty builds on the progress we’ve sought from the beginning of the Faith & Action Project, from our first spring conference that focused on the impact of toxic charity to our ongoing focus on what works and why.

With his focus on using data to identify effective efforts to fuel better economic mobility for children, Chetty is a logical next step in this progression, one that we hope will serve as a catalyst for change, especially for faith communities that care deeply about children, families, an inclusive economy and long-term impact. It can also inspire us to constantly examine our work, challenging ourselves to ask if we’re making a meaningful difference, having a positive impact in our communities and creating a lasting improvement for children and families.

Learn for yourself how Chetty’s work could help Indianapolis children and families improve their prospects and the role your faith community or organization can play in helping children grow up surrounded by networks of opportunity by attending the Faith & Action Fall Event on September 25 at 4:30 pm at the Schrott Center for the Arts. Admission is free.

The post Raj Chetty: Translating Insights into Action appeared first on Christian Theological Seminary.

What I Lost When I Spoke for a Detained Colleague — and Why I’d Do It Again

Editorial by Elizabeth Diop (MDiv ’15)

The Detention

I held it in during our emergency meeting at work. Bit my cheek. Pursed my lips to stop the quivering of my chin. Inhaled a little deeper to soothe the hitch in my breath.

Ayman Soliman. My beloved colleague. Faith leader. Chaplain. A man of compassion and moral courage. An asylum seeker. Imam. Chaplain.

Detained. Incarcerated.

Because he had the audacity to come to the United States, believing that here, he would be safe.

At the press conference that afternoon, it was hard to hear from behind the leaders speaking. But I caught that Ayman had been interrogated for hours. I hadn’t known that.

I let the tears fall. Wiped them with the collar of my shirt.

His work authorization was abruptly taken from him. A hearing pushed back.

His lawyers had expected that day’s immigration check-in to be routine.

They were wrong.

For the past four years, Ayman has been part of our spiritual care team, serving children and families with integrity, humility, and love. His presence has been a gift to our hospital and community.

He faithfully accompanied families through their most painful moments. He lifted prayers of celebration as parents prepared to bring their children home. He stood beside them as they held their child for the last time.

Word’s can’t fully express the comfort and hope Ayman’s presence brought in those agonizing moments.

And now he can’t. Because we have an immigration system that punishes the vulnerable and preys on the innocent.

My favorite memory with him? Two Muslim teenagers in our residential program wanted to visit the mosque during the holy month of Ramadan. He helped coordinate a supervised outing, found mosque-appropriate clothing for them, and welcomed them at the door like royalty. He led prayers, involved them in worship, and sat with them at a reserved table for Iftar supper.

I wish you could have seen the joy and pride on their faces. They’ll never forget that night.

And now? He’s in a cell.

The Open Letter

After the press conference, we clergy leaders gathered to plan next steps. I agreed to draft an open letter for clergy to sign in support of him. I didn’t know how to write an open letter. I didn’t know what to put in it.

But if they’d asked me to do the chicken dance in a bikini on Saturday Night Live and I thought it would help my friend? I’d do it.

Because the kids and families at the hospital need him. Our team needs him. And most importantly, he deserves to make it home safely.

I wrote the letter, and it was signed by hundreds of clergy across Greater Cincinnati. A reminder to Ayman that he’s not alone. A reminder to decision-makers that we are all watching the choices they make.

On Sunday morning, I was able to visit Ayman at the detention center, through video. He told me he felt God’s presence. He was touched by the compassion of others detained with him. He said he was sustained by the support pouring in from the community.

The Rally

We had a rally outside the hospital four days after Ayman was detained. By the second hour, we were all hot and tired. I pulled my kids back from the street for the third time. My eleven-year-old daughter, Anta, glared at me. I tapped my ear and pointed at the person speaking on the other side of the road. Listen, I mouthed.

We stood with a crowd along a busy street, holding signs of support for Ayman. My eight-year-old held hers up proudly, declaring, “Ayman Soliman—We love you so much!”

The next morning, a reporter reached out. She wanted to interview me about my visit with Ayman. I took a half day of PTO and met her near the hospital. The interview went well. It aired that evening and helped elevate Ayman’s story. All he’d asked was that we talk about him and how unfair this situation was, and I had honored that request.

The Consequences

But the next morning, my director stopped me, her mouth in a tight line.

“You’re facing disciplinary action,” she said.

“Could I be fired?”

“Leadership said, ‘Up to and including potential termination.’”

Because I spoke.

Because I supposedly violated a media policy I didn’t fully understand.

A policy so “tricky” even HR admitted it was confusing. One that restricts any unsanctioned media interaction that could be interpreted as speaking on behalf of the hospital—even if you’re off-campus, on PTO, and out of uniform.

I spoke about a visit in detention with my friend and former coworker. Off the clock. As a private citizen. But the story identified me as a Children’s Hospital employee. And they showed the hospital in the background. I couldn’t help but wonder if a donor had been offended. Or if leadership feared retaliation from the current administration.

Ten years of service. Hundreds of children and families I’d walked with through trauma, grief, and healing. Over.

Another colleague, Adam Allen, was also fired less than an hour before me. He was told his social media went against the values of the institution. Every post I saw was focused on Ayman—telling his story, raising awareness, and trying to save his life.

When I told my kids what happened, my eleven-year-old daughter expressed worries about back-to-school supplies. My twelve-year-old son was afraid we might lose our house. My teenager offered to get a job at a factory to help support the family. And me? I couldn’t process it all. But I could continue to speak for Ayman. To local news organizations. To Salon. To Rolling Stone. To The Guardian. To anyone who would listen.

I don’t regret speaking. I regret that the institution Ayman and I had served for years—which could have spoken with us—chose instead to stay quiet and to silence our voices. We tried to save the life of our beloved friend. And for that, we were ripped away from the work we loved and stripped of the stability our families need.

The Loss

A few days after my termination, I turned in my keys. Met my manager outside the office that had been like a home to me. Handed him my badge. Returned to my van.

The pain is overwhelming. I loved my work. I loved those kids. I even loved the impossible moments—coaching a grandmother through telling her grandson his mom had died, sitting with staff shattered by a patient’s death, kneeling on a quiet room floor to help a child breathe before they exploded.

Losing it all has shattered me. But I still believe in the words I prayed so often with our patients:

Creator God,
Thank you for the gift of these children.
For their resilience. For their courage. For their incredible potential.
Please heal their wounds and give them hope.
Amen.

The Call

That prayer? I pray it for Ayman, too. And for us. You and me.

I want to tell my Christian Theological Seminary community this:

We were trained to be truth tellers and faith leaders, to carry the light into dark places, to hold fast to our values, even when it’s costly. Ayman has done this, in every way possible. Adam and I have tried to do it as well. It’s messy. It’s terrifying. And it’s worth it.

Ayman Soliman is worth it.

And so is every other person detained with him and at overcrowded facilities across the country.

So I leave you with the same call I keep giving myself:

When the moment comes, may each of us prioritize God’s call. May we write legislators. Support immigration justice groups. Stand beside neighbors whose status makes them vulnerable.

May we refuse to stay silent. May we engage in the costly work of pursuing justice.

No matter what else we may lose, may we keep our souls.

The post Answering God’s Call, No Matter the Cost appeared first on Christian Theological Seminary.

In a world that can feel overwhelming, many people turn to counseling not just for emotional support, but to make sense of their lives. That reflection often touches something spiritual, rooted in meaning, connection, or belief. Yet spirituality is too often left out of counseling.

Integrating spirituality and therapy allows counselors to honor the whole person. Healing isn’t just about symptom relief. It’s also about identity, relationships, and transformation. Whether someone is facing grief, trauma, or a crisis of meaning, exploring their spiritual worldview can be essential.

But what does it mean to bring these two areas together, especially given how often spirituality has been used to harm, exclude, or impose belief systems? At Christian Theological Seminary (CTS), we approach what some might call spiritually integrated counseling with humility and care, recognizing the risks of proselytizing, coercion, or assuming shared values. We believe counselors can engage spiritual or existential concerns ethically and inclusively, honoring each client’s experience without judgment or agenda.

That’s the kind of formation students undergo in CTS’s Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MACMHC) program. Through rigorous training, hands-on experience, and a spiritually inclusive ethos, CTS prepares counselors who are attuned to the realities of both faith and clinical practice.

Interested in becoming a compassionate, spiritually attuned therapist?

Why Spiritually Integrated Counseling Is an Essential Part of the Healing Process

“Spirituality, to me, has to do with the soul — and the soul is Spirit,” said Bryan Votaw, clinic director and clinical supervisor in the post-graduate residency program at CTS. “It encompasses human connectivity — connectivity with the Divine. I think it is a realm that exists if we have both the courage and the openness to invite it to be part of the process.”

Far from a specific set of beliefs, spiritually integrated therapy is about being open to whatever the client brings, whether that’s Christian spirituality, Muslim spirituality, Jewish traditions or existential questioning without religious affiliation. This approach affirms that spirituality is not something reserved for the religious. “Spirituality is part of the internal human makeup,” Votaw says.

Integrating spirituality into counseling allows therapists to explore how belief systems shape identity, values, and healing. Many clients carry deep wounds tied to religion or spiritual communities. Some have experienced harm in religious settings. Others are searching for meaning while feeling disconnected from faith traditions.

“Some people who are trying to deconstruct their religion aren’t trying to abandon spirituality. They’re trying to heal,” Votaw explained. “How do we help them to use what healthy spirituality exists in them? How do we help them identify it so that when they’re deconstructing, they’re not abandoning all aspects of their belief system but rather discerning what aligns with their healing?”

In these moments, spirituality and therapy intersect in ways that can be profoundly life-giving. This is the heart of whole person counseling — seeing the soul, the story and the struggle, not just the diagnosis.

Becoming a Spiritually Inclusive Counselor

Some assume that a master’s in counseling from CTS is similar to a traditional seminary degree focused only on Christian counseling. In reality, CTS’s approach is broader, welcoming students and clients of all faiths — or none at all.

“We integrate spirituality. We’re not doing Christian counseling per se, which is a different modality,” Votaw explained. “We’re not asking you to believe any particular thing. We see you as a person who’s trying to figure your life out — and that’s enough.”

The MACMHC program prepares students to meet people from all walks of life with respect, humility, and a commitment to ethical, inclusive care. It’s about holding space for healing, identity, and meaning, however the client understands them.

“It’s about the transformation and the growth of the clinician — being open to the Ultimate, being open to this ineffable Other that comes and permeates our spaces,” Votaw added.

This openness is what sets spiritually integrated therapy apart from rigid, doctrine-based approaches.

Gaining Real-World Practice Incorporating Spirituality into Therapy

At CTS, you don’t have to wait until graduation to begin making a difference. Through your practicum and internship at the CTS Counseling Center, you’ll work directly with clients navigating grief, trauma, and spiritual uncertainty. You’ll develop the skills to meet people where they are and support them with care and presence.

This hands-on experience helps you embody what it means to offer more than just clinical techniques. You’ll learn to provide care that is thoughtful, grounded, and attuned to each client’s unique experience.

If you feel called to serve in both clinical and spiritual leadership roles, you can also pursue a dual-degree path that pairs the MACMHC with the Master of Divinity (MDiv). This combination prepares you for roles in pastoral counseling, chaplaincy, and ministry-based mental health care — uniting theological depth with advanced clinical training.

Developing Skills for Compassionate Counseling

CTS doesn’t offer a one-size-fits-all approach. Students come from a variety of spiritual and cultural backgrounds — and so do the clients they serve. Whether working with nonbelievers, people of faith, or those carrying spiritual trauma, CTS clinicians are trained to meet each person with openness and respect.

“Sometimes people will come with a lot of background in theology and religious life, and some people have little to none,” Votaw said. “My encouragement to them is, don’t try to know what you don’t know. Just listen. They’re not necessarily talking to you about God. They’re talking about how they understand God, and that tells you something about them.”

This ability to engage without assumptions is a cornerstone of spiritually integrated counseling — and of the MACMHC program. Rather than teaching a fixed set of beliefs, CTS helps students think critically, reflect ethically, and work with complexity. They learn to offer care that is clinically sound, and spiritually inclusive and affirming of each client’s worldview, background, and lived experience.

At its heart, this is more than a counseling degree. It’s an invitation to grow — spiritually, academically, and professionally.

A Seminary Counseling Degree That Offers Healing and Hope

For many clients who enter therapy, hope feels distant if not completely out of reach. They carry stories shaped by loss, disconnection, or spiritual wounding. Creating space for hope, even in its most fragile form, is one of the most sacred responsibilities a counselor can hold.

“I think what is often an overlooked aspect of clinical work is this idea of hope,” said Votaw. “Hope brings people to therapy. But it’s the connection — meaningful, safe, and therapeutic — that helps it take root. When clients are honored and held with dignity, they begin to experience something vastly different than what they carried in.”

At CTS, hope isn’t just a concept. It lives in students who choose this work. And it’s found in clients who walk through the doors of the CTS Counseling Center, searching for light in the darkness.

Spirituality and therapy don’t have to live in separate worlds. When integrated with care, training, and reflection, they become a source of profound healing — for both client and clinician.

Prepare to Be a Spiritually Grounded Counselor

A seminary counseling degree from Christian Theological Seminary is more than academic preparation. It’s a path that equips you to serve with clarity, compassion, and integrity. Through classroom learning, personal reflection, and clinical experience, you’ll gain the skills to support clients with care and respect for their full humanity.

Join the CTS community and see how the MACMHC program prepares you to integrate spirituality and therapy with purpose — and make a lasting impact through your counseling practice.

The post Integrating Spirituality and Therapy in Counseling appeared first on Christian Theological Seminary.

Christian Theological Seminary was proud to be present at the 2025 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), held July 12–15 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Assembly, centered on the theme “BEYOND” (Ephesians 3:20–21), brought together thousands of Disciples from across the U.S. and Canada for worship, learning, and connection. For CTS, it was an energizing opportunity to renew relationships, make new friends, and share the good work happening in and through our seminary community.

CTS’s presence was anchored by a team of staff who attended the full Assembly: President David Mellott, Vice President for Advancement Kristin Champa, Stephanie Seeger (Alumni Engagement & Communications Officer), Charlie DeMaio (Senior Development Officer), and DeNeen Collins (Director of Recruiting & Admissions). Each brought their own energy and expertise to engaging attendees and deepening CTS’s presence throughout the event.

Hospitality at the CTS Booth

Throughout all four days, CTS hosted a welcoming and dynamic exhibit booth in the General Assembly exhibit hall. With inviting couches and a living-room feel, the booth quickly became a hub of activity. Alumni, friends of the seminary, and curious first-time visitors stopped by for conversation, rest, and connection.

The booth offered a variety of popular branded giveaways—some showcasing CTS’s general identity and others created specifically for alumni. A highlight for many visitors was the CTS Crossroads book, filled with alumni reflections and stories that provided a meaningful window into the history, scholarship, and spirit that have defined the seminary’s first 100 years.

Signature CTS Events

In addition to its ongoing exhibit presence, CTS hosted two signature events at the Assembly: a Presidential Reception on Sunday, July 13, and the CTS Alumni Luncheon on Tuesday, July 15.

The Sunday reception offered space for alumni, colleagues, and new friends to gather for conversation, connection, and encouragement.

The Alumni Luncheon brought together graduates from six decades for a vibrant time of reconnection. President Mellott offered reflections on CTS’s centennial, shared insights into the seminary’s current context and future vision, and spoke to the vital impact of alumni in a hurting world and the essential role of theological education in today’s landscape. His words sparked thoughtful conversation among attendees about ways CTS can support our alumni in a time that can be particularly challenging and exhausting for theological and counseling leaders.

Deepening Community and Future Possibilities

The General Assembly provided a meaningful opportunity to strengthen and expand CTS’s relationships—within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and beyond. Many alumni expressed deep appreciation for CTS’s presence and ongoing partnership, while others shared powerful stories of how their formation at CTS continues to shape their ministries and callings. The gathering also opened the door to new connections, as attendees explored CTS’s programs, values, and community life.

It was especially moving to witness the many ways CTS alumni and friends contributed—preaching in plenary worship, leading workshops, and representing Disciples of Christ ministries throughout the exhibit hall. Equally heartening was the presence of the next generation, as alumni’s children played, prayed, and built community together during children’s programming and field trips.

Looking Ahead

CTS’s participation in the 2025 General Assembly was a joyful expression of connection, hospitality, and hope. As we move through our 100th year and into our next chapter, the energy of General Assembly serves as a reminder of the vibrant and growing community that surrounds and supports the seminary’s mission.

We are grateful to all who stopped by the booth, attended a CTS event, or reached out to reconnect. We look forward to continuing the conversations and traveling our shared journey as together we share God’s liberating love and join God’s transforming of the world.

The post CTS Connects at General Assembly appeared first on Christian Theological Seminary.

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech was a critical moment in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s.

But before that, there was prayer.

God grant that right here in America and all over this world, we will choose the high way; a way in which men will live together as brothers…This will be the day when white people, colored people, whether they are brown or whether they are yellow or whether they are black, will join together and stretch out their arms and be able to cry out: “Free at last. Free at last. Great God almighty, we are free at last.” 
 
While the last lines are familiar from Dr. King’s iconic 1963 speech, it’s actually a portion of a prayer King gave in 1957 at the Second Annual Nonviolence and Social Change Conference at Holt Street Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

And it’s that use of prayer—to bring attention to the issues of the day, to turn our focus to injustice—that Francisco Lozada, Jr., PhD, Vice President of Academic Affairs & Dean of the Faculty at Christian Theological Seminary, wants us to consider as he introduces the 2025-2026 Lifelong Learning webinar series, “Prayer in an Age of Authoritarianism.”

“People need hope right now,” says Lozada. “And in keeping with Christian Theological Seminary’s tradition of speaking to the present, this series will help pastors and lay people understand how to use prayer to be more attentive, reflective, and intentional in how they use prayer in liberative ways—to teach, mobilize, resist, and give a community hope.”

The webinar series for 2025-2026 will include talks from groundbreaking scholars, each with a unique focus on prayer. Each session will conveniently begin at noon—Dean Lozada suggests enjoying your lunch while you participate—and will start with a prayer from a pastor, who will co-host and offer practical reflection on the speaker’s talk for anyone seeking to engage in prayer in a public setting.

“Prayer is how we connect to the divine, but there’s not just one function of prayer,” says Lozada. “Through this series, we can consider how to use prayer to provide a counternarrative to authoritarianism.”

The series includes two tracks:

• Our Life in Common: Designed to foster public theological reflection
• Skills for Flourishing Congregations: Providing practical tools for faith leaders

For Lozada, this year’s Lifelong Learning series is an exciting chance for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of prayer to engage with top theologians from the comfort of their own desk.

“As theologians, we cannot refrain from speaking about the present,” says Lozada. “This series will show us how prayer can reveal and remind us that God is still with us in this turmoil.”

The schedule includes:

• September 24, 2025—The Role of Prayer in Community Solidarity, presented by Nick Peterson, PhD, Christian Theological Seminary
• October 22, 2025—Praying Well: The Push Against the Globalization of Indifference, presented by Daisy L. Machado, PhD, Union Theological Seminary
• November 19, 2025—When Prayer Meets Protest, presented by Keri Day, PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary
• January 28, 2026—Only Prayer Can Save Us! How To Stay Alive and Sustain Our People During These Times, presented by Cláudio Carvalhaes, PhD, Union Theological Seminary
• February 25, 2026—Prayer as Political Response and Accompaniment, presented by Yara González-Justiniano, PhD, Vanderbilt University
• April 8, 2026—For What or Whom Else Shall We Pray?, presented by Amy Lindeman Allen, PhD, Christian Theological Seminary

All are welcome—from pastors to lay people who seek a deeper reflection on prayer. While each webinar is free, registration is required. For more information and to register, visit the series page here.

The post Free Webinar Series: Prayer in an Age of Authoritarianism appeared first on Christian Theological Seminary.

Christian Theological Seminary’s Faith & Action Project has awarded $100,000 in grants to five nonprofit organizations working to reduce poverty among children and families in Marion County. The funding supports a range of innovative efforts—from housing stability to youth mentorship and LGBTQ+ support services.

Three of the five grants—awarded to Coburn Place, Family Promise, and Holy Family Shelter—will bolster programs rooted in the “housing first” model, which prioritizes securing safe, stable housing as a foundation for long-term success. The remaining grants will expand a youth mentoring and career readiness program, as well as a grassroots initiative focused on serving LGBTQ+ individuals.

“This year’s grants reflect our commitment to supporting both proven models and promising new approaches,” said Faith & Action Project Director Lindsey Nell Rabinowitch. “We focused on initiatives that are already making a measurable impact and have the potential to scale and reach even more people.”

More than $1M in grant funding has been awarded to faith communities and nonprofits as part of the Faith & Action Project since 2017. The 2025 grant recipients follow.

• $25,000 to Coburn Place, a domestic abuse treatment center on the near north side. The grant will support its Transitional Housing Program, which provides rent- and utility-free housing, as well as Coburn programs offering access to education, employment and healthcare options. The grant will be used to help survivors secure and sustain stable housing, improve their safety and well-being, interrupt cycles of abuse and establish goals relating to housing, finances, health, employment, education and relationships. Faith-based partners contribute in various ways, including hosting survivor-focused gatherings, facilitating workshops grounded in spiritual and emotional wellness, and distributing care kits.

• $20,000 to DREAM Alive, a nonprofit that works with Center Township youth who attend Indianapolis Public Schools, helping them discover career paths and mentoring them from 6th grade through high school graduation. The grant allows DREAM Alive to expand into more IPS middle schools, provides transportation for career-exploration trips and covers after-school meals and snacks for students, many of whom face food insecurity.
   
  DA collaborates with various faith-based organizations, including Shepherd Community Center, Elevate Indianapolis, Midtown Church, Indiana Wesleyan University, Str8Up Youth Camp, Marian University, Edna Martin Christian Center, Outreach Inc. and more.

• $20,000 to Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis, a nonprofit working to end homelessness in Indianapolis. Prior to the COVID pandemic, Family Promise used a model in which congregations hosted families experiencing homelessness at their faith communities, with volunteers providing meals, transportation, childcare and more. When COVID prevented congregations from hosting families, Family Promise researched, raised funds for and launched a new model, the Apartment Shelter Program, through which Family Promise signed leases on apartment units throughout the city, which it offers as temporary shelter for families ineligible for eviction diversion or stabilization programs.
   
  Community partner Mustard Seed of Central Indiana furnishes the apartments, while congregations provide housewares, which families take with them when they leave. Family Promise case management helps families maintain stable housing. The model costs roughly 30% less than traditional shelters and reduces the trauma associated with shelter living.

• $25,000 to Holy Family Shelter, a program of Catholic Charities of Indianapolis, located on the near westside. The grant will ensure that 250 families (750 individuals) who are experiencing homelessness or a housing crisis have access to emergency shelter, comprehensive services and permanent affordable housing through Holy Family Shelter’s Sustain, Support and Divert program.
   
  Holy Family prioritizes immediate access to housing – ideally helping families stay in their current housing – and staff advocates on behalf of families with landlords and property managers. Holy Family staff provides an array of services to help families move toward stability and also assists with such expenses as rental deposits and payments, utilities, transportation and childcare, removing short-term financial hardships that can affect a family’s ability to remain housed.

• $10,000 to We Bloom, a nonprofit focused on healing, empowerment and skill-building primarily for the LGBTQ+ community. The grant funds two programs, the first of which is a queer-affirming and trauma-informed recovery program at Recovery Café Indy. As a first-of-its-kind in Indiana, this program addresses the need for inclusive, healing-centered spaces that reduce trans individuals’ isolation and foster belonging.
   
  The second funded program is a partnership with Purposeful Design, a Christian nonprofit providing job training to individuals overcoming addiction, homelessness and incarceration, to expand job training for Recovery Café Indy members.

The post F&A Project Awards $100,000 to Local Anti-Poverty Initiatives appeared first on Christian Theological Seminary.

Christian Theological Seminary has honored one of its distinguished alumni, Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin, Jr. (MDiv ’68, DMin ’75, Hon ’94), with the inaugural Living Legend Award for Dedication to Theological Education. The award was presented by CTS President David M. Mellott during the 2025 Legends of Leadership Breakfast on April 22, recognizing Bishop Benjamin’s remarkable ministry and his enduring impact on theological education. During his 43 years of continuous service as pastor of Light of the World Christian Church in Indianapolis, he guided more than 50 students through CTS’ Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degree programs.

Bishop Benjamin’s journey to CTS was, as he puts it, “God directed.” A native of St. Louis, MO raised in Cleveland, Ohio and a childhood member of Fifth Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Benjamin had originally planned to attend Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania following in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s footsteps. Encouraged by his pastor to consider CTS — a major seminary of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) — Benjamin visited Indianapolis and immediately felt at home. At just 22 years old, he found a welcoming spirit that confirmed his decision. “I equate intelligence with kindness,” he recalls. “Dr. Bradshaw, the director of field education, walked me around and talked to me like a father would to a son. I said, ‘Well this is where I need to be.’”

Bishop Benjamin went on to earn both his Master of Divinity (1968) and his Doctor of Ministry (1975) degrees at CTS, participating in one of the seminary’s first-ever DMin cohorts. “They had formed one of the early DMin programs across the country at CTS,” he shares, his voice tinged with pride at being part of such a trailblazing initiative. In 1994 CTS presented him with an Honorary Degree of Divinity.

Throughout his student years, he collected experiences that left a lifelong impact. Among his most vivid memories is the visit of Robert F. Kennedy Sr. to campus. “I introduced him in Shelton Auditorium and was his host for the rest of the day. He was so impressed with CTS! The experience here was life changing,” Bishop fondly recalls.

Those transformative experiences at CTS unfolded against the backdrop of a nation in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. He was a follower of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. while in college, but seminary shaped his focus. He recalls,

I think it’s important to know that everything like this is in context. It was during that time that I developed the social justice mentality. When I came here, we had just passed the Civil Rights bill. I didn’t find any antagonism here in this school, but just prior to that I was an intercollegiate varsity tennis player at St. Louis University. I experienced the kind of thing that changes your perspective on life. We were traveling as a team. We played at the University of Kansas, and we drove on a bus up to Kansas City. Outside of Kansas City, we pulled up to a restaurant. As we got ready to go in, they said, ‘Oh, no no no – you guys can come in, but not him.’ The team got on the bus and left. Then the same thing happened in Louisville, Kentucky. The same year. This was before the Civil Rights bill. That helped to put the steel in my spine, and I said, ‘I’m never going to let anybody demean me again, and I will always resist oppression, I will always champion inclusion, and I will always speak truth to power.’ And that has been my ministry.

CTS was known for promoting social justice, civic action, healthy dissension, and inclusion. Bishop Benjamin believes that was particularly attractive to young theologians coming into a movement. His experiences at CTS all became a part of his energy and passion.

It was also during this season of formation that Bishop Benjamin began a connection with the congregation that would define his pastoral career. As a student completing field education, Bishop interned at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church. Within a year, he was invited to serve Second Christian Church, the congregation that would later become Light of the World Christian Church — a name change he helped lead to better reflect its mission and vision.

Over his tenure as pastor of Light of the World Christian Church in Indianapolis, Bishop Benjamin became known not only as a faithful pastor and shepherd, but also — in his words — “a good troublemaker,” inspiring generations of clergy to boldly engage issues of justice and inclusion. He was affectionately called “the City’s Pastor.”

He retired from Light of the World in 2012 and was named Senior Pastor Emeritus. The church continues to be both a literal and figurative light on the hill at Cold Spring and Michigan Road in Indianapolis. “Success demands a successful successor,” Bishop notes with pride, celebrating the leadership of those who have followed him at Light of the World, a congregation whose name he helped choose to symbolize the hope and light they bring to the community.

Thirteen years after retirement, Bishop’s legacy continues to shine brightly. That legacy was celebrated again on April 23, when more than 200 people gathered at Light of the World to express their gratitude. Patiently waiting for a personal moment with Bishop and Lady Benjamin, the crowd reflected the deep and widespread impact of a man whose life’s work has been to turn broken beginnings into living testimonies of resilience and faith. “You can come from a broken home,” Bishop Benjamin has often said, “but you don’t have to live a broken life.”

Throughout his ministry, Bishop Benjamin consistently encouraged students to pursue theological education — particularly at CTS. Asked why he so passionately referred potential seminarians to CTS, Bishop says, “It’s because it was a good experience. I was very sensitive at that point to discrimination and racism because of those experiences I shared with you, and I didn’t find any of that here – not even a tinge of it.”

He credits his wife Beverly, whom he married during his second year at CTS, with helping to affirm the positive environment. “My wife, who I listen to often about what’s good and what’s bad, felt CTS was a good place,” he says.

Beyond the welcoming spirit, Bishop Benjamin found his intellectual world expanded.

“I realized that it was changing the way in which I thought… This whole business of critical thinking. It helped me to line up my passion with my purpose.”

Because of those transformative experiences, Bishop felt a responsibility to urge others into seminary education. “You’ve got to get in there and be challenged,” he says. “Iron sharpens iron.”

Light of the World and CTS have shared a beautiful partnership over the decades. Whenever Light of the World underwent renovations or construction — whether downtown, at 38th Street, or the current building on Michigan Road — the congregation found a welcoming home at CTS. “We’re kind of joined at the hip,” Bishop Benjamin says with a smile.

Much of what Bishop Benjamin celebrates about CTS echoes the reflections of many alumni: a place that teaches not what to think, but how to think; fosters authentic relationships with faculty; and welcomes theological diversity while pushing each student toward their truest calling.

“I wanted to make sure that every minister put in my care understood that an educated minister leads to an elevated community,” Bishop Benjamin explains. “If you are being charged with caring for folks’ souls, shouldn’t you be excellently trained for that? I’m not judging your calling, but if you’re going to come under my covering, seminary is a requirement.”

When asked what advice he has for young pastors stepping out into ministry and seminary training, Bishop offers this simple but profound reflection: “I didn’t plan my ministry. I had no idea where God was going to lead me. I never saw this, but God saw this. God planned it, and I simply walked in it.” In the words of his mentor, the late, great, Howard Thurman, Bishop endorses the idea “that when you and Jesus become one, all of life’s resources begin to flow toward you.”

May we all be as faithful as Bishop Benjamin in taking the next step God sets before us — walking with purpose, humility, kindness, and the light that only faith can ignite.

On April 22, 2025, at the Annual Legends of Leadership Breakfast,  Christian Theological Seminary awarded Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin, Jr, the inaugural Living Legend Award for Dedication to Theological Education. The award recognizes extraordinary individuals whose unwavering commitment and profound impact on CTS has inspired and nurtured the spiritual and academic growth of countless students. Below are photographs from the morning.

The post A Light to the World: Student, Shepherd, Living Legend Bishop Benjamin appeared first on Christian Theological Seminary.

Rae Karim (MDiv ’14, Doctor of Ministry student)

Scholarships do more than ease financial burdens—they open doors to opportunity. In this edition of CTS Connection, we are highlighting two students whose lives have been changed by scholarship support, allowing them to pursue their goals, grow as leaders, and give back to their communities. Their stories reflect the lasting impact of your generosity—and the incredible potential that still awaits. 

“We’ve been waiting on you.”

When Rae Karim called Scott Seay, PhD, Co-Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program with initial interest, that’s how he responded.

To the CTS community, Karim was well-known. A Disciples of Christ minister who had ministered in Indianapolis, was chapel director at CTS, and most recently, a pastor of a church in Hawaii, Karim was back in Indianapolis in late 2021. While in Hawaii, she became a certified grief coach.

“My grandfather and mother died around the same time,” recalls Karim. “And pastoring a church while grieving was difficult. I wanted to do something that would keep pastors from experiencing what I did.”

Karim describes a grieving pastor as one with tension. She also uses that word—tension—to describe her initial days in the Doctor of Ministry program.

“I went in to pay my balance my first semester, and immediately felt incredible tension,” says Karim. “I couldn’t concentrate with debt over my head.”

A week later, the money was paid back to her when she discovered that she received a scholarship.

“To know that you don’t have to be concerned about finances lifts a burden,” says Karim.

The relief of financial burden mirrors the work she hopes to do through her dissertation and ministry on grief. As she completes her degree, she’s interim pastor at a Disciples of Christ congregation in Mishawaka, IN. She also offers grief support for churches in San Jose, CA and Chicago. After she earns her degree, she hopes to lean into grief coaching full time.

“I want to flip the tables on grief and the way we navigate that space,” says Karim. “CTS made me a more confident person when it comes to the work I do, where I stand in my faith, and developed my willingness to explore new ways of believing and being.”

Join us in continuing to invest in the future, one student at a time.

The post Helping Pastors and Congregations Grieve : Rae Karim (MDiv ‘14, DMin Student) appeared first on Christian Theological Seminary.

When Rev. Rob Fuquay looks out from the pulpit at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis—one of the denomination’s largest congregations—he sees a group of believers who are being challenged.

“Issues of race, political divisions, coming out of a pandemic—our church represents that as much as any church,” says Fuquay. “We’re a church that prides itself on being a ‘big tent’ church, and we can make room for varieties of opinions. It only gets prickly when some of those opinions are counter to the values of the church.”

Not that he views the word “challenged” with a negative connotation. Quite the opposite, actually.

“We should be challenged all the time,” says Fuquay.

Fuquay found Christian Theological Seminary not long after he moved to Indianapolis in the summer of 2011 to pastor St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. What he found was more than an institution: it was an institution focused on issues of justice, the same issues he preached about on Sundays. The same issues that left his congregation challenged—in a good way.

“Some people get uncomfortable hearing about justice from the pulpit,” says Fuquay. “But this is our call. CTS offered me a way to align with more faith leaders on issues of justice.”

But before stepping out to speak about justice, Fuquay realized he needed to pay more attention to his—and his congregation’s—spiritual formation.

“You can’t talk about justice work and not talk about how you care for yourself and deepen your spiritual formation,” says Fuquay. “And in CTS I found leaders of spiritual formation for communities of faith.”

His focus on justice led him to join the Faith & Action Advisory Board. In his time on the board, he’s most proud of how Faith & Action has first joined with faith communities, then creating a bridge between those communities and non-profits to work more closely on issues of poverty.

“We had a lot of organizations attacking causes of poverty, but not in the same way,” says Fuquay. “Now, we’re positioned to have a more effective approach to eradicating poverty. I want to see us merging resources, stepping beyond turfdom—and Faith & Action is well-positioned to be the convener of that work.”

The author of four books and multiple studies and video sessions, Rev. Fuquay will receive an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree at the May 2025 commencement. It’s fitting, since one of his prized possessions is his CTS library card.

“It’s a deep honor to be considered for an honorary degree because the seminary takes a risk when they choose people to confer a degree upon—they’re staking their reputation on me,” says Fuquay. “It’s a deep honor to be associated with what CTS stands for and has done to focus on developing leaders for local churches and helping the church stand up for what it’s called to be in the world today.”

In many ways, through Rev. Fuquay’s church leadership, he’s also helping the church stand up for issues of justice. Beyond that legacy and leadership, Fuquay was instrumental in bringing a Professor of United Methodist Studies to campus in 2024. The United Methodist Church requires seminaries who produce United Methodist pastors to have a full-time faculty member devoted to United Methodist studies. Most years, the second largest reported denomination among seminary students is United Methodist.

“It makes sense for Methodist pastors to find an educational home at CTS,” says Fuquay. “Our bishop just last week talked about how when we stand in the gap for the disenfranchised, we are not shifting the focus of discipleship, we’re representing what discipleship at its best means: advocacy for people without a voice.”

That brand of discipleship sounds a lot like Rev. Rob Fuquay’s work with Faith & Action, and Christian Theological Seminary is proud to confer an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree upon him.

CTS’ 2025 Commencement ceremony can be viewed by livestream on Saturday, May 17 at 1:00pm EDT. The in-person ceremony is a ticketed event by invite only.

The post Discipleship at its Best: Rev. Rob Fuquay appeared first on Christian Theological Seminary.

Cynthia Newman, MDiv Student

Scholarships do more than ease financial burdens—they open doors to opportunity. In this edition of CTS Connection, we are highlighting two students whose lives have been changed by scholarship support, allowing them to pursue their goals, grow as leaders, and give back to their communities. Their stories reflect the lasting impact of your generosity—and the incredible potential that still awaits. 

Cynthia Newman accepted her call to ministry a long time ago. She first heard it decades ago when she was newly out of college.

“I just couldn’t see at the time how to get a Master of Divinity done,” Newman recalls. “And I didn’t have a vision for what I would do with it.”

As president of the Light of the World congregation, former chair of the board, Sunday School teacher, and inspirational speaker on topics of women’s empowerment in church communities, she was ministering. And she kept feeling the quiet nudge to do the formalized education.

“Everytime a friend graduated from CTS, they said ‘you should have been in my class,’” Newman says. “But the financial piece was a barrier, and giving up my job for this time commitment seemed impossible.”

Finally, after about 20 years of “toying around with it quietly in (her) spirit,” Newman listened to the quiet nudge. And a scholarship was critical for Newman, a financial services professional, wife, and mother, to say yes to the nudge.

“I’ve counseled women who pursued an MDiv, who look like me,” said Newman. “It left them financially challenged. But with a scholarship, there was no underlying unspoken concern.”

Now, Newman’s future in ministry is bright. She wants to create a “marketplace ministry” that empowers women in their communities.

“I’ve been teaching the Bible for years,” says Newman. “Now, with an MDiv, I can ask how we teach it in a way where women want to combine fellowship and the Bible. Black women aren’t highlighted in the Bible. We have to find ourselves in the text—and my ministry can help take theological education to the streets.”

Join us in continuing to invest in the future, one student at a time. 

The post Saying Yes to the Quiet Nudge: Cynthia Newman appeared first on Christian Theological Seminary.