At Christian Theological Seminary, alumni are not simply former students—they are an essential and ongoing part of the seminary’s life and mission. In this season of renewed connection and engagement, the CTS Alumni Board plays a central role in nurturing that connection, ensuring that the relationships formed during one’s time at CTS continue to grow, deepen, and bear fruit in the years that follow. 

Rooted in the belief that a seminary is shaped not only by its students, faculty, and trustees but also by its graduates, the Alumni Board works to sustain a vibrant, engaged alumni community. In partnership with the Alumni Engagement Officer and the Advancement Office, the Alumni Board oversees the work of the Alumni Association and helps carry forward its mission: to support theological education, encourage lifelong learning, recruit future leaders for ministry and counseling, and foster meaningful alumni participation in the life of the seminary. In recent years, the Alumni Board has been intentionally reengaging and reorganizing the Alumni Association, working to reconnect alumni with one another and with the seminary in meaningful and accessible ways. 

All who have graduated from CTS—whether through a degree program or a certificate program—are considered alumni and are part of the Alumni Association. This wide and diverse community reflects the breadth of vocations shaped at CTS and serves as a powerful network of connection, support, and shared calling. Whether you graduated recently or many years ago, this renewed effort is about making it easier to reconnect, re-engage, and find your place within the CTS alumni community. 

Composed of dedicated alumni from a range of ministry, counseling, and professional contexts, the Alumni Board includes elected officers and members-at-large who serve staggered terms. The Alumni Board also liaises with alumni representatives who serve on the seminary’s Board of Trustees. Together, Alumni Board members bring both leadership and lived experience to their work, offering insight, guidance, and a deep commitment to the seminary’s future. 

While the Alumni Board gathers formally throughout the year, much of the Alumni Board’s work happens in between meetings—through committees, ongoing initiatives, and collaboration with seminary leadership. From helping shape alumni programming and events to strengthening communication and connection across generations of graduates, Alumni Board members contribute their time and talents in ways that extend far beyond the classroom and campus. Increasingly, this work is focused on creating more consistent touchpoints for alumni connection—through gatherings, communication, and shared opportunities for support and prayer. 

As part of this renewed focus, the Alumni Board is exploring new ways to listen more closely to alumni needs and respond with care and presence. In this current cultural moment, the work of connection feels especially important. The Alumni Board is attentive not only to how alumni stay engaged with CTS, but also to how CTS can support alumni in their ministries, chaplaincy, clinical practice, leadership, and daily lives. This includes creating space to listen, to walk alongside one another, and to ask a simple but meaningful question: How can we pray for you—and with you? In this way, the Alumni Board helps cultivate a community that is not only connected, but also deeply rooted in care, compassion, and shared faith. 

For many who serve, involvement on the Alumni Board is a natural extension of their CTS experience. As Vice President of the Alumni Board Rev. Allan Wallace (MDiv ’20) shares, “CTS is a resource and a safe place for continued growth, where I can maintain old relationships and establish new ones. By serving on the Alumni Board, I stay connected. CTS continues to be a place where I can support others on their journey and be supported as well.” This spirit of mutual support and shared calling is at the heart of the Alumni Board’s work. 

As this work continues to grow, all CTS alumni are invited to take part in the life of this community, whether by attending events, mentoring students, sharing prayer requests, supporting the seminary’s mission, or considering future service on the Alumni Board. 

In every season of life and ministry, CTS alumni remain connected by a shared commitment to faith, learning, and service. Through the work of the Alumni Board, that connection continues to grow—strengthening both the seminary and the communities its graduates serve. 

Are you an alum interested in serving on the Alumni Board—or simply reconnecting with the CTS alumni community? Reach out to Alumni Engagement Officer Stephanie Seeger at sseeger@cts.edu!  

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Healing Solutions for Children, Families, and Leaders 

With a calm yet dynamic presence, therapist and theologian Chanequa Walker-Barnes, PhD grounded more than 300 faith leaders, practitioners, and community partners gathered for the 2026 Faith & Action Spring Conference to explore how communities can respond to the growing reality of trauma with wisdom, compassion, and collective action. Dr. Walker-Barnes framed the moment clearly: “Trauma is no longer the exception, it is part of our daily existence.” 

Poverty, violence, instability, and chronic stress shape the lives of many individuals and families. Recognizing this reality requires a shift in perspective—from asking what is wrong with people to asking what has happened and what systems continue to cause harm. Trauma-informed responses, presenters noted, begin by restoring agency, dignity, and control. 

What follows are key lessons from the 2026 Spring Conference: 

Understanding Behavior Through a Trauma Lens 

Conference speakers emphasized that behaviors often labeled as resistance—withdrawal, exhaustion, or disengagement—are frequently survival responses to prolonged stress. When viewed through this lens, the challenge becomes less about correcting individuals and more about building systems capable of holding what people are carrying. 

Participants repeatedly returned to a central insight: people are not failing systems. Systems are often failing people. 

Resilience and Accountability 

While individuals possess remarkable resilience and capacity for healing, speakers cautioned against allowing resilience to excuse harmful systems. True progress requires both recognizing people’s strengths and holding institutions accountable for the conditions that produce trauma. 

Restorative justice models were highlighted as one promising example—bringing schools, courts, and service providers together to center on healing rather than punishment. 

Restoring Agency and Partnership 

Across panels and breakout sessions, healing was described as restoring what trauma often takes away: safety, agency, and dignity. This work shifts the focus from fixing people to walking alongside them as they rebuild stability and reclaim choice. 

Solutions grounded in partnership—rather than intervention—allow communities to draw on people’s strengths, culture, and lived experience. 

The Unique Role of Faith Communities 

Faith communities were recognized as uniquely positioned to support healing because they already cultivate relationships, belonging, and shared purpose. Yet conference presenters emphasized that congregations must evolve how they address trauma and mental health. 

Stronger collaboration between faith leaders, clinicians, and community organizations will be essential. These partnerships create the infrastructure needed to respond to trauma with both compassion and evidence-based care. 

Healing Happens in Community 

Speakers returned again and again to the power of connection. Human nervous systems are designed for relationship, and healing often begins when people feel seen, supported, and safe. 

Building community—through shared practices, ritual, and relationships—can restore what trauma disrupts. Leaders were encouraged to cultivate spaces where individuals and families do not face hardship alone. 

Beyond Survival Toward Flourishing 

Finally, the conference challenged participants to rethink how success is measured. Addressing trauma requires more than services or programs—it requires removing the conditions that keep people in survival mode. 

Stable housing, food security, living wages, and strong relationships create the conditions where healing can take root. When communities focus on these foundations, the goal moves beyond crisis management toward human flourishing. 

What’s next: 

SHARE WHAT YOU LEARNED: If something from these lessons resonates with you, share what you learned. 

READ THE COMPLETE LIST OF KEY TAKEAWAYS: Lessons Learned

WATCH THE RECORDING: A recording of the Faith & Action Spring Conference will be coming soon and shared on the CTS YouTube page. 

SAVE THE DATE: Mark your calendar for the 2026 Faith & Action Fall Event, Restoring Hope Through Relationships: Mentorships that Support Pathways out of Poverty on Oct. 29, 2026.  

QUESTIONS: Contact the Director of the Faith & Action Project, Lindsey Nell Rabinowitch, at lrabinowitch@cts.edu. 

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Dr. Timothy McNinch admits despite his training, he still underestimates the genius of the ancients. However, following a 15-day pilgrimage to Egypt and Jordan, he was reminded of the “artistic, thoughtful, and cultured” life in antiquity.  

“We were able to reflect on the intersection of the religions of ancient Egypt and our own experiences of faith,” he said. “There are many similarities. We are all imagining our place in the cosmos.”  

McNinch, Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible and Director of the Master of Theological Studies Program at Christian Theological Seminary, recently served as “scholar in residence” on a 2026 trip that was organized by the Prince of Peace ELCA Church in Dublin, Ohio. Over 30 members of that congregation traveled on what McNinch called a “faith pilgrimage in the Holy Land.” 

“Although we traveled by bus, plane, and boat, we essentially followed the path of the Biblical Exodus,” he said. “We climbed Mt. Sinai, saw the Red Sea, visited Mt. Nebo where Moses died – we saw some really amazing things.” 

According to McNinch, he developed a fuller appreciation of how economically and culturally stable Ancient Egypt was to have such a strong infrastructure. He cited the construction of the Pyramids as one example by saying they are “baffling” in their scale and engineering.  

McNinch felt the same about many of the temples that they visited. “On the surface, they seem so different from our (churches) today, but they were marking sacred space in very similar ways.”  

One of the highlights of the trip for McNinch was a visit to the St. Catherine Monastery where one of the oldest surviving Greek copies of the Bible was found over 100 years ago. The “Codex Sinaiticus” was believed to have been created during the 4th century AD. This monastery claims to be on the site of the Burning Bush that Moses encountered.  

The hope for any pilgrimage, McNinch said, is for the participants to experience their own faith being transformed because of the immersion. For himself, he said he feels more connected to the stories of the Hebrew Bible – which are often focal points of the classes he teaches at CTS. 

“The writers of the stories, prophecies, and poems did not invent the stories in isolation,” he said. “They were regular people connecting the stories of their faith with their daily lives which helps me see the humanity in their writing. I am now someone who knows those places they are writing about.”  

McNinch hopes he can lead CTS students and alumni on similar travel seminars in the future.  

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According to the Indiana Capital Chronical, approximately 1 in 3 Hoosiers go without mental health care due to lack of access or other barriers. The CTS Counseling Center is able to address those barriers with immediate opportunities to meet with a clinician.  

Bryan Votaw, Clinic Director, said that while the Counseling Center is on pace to conduct 11,000 sessions this year, they have capacity for at least a 50 percent increase and telehealth capabilities – a combination that could directly address the magnitude of mental health needs that go unmet in our state. Right now, there are 40 Student Interns from CTS’s School of Counseling in supervised training and another 20 Post-Graduate Residents who have openings to see clients on their caseload.  

“I hear comments all the time that people have never heard of the CTS Counseling Center,” Votaw said. “But we have a lot to offer Indiana residents in terms of affordable mental health care. We are here to provide help to those in need and serve our community.” 

The student clinicians who work at the Counseling Center are enrolled in either the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT) or Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MACMHC) programs at CTS. Each program has different requirements for the number and kinds of therapy that students must complete, but all the students are under direct supervision.  

“It’s a hidden benefit of working with a student practitioner,” Votaw said. “In addition to the student who is being trained on the most cutting-edge treatment approaches, clients also get the benefit of a seasoned supervisor.”  

The Counseling Center also employs post-graduate residents who are completing supervised hours required for licensure. Clinicians offer individual, couple, family, and group therapy sessions at the clinic (which is found on the CTS campus). 

Votaw said that the therapists can address a variety of issues from depression and anxiety to life and relationship adjustments and trauma. Due to their training in a seminary setting, they are all well prepared to address any spiritual issues that the client may present. He stressed, however, that it is not a Christian counseling service.  

“You don’t have to be a Christian to come here,” Votaw said. “We can talk about God if that’s what the client needs, but we don’t have that as an agenda.” Votaw noted that CTS often receives feedback that our clinicians are some of the best trained providers in the State. 

If you are considering engaging in mental health services and are not sure where to start, Votaw encourages folks to give the Counseling Center a call. Staff are available to help answer questions prospective clients might have. Votaw said that they can contact the clinic by phone or web and complete a very brief intake (questions about the presenting issues, their availability, and any characteristics of a therapist they would prefer). Often, the person can have an appointment scheduled with a clinician within a week.  

“It’s important to get help before the problem gets too big.”     

The Counseling Center is a fee for service operation and does not bill any health insurance plans. According to Votaw, this helps CTS clinicians offer treatment that is more focused on the needs and goals of the clients who seek treatment than being bound to third-party payer requirements and obstructions. Fees for services rendered by Student Interns are decided based on CTS’s subsidized fee scale, which ranges from $15-99 an hour depending on household income.  

While they do not offer medication management services, CTS clinicians can offer referrals to medical providers in the area and can collaborate with other providers if a client signs a release form giving the clinician permission to do so. All clinicians at the clinic use an electronic medical record system. 

Votaw also said that CTS clinicians can offer telehealth sessions to reach Hoosiers who do not live in the Indianapolis area. In some areas of the State, there are a limited number of mental health providers to address the needs of their communities – and the CTS Counseling Center can help in those cases.  

“Where there is a treatment desert, we can help,” he said. “As long as the prospective client is physically in Indiana, we may be able to work with them depending on the presenting concerns.” Votaw added that all services, virtual or in person, are bound by applicable confidentiality laws and ethics. 

“From a public health standpoint, we need more access to mental health treatment,” Votaw said. “Even if you don’t need services, please tell others about the Counseling Center. We can help.” 

If you, or someone you know, is interested in learning more about the services offered at the CTS Counseling Center, please visit https://www.cts.edu/counseling-center/ or call 317-924-5205.  

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Christian Theological Seminary recognizes the recent primary election victory of alumnus Frederick D. Haynes III (PhD ’25), who won the Democratic primary for Texas’s 30th congressional district, according to reporting from CBS News. 

Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III has served for decades as senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church, where he has led a large, influential congregation known for its dynamic preaching and strong commitment to community engagement. Through his ministry, he has advanced initiatives addressing economic inequality, education, public health, and social justice, positioning the church as a significant voice for faith-based advocacy and community transformation in the Dallas area. 

A 2025 graduate of Christian Theological Seminary’s PhD program in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric, Haynes’ scholarship reflects CTS’s commitment to forming practitioner-scholars. His doctoral work explored the homiletics and rhetoric of Black preaching and social justice proclamation, with particular attention to Afro-prophetic traditions. His dissertation Unashamedly Black, Unapologetically Christian: The Woke Preaching of Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. examines the meaning of “woke” preaching through the lens of Wright’s ministry and rhetorical witness. During his studies, Haynes also contributed to the seminary’s Mixed Methods Preaching Conference, engaging the intersection of research, teaching, and congregational practice. 

Haynes has returned to CTS on multiple occasions as a speaker, including as a guest preacher in chapel and as keynote speaker for the 2024 Faith & Action Fall Event Hope on the Horizon, where he invited faith leaders to serve as “Hustlers of Hope” in their communities. 

The primary victory positions Haynes as a leading candidate in the November general election for the Dallas-area congressional district. His ongoing work in ministry and public life reflects the broader impact of CTS graduates serving at the intersection of faith, scholarship, and community engagement. 

Read the full CBS News report:
https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/results-texas-democratic-primary-district-30-frederick-haynes/ 

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With just over a month until the Spring semester ends, the CTS Board of Trustees has announced the speakers at the commencement ceremony and Baccalaureate chapel. Both events are celebrations not only of the students’ work but of the shared walk CTS students take to do justice and show mercy in a conflicted world.  

“Every year, our desire is to invite speakers who will inspire the assembly to do great things and to participate in God’s transforming the world,” said President David Mellott. “My hope is that those who attend the graduation events will walk away braver than ever before to lift up the inherent dignity of every human being.”  

In addition to sharing a powerful message, each person will receive an honorary degree from the school. This year’s commencement speaker is Emma Vosicky, JD, MAT, and CEO of Gender Nexus which is in Indianapolis. According to her biography, Vosicky, a transwoman, grew up without available language to describe her experience and no safe support system to help form her own network. As a result, she has been motivated to devote her life to the LGBTQ community.  

The mission of Gender Nexus is to empower gender-diverse people and their loved ones to lead healthy, authentic, and joyful lives. The organization offers a variety of education and support groups as well as classes and events. Gender Nexus also offers care coordination services which help address barriers that gender diverse people may face in academic, legal, and healthcare systems.  

According to President Mellott, “CTS has been an outspoken supporter of the LGBTQ community. In addition, we have promised to help address the mental health needs of the LGBTQ community in Indiana. As CEO of Gender Nexus, Emma has been at the forefront of this work — helping to save lives every day through their work.” 

Vosicky is a published author and sought after public speaker. Recently, she has developed a passion for storytelling and has combined her personal experiences with this new gift as a storyteller for OUTspoken. She will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during the ceremony.  

“Not only does Emma lead her organization in service of the community but also advocates for the community in public spaces,” Mellott said. “Emma shares the CTS values and embodies them every day.” 

Rev. Dr. Daisy L. Machado, PhD, will be providing the homily at Baccalaureate Chapel which takes place the Friday before commencement. She serves as the Executive Director of the Hispanic Scholars Program and is Professor Emerita of American Religious History at Union Theological Seminary. In 1981, she became the first U.S. Latina ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Her work has been described as an expansive force; reshaping academic and theological conversations. 

“Dr. Machado’s work consistently reminds us that theology is never abstract—it is lived, embodied, and shaped by the histories and communities we inhabit. Drawing on what Latina theologians describe as lo cotidiano, or la vida cotidiana—the everyday realities of life as a primary site of theological reflection—she shows that theology emerges not only from texts, but from lived experience, memory, and struggle,” said Dr. Francisco Lozada, Jr., Vice President of Academic Affairs & Dean of the Faculty. “This is theology done en conjunto—in community—and latinamente, from the lived realities and perspectives of Latine life.” 

Lozada said her scholarship on the history of Christianity and the southern borderlands invites others to consider voices that have too often been overlooked. “She brings a clarity of vision and a deep commitment to justice—especially in and for Latine communities, and Latina communities in particular, today and into the future—that continues to influence students, colleagues, and institutions alike.” 

Dr. Mellott echoed the Dean’s words, describing Dr. Machado as a highly respected theologian, academic administrator, organizational leader, and pastor. “She transforms everything she touches.” She will receive an Honorary Doctor of Divinity.  

While there will be several opportunities for gatherings during the Commencement activities, the Baccalaureate Service gives a special opportunity for students, faculty, and guests to reflect and celebrate.  

CTS is also proud to honor longtime supporter and Trustee Emeritus Ellen Annala with the 2026 Presidential Award of Excellence. This award is presented to an alumnus or friend of the Seminary whose life and accomplishments have earned the respect of their industry, profession, or community. Annala has been a devoted champion of CTS, serving as past Chair of the Board of Trustees and continuing to offer leadership as Trustee Emeritus. Her distinguished career of community leadership—including her recent tenure as CEO of the United Way of Central Indiana—has had a profound impact on the Indianapolis region. Her life and work reflect the very best of CTS’s mission, vision, and core values.

“Commencement is the crowning of the year, when we get to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our graduates and honorees,” Mellott said. “The seminary has had another incredible year of growth and impact on the community. We look forward to honoring them.”  

This year’s Commencement Ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Shelton Auditorium. It is a ticketed event for graduates and invited guests. The Baccalaureate Chapel, scheduled for Friday, May 15 at 3pm, is open to the public and will also be livestreamed. It will take place in Sweeney Chapel. 

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Christian Theological Seminary alumna Rev. Dr. Rae Karim (MDiv ’14, DMin ’25) recently authored an article in the Indianapolis Recorder titled “A Legacy of Love.” In the piece, she reflects on the spiritual depth of legacy — not as achievement or recognition, but as the faithful transmission of love, wisdom, and witness across generations. 

Drawing on scripture and lived experience, Karim invites readers to consider how we are shaped by those who came before us and how our own lives participate in a larger story of faithfulness. Her reflection offers a timely reminder that legacy is less about what we build and more about how we love. 

She writes: 

“What do you think of when you hear the word legacy? Do tangible references, such as family heirlooms or financial inheritances, come to mind? As we enter Black History Month, a time to honor legacy, you may think about the legacy of ingenuity that led to some of the greatest inventions we enjoy to this day.
As we think about these things, I also want to bring your attention to another legacy. Though it is intangible, it is experienced in very tangible ways. This is a legacy of love that God blesses us with the opportunity to live into daily.”
— Rae Karim, “A Legacy of Love,” Indianapolis Recorder, February 6, 2026 

We celebrate Rae’s continued leadership in public theological reflection and her contribution to civic and faith conversations in Indianapolis. 

 Read the full article in the Indianapolis Recorder:
https://indianapolisrecorder.com/a-legacy-of-love/ 

Originally published in the Indianapolis Recorder, February 6, 2026.

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Dr. Amy Lindeman Allen has been spending time out of the classroom working on one her of her primary fields of interest – teaching about children in the Bible to reinforce their critical role in modern worship practices. Lindeman Allen, who serves CTS as the Indiana Christian Church Associate Professor of New Testament and Director of the Master of Divinity Program, was recently a two-seminar presenter at the ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza in St. Louis.  

The Extravaganza is an annual event designed to educate and provide networking opportunities for youth and children’s ministers. Over 500 attendees were there to strengthen and empower youth leaders to help children, families, and congregations flourish. Lindeman Allen said she enjoyed being in a setting where children’s ministry was the central focus because she was able to naturally engage others on the topic rather than try to prompt listeners to talk about their role.  

“There is just so much energy around youth and children’s ministry,” she said. “It was a chance to learn how we can love and live into the centrality of youth in church today.” 

Lindeman Allen’s first session was “The Gifts They Bring” which shares its name with her most recent publication. Each chapter looks at a spiritual gift that children can (and should be encouraged to) share with their worship community. Her hope is that more adult leaders learn to pay attention to the value that children can give and take from an engaged church community. In the session, she focused on different gifts, Biblical stories, and ways that ministers can engage their own young congregation. 

In her first time at the Extravaganza, Lindeman Allen also presented a workshop called “Reading Between the Lines” which teaches adults how to see the subtle messages that can be in children and illustrated Bibles. She said this session is rooted in her hobby of collecting children’s Bibles.  

According to Lindeman Allen, she does not have a favorite children’s Bible to recommend because it should be personalized to the faith community and beliefs that are supported by the family. However, she has come across several that reinforce gender stereotypes or provide misinterpretation to readers. It is important that the adults reading the Bible can see the underlying lessons being taught.  

This work also connects closely with Lindeman Allen’s Growing in God’s Word Initiative at CTS, which seeks to help churches and ministry leaders more intentionally engage children as full participants in the life of faith. Through research, teaching, and partnerships with congregations, the initiative encourages deeper Biblical literacy and practices that recognize children as vital contributors to worship, theological reflection, and the spiritual life of the church.

Interest in creative and meaningful ways to engage children in worship services continues to grow. In January, Lindeman Allen taught a weeklong intensive course, Children and the Bible, enrolling more than twice the number of CTS students who participated when she last offered the class in 2024.This Spring, Lindeman Allen has her next book coming out with co-author Sung Uk Lim, called Parenting Beyond Boundaries in Mark’s Gospel. She said this is a push back to the conservative narrative that parenting in the Bible is exclusively conservative and punitive. The text asserts that in the Gospel of Mark alone, four different parents are portrayed with multiple methods and approaches. This book will be released on April 21.  

Lindeman Allen is also working with Lim to co-edit a book entitled New Testament Families in Global Perspectives which highlights how an individual’s cultural experience informs an understanding of parenting and Biblical stories.

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“Trauma is not a sign of weakness or failure of faith; it is a human wound that disrupts safety, identity, and connection. Therefore, a trauma-informed model creates safe spaces where family systems, leaders and communities can restore dignity, hope, emotional stability and wholeness.” – Rev. Dr. Dwight Holland 

 Trauma is no longer something faith communities encounter occasionally. It is present in our pews, classrooms, food pantries, and outreach ministries every day—through mental health challenges, housing instability, economic stress, violence, and the chronic inequities shaping the lives of children and families across Greater Indianapolis. 

Faith leaders and nonprofits are already responding with compassion and commitment. But many are asking a deeper question: 

Do we have the tools, partnerships, and understanding to respond in ways that truly heal—and don’t unintentionally cause harm?

On March 19, Faith & Action will convene faith and community leaders around that very question. 

From Compassion to Sustained Action 

The Faith & Action Project serves as a catalyst to move people out of poverty by educating, empowering, and supporting Greater Indianapolis’ faith and community leaders. We are building a multi-sector, interfaith collaborative approach—one that implements and scales solutions that enable individuals and families to escape poverty on a sustainable basis. 

Our Spring Conference—From Trauma to Transformation—advances this mission by lifting up proven models, elevating what is already working, and encouraging cross-sector collaboration that leads to lasting impact. 

This gathering moves beyond awareness. It is designed to help congregations move from compassion to sustained, systemic action—grounded in evidence, lived experience, and practical application. 

What Makes This Conference Different 

Faith & Action’s Spring Conference does more than name the problem. It explores concrete, trauma-informed responses rooted in resilience, wisdom, and strengths—especially for children, youth, and families. 

We intentionally use asset-based language, resisting the tendency to define individuals or communities by brokenness or past trauma. Instead, we focus on what helps people heal, stabilize, and thrive. 

Why Faith Communities Should Participate 

Congregations are uniquely positioned at the intersection of trust, relationships, and long-term presence in neighborhoods. When faith communities are equipped with trauma-informed tools and partnerships, they can become powerful catalysts for healing and stability. 

As Rev. Richard A. Reynolds, Senior Pastor of New Revelation Christian Church, shares, “Each year, Faith & Action events demonstrate an attunement to best practices that empower those residing in impoverished communities—both locally and nationally. Whether the focus is unjust systems, housing initiatives, economic development, mental health, or education, I am always enlightened. It is always a great investment of my time.” 

Participants in the Spring Conference will: 

• Gain practical, trauma-informed tools that can be applied across ministries—tutoring, mentoring, pastoral care, food pantries, and outreach 

• Better understand how trauma shows up in everyday interactions and how to respond with compassion and effectiveness 

• Connect with trusted organizations doing proven, impactful work—and explore ways to strengthen them through partnership, volunteering, or investment 

• Build relationships with other faith and community leaders committed to sustainable, long-term solutions 

• Leave equipped and inspired to address mental health and trauma within their own congregations and neighborhoods 

For many, the conference also creates space for reflection—recognizing how trauma and mental health challenges may be present within their own leadership and faith communities. 

As Dr. Preston T. Adams, III, Founding and Senior Pastor, Amazing Grace Christian Church, notes, “A trauma-informed approach is no longer optional—it is essential. When leaders understand trauma, they lead with greater compassion, wisdom, and courage, creating faith communities where healing is possible and transformation can truly take root.” 

Why Trauma—and Why Now 

This year’s focus emerges directly from what we are hearing across our network. Requests for support around mental health, trauma recovery, and holistic family care continue to rise—reflecting the complex realities facing children and families today. 

In a moment when trauma is shaping both personal lives and public systems, faith communities have a unique opportunity to lead with courage, compassion, and wisdom—becoming places where healing is not only possible, but expected. 

Looking Ahead 

Faith communities have always been places of refuge, restoration, and renewal. With the right tools and partnerships, they can also be powerful agents of healing in a traumagenic society. 

We invite you to join us this spring as we continue this journey together—from trauma to transformation. 

Register today and be part of the movement toward healing, stability, and lasting change.  REGISTER NOW. 

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Last month, six CTS staff and faculty members attended the American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network of Indiana annual conference, themed “Innovate with Purpose. Influence with Integrity. Inspire with Impact.” Held at the NCAA Hall of Champions, the conference brought together nearly 200 women from colleges and universities across the state to connect, learn, and support one another. 

June Henderson, Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator, attended for the second consecutive year. She noted that the conference provided a meaningful opportunity for CTS staff and faculty to build relationships with peers at other institutions while also increasing visibility for CTS within the broader higher education community. 

“The dynamic speakers and thought leaders from across Indiana were engaging and insightful,” Henderson said. “I gained new ideas that will support my continued professional growth and self-development.” CTS is a member institution of the ACE Women’s Network of Indiana, part of a national system of state networks dedicated to advancing and supporting women in higher education.  

“The future of higher education depends on leaders who can innovate with purpose and lead with integrity,” said President David Mellott. “CTS is honored to stand alongside the ACE Women’s Network of Indiana in advancing and supporting women whose leadership will shape our institutions and communities for generations.” 

Each state network is led by a state chair or co-chairs who partner with institutional representatives and presidential sponsors to implement programs that identify, develop, encourage, advance, link, and support (IDEALS) women throughout their higher education careers. CTS’ Dr. Kristin Champa, Vice President for Advancement, serves as Indiana’s State Co-Chair.  

The ACE Women’s Network of Indiana is a community, inclusive of all, committed to inspiring, developing, and supporting women leaders who seek to transform higher education. Champa joined the board in 2019 as part of the strategic reimagination and reorganization of the Indiana chapter.  

“It has been inspiring to witness the network’s renewal and growth,” Champa said. “Now, as State Co-Chair, I am honored to help guide its continued development — strengthening opportunities for mentorship, leadership formation, and meaningful connection for women across higher education in Indiana.” 

Dr. Courtney Buggs, Director of the PhD Program in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric and past ACE conference attendee, shared that one of the most significant benefits of attending the annual conference was engaging with leaders from a wide range of institutional contexts. 

“It is important to participate in spaces that expand our understanding of education more broadly, and theological education more specifically,” Buggs said. “Seminary and divinity schools represent a distinct category of higher education, and some of my most meaningful learning comes from placing my experiences in conversation with colleagues in non-religious educational settings.” 

Buggs added that the conference provided an excellent opportunity to broaden her professional network and build relationships across institutional types and leadership roles. 

“This local conference expanded networks beyond theological education,” she said. “The workshop presenters were engaging and inspiring.” 

This year’s keynote speaker was Stevie Baker-Watson, Associate Vice President for Campus and Student Wellness and Director of Athletics and Recreational Sports at DePauw University. In her keynote, “Impact Looks Good on You,” she challenged participants to take ownership of their work and leadership presence, and to contribute intentionally to a positive, solutions-focused work environment. Additional breakout sessions included presentations such as Cultures of Care: Women Transforming Higher Education through Service Leadership, Planting Seeds, Growing Change: Women of Color Transforming Higher Ed Spaces, and Collaborative Reflection for Deeper Leadership Practice, among others. 

According to Champa, the annual gathering continues to provide an essential space for women in higher education to grow in confidence and community. 

“In a moment when higher education faces complexity, uncertainty, and profound change, the ACE Women’s Network of Indiana matters more than ever,” Champa said. “We need spaces that cultivate courage — spaces that encourage candid dialogue, equip women to use their voices with intention, and inspire advocacy for policies and practices that uphold the dignity of every individual on our campuses.” 

For more information about the ACE Women’s Network of Indiana, please visit the organization’s website or reach out to CTS’s Institutional Representative, Stephanie Seeger at sseeger@cts.edu. 

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