Religion Seminar Series: Faith and Activism in Indiana

BUTLER UNIVERSITY SEMINAR ON RELIGION AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS PRESENTS:
FAITH AND ACTIVISM
What does it mean to live out one’s faith in the world? What do you deeply care about and what needs to change in this world? How do faith and spiritual practice intersect with the tangible needs for justice and equity? This year, the Butler Seminar on Religion and Global Affairs will explore the relationship between faith and activism. We will learn from scholars and activists of many different religious traditions regarding how their faith compels them to commit their lives to social change.
FAITH AND ACTIVISM IN INDIANA
TUESDAY,OCTOBER 25, 2022, 7:00 PM
The work of interfaith activism is thriving in Indiana, with numerous organizations devoted to serving their communities. In this session, we will hear from a panel of local religious activists representing Catholic Charities in Indianapolis, Faith in Indiana, Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light, and Muslim Alliance of Indiana. The panelists will discuss their efforts to mobilize and implement change on individual, community, and policy levels.

David Bethuram serves as Executive Director of the Secretariat for Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. He is responsible for directing the planning and coordination of human service delivery of six service agencies and parish services in 39 counties in southern and central Indiana. In this role, he assists the Archbishop of Indianapolis, other clergy, and the laity of the Catholic Church in sharing Catholic social teaching, advocating on major issues of justice and peace, and building the Catholic community’s capacity to act on its social mission.

For four decades, David has been a leader in Catholic ministry, serving in the areas of youth, young adult and family ministries, parish governance and administration, and intercultural ministry. David has worked with Catholic Charities for 25 years. First serving as the agency director for Catholic Charities located in Indianapolis and then being appointed by Cardinal Joseph Tobin in 2016 to serve as the executive of the Archdiocesan Catholic Charities network. Last year the Catholic Charities network serving southern and central Indiana served over 225,000 people.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Marian College (now Marian University) in Indianapolis, majoring in religious education and sociology, and holds a master’s degree in personality theory and religion and a master’s degree in pastoral care from at Catholic Theological Union.

David is a native of Indianapolis. He is the father of two children and has four grandchildren.

Lori Joundi is a board member with the Muslim Alliance of Indiana and formerly served as the executive director. She lives in Westfield with her husband and three children. Lori enjoys being an active community member with various cultural and interfaith groups.

Josh Riddick is a community organizer and advocate who has called Indianapolis home for the last six years after graduating from Spring Arbor University. Since moving to Indianapolis, Josh has been a pastor, racial equity trainer, and civic dialogue facilitator. Josh is a parent, avid men’s and women’s basketball fan, reader, and hip-hop connoisseur. Josh is moved by the intersections of identity, spirituality, justice, and the development of emerging Black leaders and leaders of color.

Ray Wilson is a veteran of 28 years as an engineer and executive manager in business where he was involved with warehousing, trucking, petroleum pipelines and terminals, equipment service and supply, laboratories, and risk management—safety, environmental, insurance. He has spent the last 20 years as a consultant in organizational development and operational improvement to a broad spectrum of clients

Wilson has been chairperson of Indy Green Congregations and Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light and Leader of its Using Energy Prudently program and Thriving Faith Communities project in which congregations work to reduce their energy consumption by at least 25 percent over three years.  His own congregation, Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis, has been able to reduce its energy consumption and carbon emissions by over 50 percent.

He has been an active volunteer with Solar United Neighbors, Solarize Indiana, and the Sierra Club and has an 8 KW solar panel system on his home and drives an electric vehicle.