Worship, Faith, Diversity
Pictured above a student reads the a November 1962 issue of The Reflector that featured the upcoming Religious Emphasis Week.
By James Allen | Entertainment Editor
In the fall of 1902 members of the United Brethren Higher Education in Indiana created Indiana Central College. The members saw a need for higher educated clergy and community leaders in Indiana. After many name changes and denominational merging over the decades, the affiliation with the United Methodist Church (UMC) tradition was established in 1968, and the school was renamed University of Indianapolis in 1986.
Since 1902, the school has undergone many changes. There is no more required chapel or convocation on a weekly basis. The convocation in the 1980s actually had assigned seats for students to ensure attendance. Instead, the school now has the Lecture/Performance series. According to data collected by the UIndy Registrar in 2007, the largest group of religious students on campus is Roman Catholic at 12.22 percent, followed by UMC at 6.73 percent.
Also, the school has branched out to organizations like The Deliverance Project and Catholic Student Association (CSA), which differ from the Methodist tradition in creed and belief. However, UIndy maintains an active affiliation with the UMC.
“The school would not have been able to support itself if it appealed to the United Methodist Church exclusively,” said Dr. Perry Kea, chair of the philosophy and religion departments. “The school decided to focus on academics. The choice in 1970 was to focus on identity as UMC or to promote [UIndy] as a school with morals.”
Kea once ran the convocations in the 1980s that students were required to attend. But despite the less institutionalized methods, UIndy remains a religiously connected university.
In fact, the Bishop of Indiana for the UMC, Michael Coyner, is a member on the UIndy Board of Trustees. Along with him on the board are two UMC pastors, Kent Millard and John Myrland, who assist in the area of student affairs and academic affairs, respectively.
Dean of Students Kory Vitangeli sees the classification of the religious atmosphere on the UIndy campus as ecumenical, meaning an atmosphere of Christian unity and cooperation.
“We have a wide diversity of experience and practices at any time on campus,” Vitangeli said. “We pride ourselves on an ecumenical theme and a respect for all.”
This can be seen through the many religious organizations on campus: Campus Crusade for Christ, CSA, Chi Alpha, United Methodist Student Association, Fellowship of Christian Students, The Deliverance Project and many others. The Ecumenical and Interfaith Office (E&I Office) has both catholic and UMC chaplains. Even the Thursday Night Alive services rotate among different religious organizations for speakers at the chapel.
“Minds put together with hearts is a central tenant of Methodism,” said Dr. Lang Brownlee, the Methodist chaplain in the E&I Office. “ Brownlee went on to talk about how our ethos, or the central values and central commitments we use for day to day use, are strengthened everyday on this campus. He discussed his views on the importance of holism. In other words, the faith of each individual matters.
Brownlee also is an advocate for Christians and non-Christians learning not only from the classroom, but also from each other.
“Learning and being accepting ecumenically is a tenant of Methodism,” he said. “This allows students to grow in faith and knowledge.”
The creation of the university is based on the need for educated leaders, both in the church and the community for better service to the community. The UIndy seal bears the words “education for service.” But the acceptance of other faiths and creeds on campus is evident in the services UIndy holds.
Even UIndy President Dr. Beverley Pitts addresses this in “Imagining Peace—With Mutual Respect and Shared Hunger,” a reflection printed on campus in 2006. She begins by asking what it means to be ecumenical on this campus and what does it mean to be an interfaith community while respecting each other. Pitts, in that work, is attributed with the following words:
“Maybe it’s in the mutual respect we show for each other. Maybe it’s in the way we seek to learn about each other. Maybe sometimes it’s in feeling just a little uncomfortable with a new religious experience, but knowing we want to experience anyway.”
The Kephart Memorial Chapel was the Kephart Auditorium, built in the original building, known now as Good Hall. It was renamed after Bishop Ezekiel Kephart died in Indianapolis shortly after he retired. He had been a staunch supporter of the institution and made considerable efforts to raise funds for the school. It could seat 800 people.
