A creative, welcoming and diverse place for nonprofits in Indianapolis
Indiana Interchurch Center
About the Interchurch Center & Community
The Indiana Interchurch Center is much more than a building. It’s a community of nonprofit organizations working to solve the most urgent challenges we face at home and abroad. The Interchurch Center provides offices where denomination administrative headquarters and nonprofits develop strategies and implementation plans. More importantly, it offers a space where these the broader community can engage in learning and conversing, service and advocacy. We invite you to visit the Interchurch Center, and participate in events that interest you.
A passion for social change and justice
Who are some of the members of the Interchurch Community and what do they care about?
Denominations. The Interchurch Center houses the administrative headquarters of several denomination: The United Church of Christ, Indiana-Kentucky Conference; the Christian Church in Indiana (Disciples of Christ); the Synod of Lincoln Trails (Presbyterian Church USA in Indiana and Illinois), the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis; the Whitewater Valley Presbytery; and the American Baptist Churches of Greater Indianapolis. Other religious groups call the Center home. The St. Mary of Magdala Catholic Community is one of the few Catholic churches in the world that celebrates mass with a Womanpriest.
Health and wellness. The Minority Health Coalition of Marion County and the Indiana Rural Health Association extend health services to the most marginalized populations. Even the health of animals are addressed: Spay and Neuter Services of Indiana helps low-income families afford to spay their pets.
Undocumented immigrants. The Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance is one of the state's best known groups protecting the rights of "Dreamers" and other undocumented Hoosiers.
Homeless people. The Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Protection (CHIP) is Central Indiana's main organization analyzing homelessness and building a blueprint to end it.
Environmental protection. Three of Indiana's leading environmental organizations call the Interchurch Center home: the Hoosier Chapter of the Sierra Club, Earth Charter Indiana and Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light. The Hoosier Environmental Council offers monthly environmental advocate training at the IIC.
Opioid crisis. Overdose Lifeline has emerged as one of the country's most influential organizations fighting drug overdose.
Interfaith engagement. The Center for Interfaith Cooperation is one of the Midwest's primary groups promoting inter-religious education, dialogue and service. The Niagara Foundation organizes monthly interfaith conversations and several interfaith iftars at the Interchurch Center every Ramadan. The Jewish Community Relations Council and the Muslim Alliance of Indiana are the main groups promoting interfaith cooperation for the Jewish and Muslim communities.
Refugees in Indiana and around the world. OBAT Helpers is one of the only NGOs in the world working in the camps of the Rohingya in Bangladesh. The Peace Center for Forgiveness and Reconciliation helps Congolese refugees integrate into Hoosier society.
Civic renewal. Since January of 2016, Women4Change Indiana has become one of the state's main groups promoting greater engagement for women in politics, and helping Hoosiers more broadly become more active and effective citizens.
Human and civil rights. The Center for Interfaith Cooperation, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Muslim Alliance of Indiana defend the rights to worship of all Hoosiers. Gender Nexus advocates for the rights of trans-persons. The Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance promotes the rights of undocumented immigrants. The American Friends Service Committee passionately calls for the respect of human rights of Palestinians in Gaza.
Marginalized children. In addition to defending "Dreamers," the Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance raises funds for economically disadvantaged immigrants to attend college. Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS) works with the families of unsighted young children. Watch Club and the Center for Interfaith Cooperation organized an intercultural Summer Youth Camp at IIC. The Waza Alliance for Quality Education provides training for teachers in the Democratic of Congo.
Food insecurity. Faith Hope and Love supports and trains missional food pantries across the city.
24 Hr Access
Mail Service, UPS, FedEx On-Site
Fiber-Optic
Internet Connectivity
HD Projectors
An inclusive and welcoming culture
2 Large Meeting Rooms
4 more intimate conference rooms
Ample free parking
Easy Bus Access
Natural Habitat Certification
Energy management and solar panels
On-Site Management
Central Location close to the IMA, CTS & Butler
On-site Art Gallery
24-Hour Camera Surveillance
Fully Accessible to all
Come to the Interchurch Center and be inspired!
Overdose Lifeline — “Group fighting opioid epidemic hoping to build recovery home”
Clients to the new Overdose Lifeline recovery residence would receive constant structure and treatment, including mental health and addiction support, individual and group therapy, case management, goal planning, and employment and education assistance.
Overdose Lifeline — “IU bringing rural residents, state leaders together to strengthen communities at IU Rural Conference”
On May 13, IU’s Responding to the Addictions Crisis Grand Challenge initiative team — along with IU Health, Indiana Addictions Issues Coalition and Overdose Lifeline, a statewide nonprofit addressing the opioid public health crisis — will provide naloxone training to attendees.
JCRC — ‘We must speak out’: Carmel remembers the Holocaust as anti-Semitic incidents continue in US
he Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council said in October that “anti-Semitic acts and expressions” are at an all-time high.
CIC & MAI — “Faith traditions come together for ‘Solidarity Vigil and Interfaith Prayer’ in response to Sri Lanka bombings”
The “Solidarity Vigil and Interfaith Prayer” event, co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis-based Center for Interfaith Cooperation and the Muslim Alliance of Indiana, drew leaders in the city of the Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish and Muslim communities.
JCRC — “Local synagogues tighten security after CA shooting”
“We just have to be vigilant whether it is a Tuesday or a Saturday whether it is near a Jewish holiday or not. It is a difficult moment and every one of our synagogues and organizations and institutions is obviously on higher alert as we need to be,” said Lindsey Mintz, director of the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council.
Sierra Club — “INDIANA REGULATORS REJECT UTILITY’S PROPOSAL FOR MASSIVE GAS PLANT”
“As a representative of Sierra Club and as a Vectren customer raising my daughter in Southwest Indiana, I am grateful to the IURC for this decision,” said Wendy Bredhold, senior campaign representative with Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign.
CIC & MIA — “Victims of Sri Lanka attack mourned in 2 Indianapolis services”
WTHR was at interfaith vigil for victims in Sri Lanka, and give a flavor of what you may have missed.
Earth Charter — Shortridge High School students create an Earth Day Celebration”
Students began the day listening to a presentation from Jim Poyser, executive director of Earth Charter Indiana, who discussed ways students can make changes to improve the environment. For example, he said students can campaign to replace Styrofoam cafeteria trays with more environmentally friendly cardboard trays.
CHIP — “Interview with Jenni White, Founding Executive Director of Trinity Haven”
Trinity Episcopal Church incubated Trinity Haven until it received its own nonprofit designation in 2018. While all youth will be warmly welcomed at Trinity’s worship services if they wish to attend, there are no religious requirements for residents of Trinity Haven.
Sierra Club — “Embattled former EPA head Scott Pruitt is a lobbyist in Indiana. This is who he works for.”
In the final days of the legislature, an Indiana coal company has retained the support of a high-powered ally in its effort to pass legislation that would keep Indiana’s coal-fired plants from closing as planned.
H-IPL, Earth Charter — “Indy to Unveil Solar Co-op”
Other community partners include Solarize Indianapolis, Citizens Action Coalition, Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light and Earth Charter Indiana. Solar United Neighbors has helped support nearly 200 solar so-ops throughout the United States.
Earth Charter — “Whalen honored as Hoosier Resilience Hero”
“These individuals are making an important difference every day in Indiana,” said Environmental Resilience Institute director Ellen Ketterson. “In my view, they are true heroes.”
Sierra Club — “Out-of-state coal interests are funding a battle to keep Indiana coal plants from closing”
“Suffering a major blow at the federal level, with the election of Donald Trump, it comes as no surprise that many anti-coal groups, like the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, have shifted major resources toward state and local initiative.”
Sierra Club — “Indiana House defeats proposed moratorium on new power plants”
In recent days, groups as diverse as the Indiana Energy Association, Hoosier Environmental Council, the Sierra Club and Citizens Action Coalition protested a moratorium, saying it could delay investments in clean energy and prompt energy companies to build in other states without similar restrictions.
CIC — “April, 2019 declared as National Sikh Heritage Month in Indiana”
The Proclamation reads” The State of Indiana recognizes and acknowledges the holiest Sikh holiday Vaiskhi on April 14, 2019 as National Sikh Day and month of April as National Sikh Heritage Month.
AFSC — “VOCAB: at the Forefront of Spoken Word”
Tatjana Rebelle and her friends have created a spoken word series that welcomes all
Sierra Club — “Educating for a better tomorrow: Environmental science, biology majors present research on climate change”
Alyssa McClung believes that when she mentions climate change, most people think about the coastal regions of the U.S. instead of the midwest. Yet McClung said southern Indiana has been experiencing just as many effects from climate change.
Sierra Club — “Holcomb Urged to Veto Anti-Protest Bill”
Similar legislation has failed in many other states and has been vetoed by the governors of Wyoming and Minnesota. The ACLU of Indiana, Citizens Action Coalition, the Indigenous Environmental Network and the Sierra Club are among the groups that sent a letter to Gov. Holcomb requesting he veto the bill.
CHIP — “The numbers are in from Indianapolis’ census of homeless youth. Here’s what we learned”
It’s only the second such count conducted in Indianapolis, so it’s too early to establish trends, but gathering the data allows for researchers and public and private entities to better tailor resources and outreach to address the community’s needs, said Chelsea Haring-Cozzi, the coalition’s executive director.
Overdose Lifeline — Cops, firefighters get hand in opioid fight
The Terre Haute Police Department has been carrying naloxone/Narcan since 2016, which was previously supplied at no cost by the organization “Overdose Lifeline” through a grant from the state attorney general, said Sgt. Steve Lockard of the THPD.
Overdose Lifeline — “From prescription to problem, how legal opioids create substance abusers”
Justin Phillips, founder and executive director of Overdose Lifeline, agreed that opioid abuse often stems from medical needs. For example, doctors sometimes prescribe opioids to children after oral surgery, even though children exposed to addictive substances before 15 are five times more likely to develop a substance use disorder. Phillips’ son, Aaron, developed an opioid use disorder when taking opioids to address sports injuries.
Come & visit
Indiana Interchurch Center
1100 W. 42nd Street
Indianapolis IN 46208
Phone:
(317) 923-3617
Email:
iic@indianainterchurch.org