The Polis Center’s project, Religion and Urban Culture 2.0 (RUC 2.0), seeks to understand how Indianapolis congregations are responding to the dramatic changes we all have experienced over the past several years. Among these challenges are growing economic inequality, awareness of systemic racism, immigration, political polarization, and the pandemic, among many others. Although national surveys reveal that religious affiliation continues to decline in the United States and, by implication, in Indianapolis,  RUC 2.0 uses observations and interviews to examine congregational resiliency and creativity. How are congregations responding to change, and especially what are the creative responses that are worthy of notice?

The pandemic worsened in the fall, requiring many congregations to return to virtual worship. Disparities in audio-visual technology and the capacity to engage with members through digital media were evident. Moreover, Christians were entering one of their two most sacred seasons and many other religious traditions were celebrating their own winter festivals. How did congregations and clergy adapt to an emotion-laden high season under pandemic conditions? Read more here. Subscribe to future issues here.