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May 2026 Events
Public School Belonging Day
Secular Education Association, SEA, works diligently to keep religion out of public schools, and strives to hold LifeWise accountable. Hoosiers United works closely with them.
SEA is presenting an event on Saturday, May 2nd, 11:00 AM-2:00 PM, at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 5310 Old Mill Rd., and they are looking for participants and volunteers.
They need 25-50 volunteers to come and help assemble bags for students and families of minority faiths. To volunteer sign up through the Mobilize App: https://www.mobilize.us/humanist/event/936270
These bags will contain various activities and resources which promote inclusion and belonging. If you would like to donate items: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1N7CIGJFNJITL
The event will be open for the public to pick up bags and enjoy some activities provided by partnering organizations. Following the event, SEA, with the help of partnering organizations, will distribute any remaining bags to various churches, local schools and community members.
Families are invited to attend that day and pick up the bags as they are being created. There will be snacks and refreshments on hand, as well as tables from other organizations. Some organizations will have fun activities for children and families.
Plan to join others interested in countering Christian nationalism:
Monday, May 27th, 2026, at 7 p.m.
Location: First Wayne Street Methodist Church
Note: Our monthly meetings are the last Monday of every month at 7 p.m. with a rotating location. See below for full schedule. Remember to check this space for any changes to the regular schedule.
May 27, 2026
Meeting Agenda:
We will screen the film: God and Country
Please note this will be held at First Wayne Methodist Church. We will watch the film and have a discussion afterwards.
Description of the film: From director Dan Partland and producer Rob Reiner, GOD and COUNTRY looks at the implications of Christian Nationalism and how it distorts not only our constitutional republic, but Christianity itself. Featuring prominent Christian thought leaders, GOD and COUNTRY asks this question: What happens when a faith built on love, sacrifice, and forgiveness grows political tentacles, conflating power, money, and belief into hyper-nationalism? Directed by Dan Partland. Produced by Rob and Michele Reiner.
To learn more about First Wayne Street Methodist Church visit their website:
Upcoming Calendar Events:
May Monthly Meeting:
Due to Memorial Day this has been rescheduled to:
May 27, 2026
Note different location!
Location: First Wayne Methodist Church
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June Monthly Meeting:
June 29, 2026
Location: Unitarian Universalist meetinghouse
5310 Old Mill Road, Fort Wayne
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July & August Monthly Meeting:
TBD
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Archives
Past Meetings and Events
Archives from Past Meetings & Events
Were you unable to attend our latest meeting or event? At each meeting we focus on a specific topic. We invite speakers to join us in person or over Zoom to discuss the latest developments of religious extremism.
Our monthly meetings are the last Monday of every month at 7 p.m. Our meeting location rotates each month between the Unitarian Universalist meetinghouse and Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren in Fort Wayne, IN. See our Event page for exact dates and locations.
Can’t find what you are looking for? Get in touch →
April 27, 2026 – Monthly Meeting
We explored wealthy donors and their close ties with religious authoritarianism.
“Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.” Pope Leo
Have a listen: “I ain’t afraid” by Holly Near
We watched and commented on three short videos — one about the agenda to use religion to take control of seven parts of American society, one about the money being used to fulfill that agenda and one examining how such money radically changed a particular school board.
To learn more about big money in the rise of Christian nationalism, we encourage everyone to read these articles:
Money and Texas from Global Project Against Hate and Extremism
Plutocratic theocracy, from Americans United
Christian nationalism and unregulated capitalism, from Truthout
The money behind Project 25, from Baptist News Global
Promoting the book that gave theological encouragement to big donors for Christian nationalism, from Arsenal Books
Wealthy donors fail to create a Bizzaro Colbert, from The Guardian
Business and Announcements:
- Belonging Day presented by Secular Education Association is this Saturday, May 2nd at the Unitarian Universalist meetinghouse. All are welcome.
- Screening of God and Country will be at First Wayne United Methodist Church on May 27th at 7pm.
- 2nd Annual First Amendment Forum will be September 19th. More details coming soon.
- School Board Watchdog group met prior to the main meeting this evening. They shared what they discussed.
- We have several volunteer opportunities: Event Tables, Program Planning Team, School Board Watchdog Teams, Forum Planning Team, and Legislative Watch Team. If you are interested in volunteering for any of these, please contact a Board member.
April 14, 2026 – Civic Action Fair and Donation Drive
Thank you for your interest in the Civic Action Fair. We had a great turnout and enjoyed talking with engaged citizens.
Have you been to No Kings Rallies or other events, and now are wondering what’s next? How can I be more involved? How can I put my talents to use in the fight for our democracy?
Please reach out to us if you would like to get involved educating others about the importance of the separation of church and state.
March 30, 2026 – Monthly Meeting
Discussion Topic: The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper. The Rise of Christian Nationalism. Anchor and chief investigative correspondent Pamela Brown explores this important topic.
The program focuses on the impact of newly powerful Christian nationalist dogma on women, families and education. Several women interviewed were raised in Christian nationalist homes and are anxious about the movement’s rise to national political power. Christian nationalist speakers acknowledge that they aim to take control of public education and ultimately abolish it.
To listen to the podcast click here –>
You can also stream the video on several paid streaming services: Sling TV, Hulu+, Max and Prime Video
After the viewing of The Rise of Chrisitan Nationalism, we broke out into discussing groups. These were the discussion questions. What do you think?
- What would life be like in Doug Wilson’s CREC world and does anyone have personal experiences with:
- Women’s role: baby makers
- Man’s Role: head of houshold
- Religion: no religious pluralism/no LGBTQ rights
- Education: Christian education only – pledge allegiance to the Christian flag
- Any personal experiences with education rooted in theology
- What was the view of the women who chose to leave the church
- Submission to husbands sometimes lends itself to normalization of domestic abuse
- There is no basis for a counter argument since it is all God’s will
Review of history leading to rise of Christian nationalism:- What are the major events that promoted the rise of Christian nationalism?
- Backlash to liberalism: the rise of Ron Reagan, Heritage Foundation, Moral Majority and Jerry Falwell.
- COVID restrictions seen as government interference and Christian suppression – growing sense that Christians are persecuted
- Charlie Kirk’s assassination as a rallying cry for Christian nationalism.
- What are the major events that promoted the rise of Christian nationalism?
School Board Watch update: A proposal is being made for East Allen County Schools and the YMCA to partner for mentorship and mental health for teens. The only way that this initiative could be challenged is if a parent complains.
Announcements:
- April 14, 2025 – Civic Action Fair and Donation Drive. If you would like to volunteer to table with us, please contact a Board member.
- July 25, 2026 – Pride Festival. We are looking for volunteers to help organize our table at this event, as our lead organizer(s) will not be available this day.
- Sign-ups are still available for our Events Committee, School Board Committee and more. If you are able, sign up for a committee after the meeting or contact one of our Board members.
March 5, 2026 – Moms for Liberty Mini Webinar
What We Know About Moms For Liberty Beyond Book Banning and Libraries
Please see the PowerPoint presentation for an important information session about Moms for Liberty presented by Cathy Duchovic from Hoosiers United for Separation of Church and State. Countering religious authoritarianism, also known as Christian nationalism, in our schools is one of the most reachable action strategies we have. Knowing more about this organization can help us and others identify good school board candidates in the Fall.
February 27, 2026 – Hope Sings
Hope Sings was a family friendly concert and sing along with music for hope and resolve held at the Unitarian Universalist meetinghouse.
Our spirits were lifted in these wintery months with this family-friendly event of music and singing offering support, comfort, and motivation for those seeking a more just society. Local professional groups, Friends with the Weather, Cote Godoy y Amigos & Canto de Corazon, plus voices from the Fort Wayne UU congregation performed. We enjoyed a warm evening with new and traditional music along with some audience participation. Thank you all for attending!
KeliKote rehearsal before the event
Heartland Sings: Canto de Corazon; behind the scenes video
Friends with the Weather: Behind the scenes recording of their latest album
See the bottom of this page for photos from the event
February 23, 2026 – Monthly Meeting
Discussion Topic: Seven Mountains Mandate: Dominion over government
A PowerPoint was presented: Dominion over Government
Examples click for video:
Steven Miller – “The end of the white world from an invasion of refugees…”
Doug Wilson – Is there room for immigrants? “Yes, but not for a ton of them…Protestants, Catholics and Jews are sort of a defacto arrangement that we’ve worked out over centuries…”
Lance Wallnau – wants a deportation “Carve Out” for undocumented conservative Christian Republicans.
Document was shared: The Government Mountain and Immigration Enforcement
Within this document there are many links for further information.
We broke out into discussion groups and explored how the Seven Mountain Mandate effects our lives here in Indiana. We discussed how to talk to family and friends about this issue, and how to find and get involved with organizations that help immigrants.
Announcements:
- Hope Sings will be this Friday, February 27, 2026. Please register if you haven’t already so we can plan seating.
- March 28, 2026, is the next No Kings Rally. We plan on having a table at this event and are asking for volunteers.
- Sign-ups are still available for our Events Committee, School Board Committee and more. If you are able sign up for a committee after the meeting or contact one of our Board members.
February 2, 2026 – Monthly Meeting
This was the rescheduled meeting from January 26, 2026.
Discussion Topic:
7 Mountain Mandate. We began digging into this topic. In subsequent months, we will zero in on four of those mountains with opportunities to form working groups to facilitate information sharing and change. Our goal is to give broad overviews and provide resources for you to explore more as you are interested.
If you are interested in a deep dive into Dominion Theory and the Seven Mountains Mandate you can reference a helpful book on the subject by Matthew Boedy, The Seven Mountains Mandate: Exposing the Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy Democracy. You can find it at your favorite book retailer or local library.
If you have the time, there is also a 1 hour and 15-minute video by Monte Mader: Dominion Theology and the 7 Mountains Mandate that gives a good overview of the subject. Click here >>
During this meeting we presented two short videos introducing the Seven Mountains Mandate.
Exposing the Seven Mountain Mandate’s Takeover of America
The Seven Mountains of Influence | Lance Wallnau
(Start at the 14:23 mark). Note: we did not watch the entire video even after the 14:23 mark
After learning about the Seven Mountains Mandate, we broke out into discussion tables and asked:
In one sentence, which “mountain” is the most important in your life right now?
How have you seen any of these play out in your world, the state, or the nation?
What mountain(s) should we work on as a group? And do we have any volunteers?
We reconvened to the meeting room, and it was decided the dominion over government is the most important/influential mountain to the participants.
We also asked if attendees of the meeting would like to be more involved in serving our organization. We encouraged people to sign up for: the meeting planning committee, school board watch committee, and the communications committee which includes volunteering to staff our information booths at community events. If you are interested in any of these committees or would like more information about volunteer opportunities, please send an email to [email protected] and someone from our board will contact you.
Our announcements at the meeting:
January 14, 2026 – Indiana RTRI LifeWise Training
An introduction to school board monitoring and is useful for anyone interested in Christian nationalism infiltration into schools. This training will translate well to working with other state and local entities on other issues.
Link to School Board Watchdogs Mini-Webinar
Reference Guide Link
September 13, 2025 – Larry Hayes First Amendment Forum
On Saturday Sept. 13th, 2025, The Hoosiers for Separation of Church and State held their inaugural Larry Hayes First Amendment Forum. During this forum guest speakers Moises Serrano, Sheila Suess Kennedy and Dr. Daniel Ulrich discussed how white Christian Nationalism violates the constitutional rights of all Americans. Click link below to view the forum.
July 28, 2025 – Tim Moore & Chris Cavanaugh Freedom of Religion Talk
Hoosiers for Separation hosts a discussion about the history of the separation of church and state in America with guest speakers Tim Moore and Chris Cavanaugh. Click below link to view the discussion.
The Separation of Church and State: A Historical Perspective
RESOURCES FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION TALK ARE LISTED BELOW
MISCELLANEOUS RESOURCES
Center for the Study of the American Constitution (UW-Madison) Website
https://csac.history.wisc.edu/document-collections/religion-and-the-ratification
The Debate Over Religious Tests During the Ratification Debates
Concerns Over the Meaning of Religious Freedom During the Ratification Debates
https://csac.history.wisc.edu/document-collections/religion-and-the-ratification/freedom-of-religion
Concerns Over the Role of Clergy in Governance During the Ratification Debates
Clay J. and Lindsay C. on religious liberty and the 1st Amendment
Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists- “eternal” wall of separation
https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html
Thomas Jefferson: Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Thomas Jefferson: Notes on the State of Virginia
“We are answerable for them to our God. The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”
James Madison: Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments
https://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/amendI_religions43.html
James Madison’s “Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments” (1785) was a powerful argument for complete religious liberty and the separation of church and state, written anonymously to oppose a bill in the Virginia General Assembly that would have levied a general tax to support “teachers of the Christian religion.”
Here are the key themes and arguments Madison presented:
- Inalienable Right to Religious Freedom: Madison asserted that religious conviction is an inherent and “unalienable right” of every individual, stemming from their duty to God. This right precedes the claims of civil society and cannot be dictated or abridged by human laws. Individuals must be free to worship according to their own reason and conscience, not force or violence.
- Limited Government Authority: He argued that civil government derives its authority from the people, and since the people themselves have no right to control religious beliefs, neither does the government. Any attempt by the legislature to regulate or support religion is an overreach of its legitimate power and constitutes tyranny.
- Danger of Government Support for Religion: Madison contended that historical experience showed that government establishment of religion corrupted both the church and the state. It led to “pride and indolence in the clergy,” superstition, bigotry, and persecution, while undermining the true spirit and efficacy of Christianity itself. He believed Christianity flourished best without government interference.
- Equality and Justice: The proposed bill violated the principle of equality by favoring certain religious groups and imposing burdens on others. If the government could establish Christianity, it could just as easily establish any particular sect or even a different religion, leading to inequality and potentially persecution for those who dissented.
- Slippery Slope Argument: Madison warned that allowing the government to overstep its bounds in matters of religion would set a dangerous precedent, eroding other fundamental rights. If the legislature could control religious belief, it could also control the press, abolish trial by jury, or otherwise infringe upon the liberties of the people. Citizens have a duty to resist such “experiments on our liberties” at their earliest stages.
- True Nature of Christianity: Madison argued that the Christian religion itself disavowed dependence on worldly powers and that its strength came from its intrinsic truth and the devotion of its followers, not from legal compulsion or financial support.
In essence, Madison’s “Memorial and Remonstrance” was a foundational document for the concept of disestablishment in the United States, advocating for a robust separation of church and state as essential for both religious freedom and a truly free government. His arguments were instrumental in defeating the assessment bill and paving the way for the passage of Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom the following year.
Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom
https://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/amendI_religions44.html
George Washington: Letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island
“The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy—a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.
It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.”
David French Column in New York Times
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQbfpDNsjtDCtlkrxxrpcKKfqSJ
2025 Preview of Three Supreme Court Cases this Term
Listing of Modern Supreme Court Cases with Links
https://supreme.justia.com/cases-by-topic/religion
RESOURCE BOOKS (Links to Amazon are included)
Fever in the Heartland, Timothy Egan
Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism, Susan Jacoby
In the Garden of Beasts, Erik Larson
The Sacred Rights of Conscience, Daniel Dreisbach & Mark David Hall
The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism, Tim Alberta
Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?, John Fea
Current Events
IRS says churches can endorse candidates from the pulpit
How Private School Choice Triumphed in GOP-led States
Religion at the Supreme Court (from this term)
https://reason.com/volokh/2025/07/08/religion-at-the-supreme-court
100 Years After Scopes
https://apnews.com/article/religion-schools-church-state-scopes-monkey-trial-054773e
Post from conservative law prof. about religion cases at scotus
10 Commandments in schools/legal challenges moving forward
Parental opt outs post Mahmoud
Hope Sings – February 27, 2026
Featuring: Friends with the Weather, Cote Godoy y Amigos & Canto de Corazon, plus voices from the Fort Wayne UU congregation
