VITALITY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS

VITALITY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
St. Philip’s, Indianapolis

CBCP provides a model for congregations to increase vitality and serve mission by making the most of their buildings as assets and by developing new and stronger community partnerships. “Vitality” is a good descriptor for the impact of partnerships on the people of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in downtown Indianapolis. 

St Philip’s has a lengthy history of providing space and collaborating with a many charitable, educational, arts, and religious partners, according to Senior Warden Careth Flash. From events of the Kurt Vonnegut Museum to renting space to congregations from other worship traditions, to educational partnerships, St. Philip’s has extended its ministry through welcoming others inside.

Beyond vitality, there is excitement!  Ms. Flash has witnessed that the members of St. Philip’s

“are excited to see our space being utilized in such a valuable way. When we partner with outside organizations we benefit from the increased exposure and opportunities for additional partnerships. It is also a very natural way to introduce our mission and vision to a larger community.”

Several organizations and the congregation utilize space in the undercroft and basement of St. Philip’s. That threatened to end this summer when the HVAC suddenly had to be replaced. With several groups needing the comfort of air conditioning, St. Philip’s successfully applied for a matching capital grant from CBCP.  

The nearly $25,000 HVAC project made possible the uninterrupted functioning of W.A.Y.S. (Why Aren’t You Smiling), Inc.,a faith-based not-for-profit that supports the mental health needs of elementary, middle, and high school students through pro-social activities. W.A.Y.S. meets four times per month in the basement of the church, offering activities as diverse as Spanish language lessons, photography, painting, and textile arts.

Narthex Community of Learners is a new non-profit seeking to establish a “micro-school” for 9th to 12th graders grounded in Christian spiritual practices and social justice principles. This summer, in the comfortable air conditioned space of St. Philip’s, Narthex hosted a vocations symposium featuring professionals who experience their work as a calling. It was a chance for the school’s future learners to develop a vision for vocations as they learned from speakers such as Katie Ito, a recipe illustrator (see photo).

Narthex school at St. Philip’s, Indianapolis

In an attempt to increase food access across the 46202 zip code, the American Heart Association reached out to St. Philip’s. With a new mission focus on reaching out to students in the area, St. Philip’s chose to stock its “Mustard Seed Market” pantry with shelf-stable, dorm-ready items. 

There is vitality in these examples and excitement among the congregation of St. Philip’s. 

For more information contact St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, or  Info@cbcpindiana.org

By the Church Buildings for Collaborative Partnerships project (CBCP) of the Episcopal Dioceses of Indianapolis and Northern Indiana - 2026