Diversity Teams

Creating a Culture of Belonging

Diversity Teams

Creating a Culture of Belonging

IWU Christian Community Task Force

How does a Christ-centered academic community, committed to consistently living out its Christian convictions as outlined by The Wesleyan Church, live together in loving relationship with those who may not hold those same beliefs and convictions?

The President of Indiana Wesleyan University has thoughtfully curated a team of experts to explore this conversation. Their desire is to live in a community that embraces "the dignity of difference"; their purpose is to offer a summative response as it relates to IWU (broadly), then to provide a framework and set of recommendations for the practical application of that response.

Co-Chairs

  • Diane McDaniel
Members
  • Miranda Cruz, Associate Professor of Historical Theology and Director of The Sacred Alliance Center for the Ministry of Reconciliation at Wesley Seminary
  • Chris Bounds, Professor of Christian Doctrine at Wesley Seminary, Ordained elder in AR Conference UMC
  • Karen Dowling, Executive Director of Multicultural Learning and Engagement at IWU National & Global, academic emphasis in social foundations including multicultural education
  • Cindy Faulkner, Professor in IWU’s MSW program, licensed clinical social worker, researcher and textbook author
  • Andrea Summers, IWU-Marion campus pastor, Dean of Spiritual Formation
  • Pastor Shawn Cossin, Pastor Heritage Church, a multi-site Wesleyan congregation in Illinois
  • Betty Overton-Adkins, Faculty Member Union Institute and University, works with the National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good at the University of Michigan
  • Larry Burnley, Vice President Diversity & Inclusion, University of Dayton; President and co-founder of Inclusive Engagements, LLC.
  • Alex Huskey, Chancellor of the Marion campus, Ivy Tech Community College; Pastor of New Bethany Church of God in Christ
  • John Wilson, IWU alumnus, BS in Christian Ministries 2016 and MPTh 2018, Speaker on Faith and Sexuality at Revoice, Wyoming Equality, and The Center for Faith, Gender, and Sexuality

Resource Staff

  • Shawn Matter, IWU Legal Council
  • Don Sprowl, Associate Provost - IWU, Data Analyst and Scribe for Taskforce
  • Russ Gunsalus, The Wesleyan Church, Executive Director Education and Clergy Development

After a season of hearing one another’s stories of exclusion and embrace and active dialog to the prompt, the task force will:

  • Articulate principles to guide further dialog and application as we seek to become a loving community that lives together respectfully, extending dignity, respect, and honor, while honoring our Wesleyan heritage, beliefs, and denominational commitments becomes a reality.
  • Create a List of Recommendations for administration to address next steps for implementation and realization of a loving community that lives together respectfully, extending dignity, respect and honor, while honoring our Wesleyan heritage, beliefs, and denominational commitments.
  • *Formulate a White Paper that will stand as a resource and guide and outline for further research as IWU pursues the goal of developing a loving community that lives together respectfully, extending dignity, respect, and honor, while honoring our Wesleyan heritage, beliefs, and, denominational commitments.
Wesley Wildcat

Multicultural Enrichment Council

“We are committed to developing and nurturing a culturally, ethnically, and internationally diverse academic community embracing the mandate of Christ for reconciliation to God and each other.”

The purpose of the Multicultural Enrichment Council is to champion a holistic, integrated, and intentional initiative to enrich a university-wide culture that welcomes all students, faculty, and staff of ethnic and cultural diversity and international origins. The council seeks to foster richly diverse curricular and co-curricular educational experiences and spiritual formation rooted in the Wesleyan tradition that fully engages students, faculty, and staff as we prepare all students for Christian service locally and globally. 

Acknowledge

Build upon the resources, tradition, heritage, and core values of The Wesleyan Church to increase  IWU-Marion and IWU-National & Global commitment to multicultural and ethnic diversity education with a focus on a Biblical perspective and a call for reconciliation to God and each other.

Associate

Invite and introduce the IWU community to diversity, creating opportunities for open and honest interaction and involvement with many cultures and ethnicities.

Assemble

Become a more culturally, ethnically, and internationally diverse university.

Assist

Resource and support culturally, ethnically, and internationally diverse students and faculty.

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