209

LISTEN AND LEARN 
SESSIONS

Are We All Saints? 
How One Church has Strived for Radical 
Welcome and Inclusion in  
Their Congregation 
Presented by Suzanne Wille, Episcopal Church of All Saints of Indianapolis 
Report by Donna Wells, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

ABSTR ACT In this session, sponsored by the ATLA Committee for 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Reverend Suzanne Wille shared the 
history of the Episcopal Church of All Saints of Indianapolis, a church 
with a long history of diversity, integration, and social action.

The Episcopal Church of All Saints of Indianapolis was founded in 
1864. It has been an Anglo-Catholic congregation since 1948. The 
services are very Roman Catholic in nature, and the congregation has 
a long-standing reputation for serving the poor. The church became 
integrated in the 1950s and installed stained-glass windows that were 
modern and highly symbolic. One portrays a crucified man hanging 
on street signs. 

The church was an early trendsetter in cultural issues. They had 
their first woman priest in 1977. In 1985 they had their first African-
American woman rector, Nan Peete, an internationally known and 
respected bishop and social justice advocate. Peete established a 
homeless ministry at All Saints in the 1980s that provided dinner 



210  ATL A 2018 PROCEEDINGS

and breakfast, and allowed the homeless to sleep in the sanctuary 
on the pews. This ministry evolved into the Day Spring family shelter. 

Homosexuality and specifically the AIDS crisis were huge issues 
in the 1980s. All Saints welcomed the gay community, even though 
it cost them many of their long-time members. It became known as 
a church of and for gay men. The church provided funerals for AIDS 
victims, many of whom had been abandoned by their families. To the 
present day, All Saints continues to appoint gay rectors. 

The church continues to be active in social issues by, for example, 
initiating marches and being a voice. They have provided shelter for 
immigrant families during this current immigration debate. 

All Saints faces new issues as its neighborhood becomes more 
gentrified. With their long history and strong convictions, they are 
firmly rooted and will face each new challenge with courage.