Immigrant and Ethnic Congregations

Abstract

For generations, newly arrived settlers to Indianapolis have maintained their sense of community by reestablishing here the culture and religion of their homelands. In recent years, the city has received numerous immigrants from Asia, bringing religions unfamiliar to the American heartland—Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Numerous congregations in the city, Catholic and Protestant, now offer religious services in Spanish. Once, Indianapolis leaders chose to emphasize the city’s “all-American” character. Today, ethnic and religious diversity are recognized as elements that enrich the Indianapolis community. This issue includes an interview with Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, secretary general of the Islamic Society of North America.