Call for speakers

Why are we starting the Matters of Religion Speakers Bureau?  

Building on the 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Indiana Humanities has launched Matters of Religion, a multi-year project inviting Hoosiers to explore the role of religion in our lives and to engage with how religious liberty – an idea that was central to the founding of America – influences education, democracy, culture, and the breadth of human experience in our religiously vibrant and diverse state.  

The 2027 Matters of Religion Speakers Bureau will bring humanities scholars and culture-bearers to communities around the state to give presentations that contribute to the Matters of Religion project. Indiana Humanities works with scholars and culture-bearers to shape all of our programs. They bring deep expertise and provide valuable context. They’re skilled at conveying information and generating conversation around a big idea or shared text. They help people engage with nuance, tension, and complexity. And they are passionate about connecting their research to the public. This speakers bureau furthers our mission to support Hoosier communities in learning about the past, collaborating in the present, and envisioning the future.  

What makes a good talk? 

• A compelling idea: Great talks are interesting and are usually built around one focused idea. However they start—with a question, with a bold claim, or with the posing of a problem—they should leave the audience with the excitement of encountering a new idea. (See guidance on “topics” below.) 

• Dynamic, easy speaking style: Some speakers are funny, some are serious, but great public speakers often share a few things: they’re able to adjust their tone and formality depending on the audience; they avoid diving too deep into the jargon of their field; and they find ways to relate to or hold the attention of a crowd. Great talks, especially for general, public audiences, are more than just a paper read out loud. 

• Deep expertise: The speaker knows their stuff! Often this is demonstrated by advanced study such as an M.A. or Ph.D. in a humanities field such as literature, history, ethics, religious studies, philosophy, law, etc.. Additionally, elders and culture-bearers have knowledge gathered through personal experience, community, and/or ancestors.  

• Relevance: The speaker makes the case for how their specific topic is a lens for thinking about the larger historical context, a broader philosophical question, a contemporary debate or phenomenon, etc.. The speaker has spent time thinking about how to make their talk relevant to nonspecialist, general public audiences, often by creating a hook that connects to people’s everyday lives. 
   

• Requested length: The presentation is about 40 minutes long leaving time for questions or discussion with the audience (for a total duration of 60 to 90 minutes).  

• Varying formats: Alternate formats beyond a traditional lecture with Q&A are welcome, and presentations can be geared toward adult, teen, or youth audiences. 

What topics fit the Matters of Religion project?   

Matters of Religion has a broad scope. The project’s interest in religion is inclusive of diverse practices, traditions, beliefs, and institutions, and in the various ways that individuals and communities relate to all the above. We’re excited to see how speakers help Hoosiers to unpack categories like religious liberty, religious history, religious conflict, religious experience, religious and non-religious identity, interreligious experience, and more.  

Here are a few guiding questions that we think could make for compelling presentations: 

• What are the dominant stories about religion in Indiana, and what happens when we learn about individual or collective experiences that complicate those narratives? 

• How has religion influenced, or been influenced by, a particular aspect of life in Indiana, such as education, healthcare, commerce, architecture, food, nature, transportation, migration, social movements, death practices, concepts of justice, and/or public opinion about any of the above?  

• How has religious life connected people in Indiana to external ideas, resources, and opportunities, and what has been the impact of these regional and global connections?    

• How have Hoosiers contributed to innovation or adaptation in religious life? 

• How has religious life contributed to (or undermined) public access to the humanities?    

• What counts as religion and what doesn’t, according to whom, and how does this affect the way Hoosiers recognize and interact with their own religious choices and with the religious lives of others?  

• Why did our country’s founders value freedom of conscience and what was at stake for them in adding religious liberty to the Constitution alongside other first amendment protections? How has the understanding and application of religious liberty varied in U.S. history? And what can we learn from comparing the American context to how other countries have dealt with questions of religious free exercise and establishment?  

• What does a commitment to religious liberty ask of us beyond affirming the first amendment? Here we might learn from disciplines like ethics and philosophy, and from looking at Hoosier communities past and present to understand what conditions and practices contribute to or undermine people’s experience of freedom and safety. 

• Where have Hoosiers practiced curiosity about the religious lives of others, and how have humanities methods and disciplines equipped this work?  

• What resources does Indiana bring to the broader understanding of religion and religious liberty in our country, for example through centers of religious scholarship, community history, or case law? 

Who are we looking for?  

The ideal scholar-facilitator: 

• Shares our vision for open-ended, inclusive, and thoughtful discussion about meaningful topics. 

• Is enthusiastic about sharing the insights of the humanities with Hoosiers. 

• Is curious about Indiana and its people and excited to engage with and learn from Hoosier communities. 

• Is not afraid to tackle difficult topics and help communities ask hard questions.  

• Is open to learning techniques and best practices for leading public humanities programs. 

• Is skilled at speaking about religion in a way that is not proselytizing or advocating for a particular religious or political position.  

• Has advanced training, such as an M.A. or Ph.D., in a humanities or humanistic social science field or in another relevant field. Alternatively, has extensive experience, expertise, or cultural knowledge in a topic related to the above topic areas. 

• Responds to email communication in a timely manner to assist with scheduling and organizing talks. 

• Is willing to travel statewide and provide their own transportation.  

How does the speakers bureau work?  

Prospective speakers apply by Nov. 15 (see “how to submit” below) and their proposals are reviewed by a committee of staff, board members, and subject-area experts. Once speakers are selected (in December), Indiana Humanities will publish a digital catalog (in January) listing the speakers and their talks, and make the catalog available to prospective hosts (libraries, schools, congregations, and other tax-exempt organizations), who may then review the offerings and apply (through a separate host application process) to host a speaker during the 2027 calendar year. If Indiana Humanities selects an organization as a host, we connect them to the requested speaker and the two parties make arrangements for the talk. Upon completion of the talk, Indiana Humanities pays the speaker a $400 honorarium and the host site reimburses travel expenses.  

Note that a host organization may initiate contact with a speaker outside of this process, and speakers may accept and negotiate additional engagements on their own. However, Indiana Humanities will pay honoraria only for talks that are awarded through our host application process.  

How to submit a proposal as a speaker: 

Applicants should fill out this form by November 15, 2026, which includes a description of your proposed talk, a short biography, and a resumé or CV for review. We may ask candidates to provide additional information or to do a quick call with Indiana Humanities staff to inform our final decisions.  

Questions? 

Contact Emma Crossen, Dir. of Religious Initiatives at ecrossen@indianahumanities.org or 812.243.1574.