Faithful Discourse with Chris Henry

Conversations at the intersection of religious faith and public life.

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Episodes

Christmas Reflection

Monday Dec 22, 2025

Monday Dec 22, 2025

A Christmas Reflection with Rev. Chris Henry

Dr. Christian Smith

Wednesday Dec 10, 2025

Wednesday Dec 10, 2025

Notre Dame’s Dr. Christian Smith, America’s preeminent sociologist of religion and author of Why Religion Went Obsolete, joins Chris to discuss some of the most pressing questions facing faith communities. How and why has religion’s place in American life changed so dramatically? What cultural forces have reshaped our expectations, institutions, and the way we imagine meaning? How can churches respond with grounded, thoughtful, faithful hope?

Greg Stowers

Wednesday Nov 26, 2025

Wednesday Nov 26, 2025

Greg Stowers, the Indianapolis City Council’s Chief Administrative Officer, navigates policy, politics, and the daily work of making a city function as he supports all 25 city councilors across political divides. He discusses the issues facing our city and his stories of serving in a political space in a non-partisan way, focusing on the work that impacts residents’ real lives. 

Mitch Daniels

Wednesday Nov 12, 2025

Wednesday Nov 12, 2025

Former Indiana Governor and Presbyterian Elder Mitch Daniels tells his stories of a lifetime of faith and public service in roles including senior advisor to President Ronald Reagan, chief of staff to Senator Richard Lugar, and president of Purdue University. He and Chris discuss the principles that have guided his leadership and how his faith has kept him rooted through times of crisis and heavy responsibility. 

Two-Year Anniversary Episode

Wednesday Oct 29, 2025

Wednesday Oct 29, 2025

In this special celebratory episode, guest host Gracie Payne interviews Chris Henry about the show’s origins and vision, ministry in fractured times, and his leadership journey. 

Housing Justice

Wednesday Oct 15, 2025

Wednesday Oct 15, 2025

Dr. Chelsea Haring-Cozzi, the CEO of CHIP (the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention), joins Chris for a conversation about collective impact, collaboration, and the mobilization of faith communities to seek housing justice for our neighbors.

The Heart of Education

Wednesday Oct 01, 2025

Wednesday Oct 01, 2025

Dr. Patricia Payne, Director of the Indianapolis Public Schools Office of Racial Equity and Inclusion, has been a dedicated IPS educator for 63 years. She joins Chris to share how her faith sustains her persistence and advocacy. In her own words, “It doesn’t do any good to get mad unless you’re going to do something about it.”

Your Life Is Not Your Own

Wednesday Sep 17, 2025

Wednesday Sep 17, 2025

Social worker Kate Booker joins Chris to tell her stories of finding joy in service to others. She shares how her role works at Second Presbyterian Church, the issues she encounters most, and the scripture that inspires her to address the physical needs of her clients. Her family’s motto accurately summarizes the message in this episode: “Your life is not your own. Serve God. Serve others.”

The Arc of Leadership

Wednesday Sep 03, 2025

Wednesday Sep 03, 2025

Ambassador Randall L. Tobias shares his stories from walking to church as a boy in small-town Indiana to leading multi-national corporations and leaving retirement when asked by President Bush to respond to a global health crisis. Join us for this conversation about leadership rooted in purpose, service, and conviction.

Home.

Wednesday Aug 20, 2025

Wednesday Aug 20, 2025


Join us for a special episode with Rev. Chris Henry, reflecting on his summer sabbatical.

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Rev. Christopher Henry

Chris Henry, Senior Pastor of Second Presbyterian Church, is a gifted preacher, strategic leader, and devoted teacher who believes in the power of faithful discourse—bringing together voices from different professions, backgrounds, and beliefs to explore the intersection of faith and civic life. Chris lives out his call to congregational ministry and leads out of his conviction that churches have both the capacity and the mandate to be places of transformation in individual lives, the broader community, and the world.

 

Chris is a graduate of Duke University (BA in Religion) and Columbia Theological Seminary (MDiv). He served churches in Atlanta, GA, before his call to Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis in 2018. Chris is married to Rev. Sara Hayden, who serves as Director of Apprenticeships, Residencies and Leadership Cohorts for the 1001 New Worshipping Communities movement of the PC(USA) and hosts the New Way podcast. Sara and Chris met as students at Columbia Seminary and were married in 2008. They are the parents of two sons, Samuel and Benjamin.

 

Chris loves running long distances, coaching his sons’ sports teams, cheering for Duke basketball, reading biographies and novels, exploring the mountains of Colorado and North Carolina, and spending time with Sara, Sam, and Ben.

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