INDIANAPOLIS, IN — After 36 years of continuous urban ministry and nearly 28 years as senior minister of historic First Baptist Church North Indianapolis, Dr. Ivan Douglas Hicks, Ph.D., has announced his retirement from the pastorate, marking the beginning of a new chapter in a life devoted to faith, scholarship and community transformation.
But for Dr. Hicks, retirement does not mean stepping away from ministry. Rather, he describes the transition as moving into “another arena of ministry,” one that will allow him to expand his work in health equity, Medicaid advocacy, community-engaged research and Africana scholarship.
As founding president of the AfricaLogical Institute, Hicks is preparing to devote greater attention to the organization’s mission of Community Valued Research—bringing research, policy and community voices together to influence meaningful change in the systems and institutions that affect people’s lives. His expanding work will include examining the consequences of Medicaid policy changes, advocating for equitable access to healthcare and ensuring that the experiences and voices of communities most affected by public policy are heard and considered.
“I do not view this as a retirement from ministry. My calling has always been about serving people, strengthening communities and addressing the conditions that affect their lives. The pulpit has been one important expression of that calling. I now have an opportunity to carry that work into additional arenas, using research, advocacy, education and community engagement to make a difference,” Dr. Hicks said.
A Legacy of Faith, Scholarship and Community Leadership
Dr. Hicks’ transition represents the intersection of decades of pastoral leadership, academic scholarship and community advocacy.
He has served as senior minister of First Baptist Church North Indianapolis, 880 W. 28th Street, since 1999, leading a congregation with more than 140 years of history and a longstanding commitment to the neighborhood it calls home. Under his leadership, the church has continued its tradition of being responsive to and responsible for its community.
Beyond the pulpit, Dr. Hicks has built a distinguished record as an educator and scholar. He earned his Ph.D. in African American Studies from Temple University in 2003. His doctoral research, titled “Centering African American Religion: Toward an Afrocentric Analysis,” examined African American religion through the intellectual traditions of Africana Studies.
At Indiana University Indianapolis, Dr. Hicks was appointed as community research scholar in American Studies in September of 2020, before he wrote and taught the first foundational course, Introduction to Africana Studies, when Africana Studies began to be offered as a Ph.D. minor as adjunct faculty in 2021.
He will continue expanding his work with the Center for Africana Studies and Culture at Indiana University Indianapolis, bringing together scholarship, community knowledge and public engagement. He was recently selected as the second Prestigious Fellow with The Center for Africana Studies and Culture in The School of Liberal Arts.
Dr. Hicks serves as president of the Board of Directors of the Baptist Student Foundation at Purdue University and recently assumed the position of Health Chair of the Indiana State Conference of the NAACP.
A Thoughtful Transition for a Historic Congregation
For First Baptist Church North Indianapolis, the pastoral transition is the culmination of years of planning and preparation.
The congregation, which has served the same neighborhood for more than 140 years, has long recognized the importance of preparing for its future while remaining grounded in its history and community responsibilities.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the church began strategic conversations about its future, congregational health and continuing community mission. Pastoral succession was an important part of those discussions.
In December 2024, Dr. Hicks informed the congregation that a formal transition process would soon begin. In March 2026, he appointed a committee to complete the preparatory work necessary for the succession process. That work has now been completed.
The pastoral search is being led by a congregational leadership team chaired by Deacon Board Chairman Eric Cheatham. Information about the search and instructions for prospective applicants is available at FirstBaptistNorth.org.
Dr. Hicks will continue leading the congregation throughout the transition, helping ensure continuity and providing support as the church prepares to welcome its next pastor.
Reflecting on his years of service, Dr. Hicks emphasized the importance of stewardship and the responsibility of preparing institutions for future generations.
“I love First Baptist Church North Indianapolis deeply. More than 140 years of ministry remind us that none of us owns an institution like this. We receive it, we serve it faithfully for our season, and we prepare it for those who will carry the work forward after us. I remain dedicated to the strength of the church and to the family we have found here at First Baptist.”
First Lady Christia Hicks, chief human resources officer at Eskenazi Health, joins Dr. Hicks in expressing gratitude for the congregation and its support throughout the years. Together, they look forward to welcoming the new pastor and supporting that individual fully as they assume leadership of the church.
Commission Sunday: November 15, 2026
First Baptist Church North Indianapolis will formally recognize the retirement of Dr. Ivan Douglas Hicks and this important transition during Commission Sunday on November 15, 2026, at 11:15 a.m., as part of the congregation’s annual Leadership Sunday.
Bishop J. D. Wiley Taylor of Life Center Cathedral in New Orleans will deliver words of commissioning as pastor and people prepare for the next chapter in the church’s history.
Members of the First Baptist community, family, friends, ministry partners and all those who have been blessed by the ministry of Dr. and Mrs. Hicks and First Baptist Church are invited to participate in this special occasion.
For Dr. Hicks, the next chapter is not an ending, but an expansion of a lifelong commitment to ministry; one that will continue to be rooted in faith, informed by scholarship and driven by the belief that communities deserve to have a voice in shaping their own futures.
Media Contact:
Eunice Trotter, 317-489-8556 Eunice.trotter@att.net
AfricaLogical Institute Website: https://www.africalogical.com
First Baptist Church North Indianapolis Website: https://www.FirstBaptistNorth.org
