What now?
Dr. Diana Butler Bass, author and public theologian
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2026 | 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
Plymouth Congregational Church, Waveland Hall
4126 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines
** in-person event **
Author and public theologian Diana Butler Bass delivered a keynote address for St. Catherine of Siena’s Dialogue Series in Des Moines on September 20. The God and Caesar: A Different Path presentation centered around the intersection of religion and public life and the difference between imperialist societies throughout history.
Dr. Butler Bass will join us virtually to continue the conversation at our November Crossroads luncheon, providing her thoughts on the outcomes and impact of the 2026 elections, the role of religion, the influence of Christian nationalism, and where we go from here.
We hope you will join us in-person at Plymouth Church in Des Moines for this special Crossroads presentation in partnership with St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Parish and Student Center in Des Moines. While Dr. Butler Bass will join us remotely, we believe that gathering together in community as we normally do is important for this conversation. We hope you will make your reservation and be present. A virtual option is also available.
You may make your reservation to attend in-person (no lunch) by clicking on the "Register Now" button. There is no cost for this option, but we must have your RSVP to ensure we have enough seating.
If you have any issues registering, please email info@interfaithallianceiowa.org or call 515.279.8715.
ABOUT THE ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA DIALOGUE SERIES | The Dialogue Series is presented by St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Parish and Student Center at Drake University. “Faith in Action for the Common Good” is the foundation of the series, which invites people of all spiritual walks of life to listen, converse, and then act to improve conditions that benefit all members of society.
ABOUT OUR PRESENTER | Diana Butler Bass, Ph.D., is an award-winning author, popular speaker, inspiring preacher, and one of America’s most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality.
Her passion is sharing great ideas to change lives and the world — a passion that ranges from informing the public about spiritual trends, challenging conventional narratives about religious practice, entering the fray of social media with spiritual wisdom, and writing books to help readers see themselves, their place in history, and God differently. She does this thoughtfully, with joy and a good dose of humor, leading John Fugelsang to dub her “iconic,” Anne Lamott to call her “a brilliant scholar and wonderful storyteller,” and Glennon Doyle to praise her “razor-sharp mind” and “mystical heart.”
Diana holds a doctorate in religious studies from Duke University and is the author of twelve books. Her bylines include The New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN.com, Atlantic.com, USA Today, Huffington Post, Spirituality and Health, Reader’s Digest, Christian Century, and Sojourners. She has commented on religion, politics, and culture in the media widely including on CBS, CNN, PBS, NPR, CBC, FOX, Sirius XM, TIME, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, and in multiple global news outlets.
Currently Diana co-hosts the Convocation Unscripted, a podcast on religion and politics, and writes The Cottage, a top-five Substack newsletter in Faith & Spirituality.
Diana and her husband live in Alexandria, Virginia, with their dog, Paddy, and their sometimes-successful backyard garden.
Crossroads is a monthly gathering of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa in Des Moines.