St. Luke’s is proud to announce Mr. Larry Kane as the 2026 recipient of the Betty Brandt Peace and Justice Award.
The Betty Brandt Peace and Justice Award was established in 2023 to honor Betty Brandt’s decades of service at St. Luke’s, and the values she lived and taught. Betty’s ministry represented the belief that community, contemplation, and justice must be held together for a wholistic Christian life. If we work for justice without tending to faithful reflection, we can experience cynicism. If we engage inwardly in contemplation without action towards justice, we are in danger of becoming self-centered. And when we try to go it alone without community, we become overwhelmed by the sorrows of the world. It is in holding these values together that we stay most open to God’s spirit and to offering hope in Jesus’ name.
The Peace and Justice award recognizes individuals whose lives offer a model of how the spiritual life of contemplation and a passion for justice work are lived out in faithful community. Individuals are nominated by leaders in Outreach or Justice Ministries, and the recipient is selected by a committee that includes clergy, staff, and leaders from both Outreach & Justice Ministries and Care & Contemplation Ministries. This year’s committee included Amy Barnes, Ann Brandon, Shelly Clasen, Roger Frick, Stephen Hoskins, Pastor Bryan Smith, and Rev. Janet Tiebert.
Past recipients of this award include Bob Dillingham, Linda Claffey, Theresa Berghoff, and Karen Christensen. 2026 nominees also included Lori Chambers and Jean VanLeeuwan. Through their examples, each of these individuals inspires us to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.
Larry Kane currently serves as the chairperson of St. Luke’s Creation Care committee, and some describe Larry as the true heart and soul of this group.
Larry Kane’s lifelong passion for caring for the environment is rooted in his deep Christian faith. Larry describes himself first as a Christian, and from that foundation flows his enduring commitment to environmental justice and to a future in which the earth and all its inhabitants can flourish. The creation texts in Genesis 1 and 2 are the basis for his belief that God’s creation is a sacred gift and that humankind is called to be faithful stewards—caretakers who protect, nurture, and sustain the natural world.
He also finds inspiration from Psalm 19:1 "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God's handiwork." He looks to the generations to come with concern and care for their well being as belonging to God's beloved creation.
A retired environmental attorney, Larry devoted his professional career to environmental law and litigation. He worked at Dentons Law and served as legal counsel for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, where he spent countless hours drafting, advocating for, and defending wetland and other environmental protections. In this work, he often collaborated with private citizens and civic organizations across Indiana, reflecting his belief that environmental care is a shared responsibility.
Larry has carried this same dedication into his long-standing involvement at St. Luke’s, where he has been an active member of the Creation Care Ministry for many years and currently serves as its chair. In this role, he keeps the congregation informed about pending state and local environmental legislation, helps arrange speakers and educational events, and encourages outdoor experiences that deepen appreciation for God’s creation. He has also written numerous op-eds that appear in the Indianapolis Star.
A central focus of Larry’s leadership has been guiding St. Luke’s toward meaningful climate action. Earlier this year, Larry led St. Luke’s in offering a Green Home Symposium. Larry was also the primary advocate for solar installations as part of the Making Room campaign, highlighting not only the environmental benefits of solar energy but also the strong theological foundation for protecting our natural world. And last but not least, Larry developed key documents that supported the Governing Board’s decision to adopt a goal of Net Carbon Neutrality by the year 2050, which aligning the church with the United Methodist Church’s 2024 Social Principles.
Larry brings a sense of community and collaboration to his volunteer role at St. Luke’s as well. In fact, you can’t talk to Larry for long without him sharing about the contributions of other members of Creation Care. He not only recruits and encourages others, he also empowers them to use their unique gifts in the work. He listed John Dane's leadership and conversational abilities, Scott Severn's strategic thinking, Tom Rarick's expertise in solar energy projects, Kristy Wallace’s organizational leadership, Alex Vaughan, Rick Newson and Lori Chambers and energetic members who drive the work forward and work with the Joint Energy Work Group at St. Luke's. This ability to join people together, put them forward and celebrate their talents is the work of a Christian leader.
On top of all that, Larry is perhaps the kindest, most thoughtful person you’ll ever meet. Larry embodies the values of Peace, Justice, Contemplation, and Community that this award seeks to capture. Thank you, Larry, for your work, for your example, and most of all for your commitment to Creation.