Iowa
SECULAR
Summit
Secular government and democracy are on the line.
Join on us on Saturday, June 20, 2026
10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Stine Barn in West Des Moines
Secularism means separation of religion from political, economic, social and cultural aspects of life; religion being treated as a purely personal matter.
Join us for a day of discussions with community leaders and educators about the importance of building bridges, working together, and finding secular solutions to our social challenges.
$30 - Member Admission (IAF/HSI)
$50 - General Admission
Lunch is included with all tickets
Scroll down to see this year’s speakers
2026 Summit Speakers - Videos Below!
Tom Walton
Iowa House District candidate
An advocate for dying with dignity, Dr. Herwig draws on decades of medical experience and a commitment to compassion and connection.
Dr. Steven Herwig
FFRF works as an umbrella for those who are free from religion and are committed to the cherished principle of the separation of state and church
Iowa based nonprofit protecting access to diverse & inclusive literature
Advocating progressive values and equality for humanists, atheists, and freethinkers
Iowa Atheists & Freethinkers
American Humanists
Sponsored by
American Atheists
Humanist Society of Iowa
The purpose of the summit is to promote secular values, advocate for the separation of church and state, and raise awareness of the contributions of non-religious individuals and communities to society.
The Iowa Secular Summit is an annual event that brings together humanists, agnostics, atheists, and other individuals in Iowa to discuss important issues and promote the values of reason, science, and secularism in Iowa and beyond.
Doors open at 9:20 AM with lunch and drinks provided. Speakers begin at 10:00 AM
Families Forward
The Iowa Secular Summit is supporting Families Forward, a non-profit organization that helps the homeless.
As of July 2023, Bidwell Riverside Center and Hawthorn Hill officially merged into Families Forward, an organization where the original four programs - Bidwell Pantry, Child Development Center, New Directions Shelter, and The Home Connection - work together to provide compassionate, life-changing assistance to families and their path to self-sufficiency.​
2025 Speakers
William J. Doherty, Ph.D.
Building Bridges
in an Era of Polarization
Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota
Co-Founder Braver Angels
Aaron Ra
Evolution Explained
Evolution educator, podcaster, and author
100th Anniversary of the Scopes Monkey Trial
2024 Speakers
Brooklyn Evan Walker
Political Scientist, Hutchinson Community College
Watch 2023 Iowa Secular Summit Videos
