Highlights from the May/June 2012 issue of Together
Hoosiers in tornado recovery for the long haul
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Volunteer disaster coordinator Don Partlow of Henryville UMC, works on the roof of a home owner whose house was badly damaged during the March 2 tornadoes. |
The grants will assist storm survivors to reclaim what was left of their homes. For some survivors, it will help them rebuild their homes from the ground up. The Indiana Conference teams approved $30,000 in grant money to be used for the salary of a casework manager for long-term recovery in the southern Indiana.
Another $25,000 was approved for the salary of a cook at the LTR Volunteer Center called the ROC (Restoring Our Community). These two positions are part of the three-county March2recovery LTR committee recently formed through the Indiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (INVOAD), including the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
Smaller local church grants were approved for the purchase of barbed wire, so farmers who raise live stock in pastures will be able to contain their herds.
According to the Rev. Jim Byerly, Indiana Disaster Response Team member, “United Methodist individuals and groups can now register for volunteer work to help southern Indiana tornado survivors in long-term recovery.” He said there are two important steps and organizations to assist volunteers in mission coming to the area.
To volunteer as individuals or groups, register online at www.volunteersroc.org then “CLICK HERE” if you have a group to register. A volunteer will return phone calls as soon as possible. Byerly explained that even the phones are answered by available volunteers giving their time for this effort.
Volunteers can make reservations with the Country Lake Christian Retreat Center for inexpensive food and lodging during the time volunteers in mission teams will be working. During the summer months, the retreat center can only house 60 volunteers each week, due to summer camping ministries. Online housing reservations can be completed at www.volunteersroc.org/under-construction/volunteer/group-registration.
All questions and comments should be directed by the Group Leader to the Group Volunteer Coordinator by e-mail: volunteergroups@march2recovery.or or phone at 812-565-CAMP (2267).
Donations are welcomed for tornado recovery in southern Indiana. Remember cash is king. The disaster response and volunteers in mission teams request individuals and groups NOT to donate clothes. Donations of money or gift cards to Lowes, Home Depot and Walmart are preferred. Ways to donate and places to take donations are listed at http://march2recovery.org/donate.
North Ktanga bishop appoints Walters Director of Connectional Ministries
Bishop Ntambo Nkulu Ntanda has appointed the Rev. Bob Walters the Director of Connectional Ministries for the North Katanga Episcopal Area in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Bishop Mike Coyner of Indiana has made the enabling appointment making Walters, an elder of the Indiana Conference, available to North Katanga.
North Katanga , which includes the North Katanga, Tanganyika and Tanzania Conferences, is one of the fastest growing areas of The United Methodist Church. It also is one of the poorest with malaria, cholera, typhoid and HIV/AIDS epidemic. Many of its districts have survived the recent horrific war in eastern Congo and are struggling to recover.
Walters’ time will be split between the DRC and the United States. While in the DRC, he will continue to work with districts in connecting them with the vision and strategies of the Episcopal Area. While in the U.S., he will be interpreting the progress and struggles of the church in North Katanga to general agencies and partner conferences.
Walters will continue as President of Friendly Planet Missiology. Taylor Walters Denyer will be heading the global operations of FPM and Joseph Mulongo Ndala will head the Congolese operations.
If I were in a congregation receiving a new pastor
Some mid-summer traditions may involve baseball, apple pie and Fourth of July fireworks. In the United Methodist community, mid-summer can also mean changes in pastoral appointments. Some churches are receiving a new pastor just after having said goodbye to the pastor with whom they have worked, prayed, worshipped and served.
As a pastor, who is not moving this summer (right, Bishop Mike?) and as someone who has more than 30-years of experience in parish ministry, I offer some words of advice to congregations receiving a new pastor. Whether this advice is helpful in assisting you in beginning a positive partnership, I that leave to you.
If I were in a congregation receiving a new pastor or where a leader or a member of a Staff Parish Relations Committee, I would:
- Pray.
- Do my very best to bless the pastor who is leaving us.
- Let the departing pastor go.
- Send a note of welcome and blessing to the new pastor.
- Be sure and wear my name tag at church.
- Invite the pastor and family over or out for a meal.
- Look at the new pastor with the eyes of grace.
- Encourage the new pastor to stay well.
- Speak directly with the pastor.
- Remember that ministry is something we do together.
- Be patient.
- Love them as well as I could.
- Never take the good for granted.
If you are getting a new pastor, how you welcome that person and family into your life in these first months will shape your future together. Celebrate your congregation’s new season with the fireworks of Christ-like grace!
Conference Session to be 'Making ROOM' in Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS – Hoosier United Methodists from across the state will be “Making ROOM” for others as more than 3,000 clergy and laity members of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church convene June 7-9 at the Indiana Convention Center.
“Making ROOM” is based on Acts 2:46-47, “Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.” (Common English Bible)
By Making ROOM for others, all activities of the annual conference session are open to guests as well as members. New to the conference session this year are workshops to help pastors and members meet the needs of their community, a Family Fun Night on Monument Circle, a Saturday morning, June 9, Conference and Community Prayer Breakfast welcoming Governor Mitch Daniels as a guest of Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner, and a 7 p.m. Saturday night baseball game at Victory Field, across the street from the Convention Center.
Two Texans to teach congregational development principles during conference session
 Ozier |
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 Macleod |
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Annual Conference session will welcome two leaders in the congregational development movement as keynote presenters during a two-hour Friday morning teaching session June 8 in the Main Room.
The Rev. Dr. Jim Ozier, director of New Church Development and Congregational Transformation for the North Texas Conference, and Fiona Macleod who serves as director of Learning and Development at Interstate Batteries will be the co-presenters.
Ozier began his work for the NTC in November 2007, focusing on the area of new church development. Congregational transformation was added to his responsibilities in 2009.
Prior to her current role at Interstate Batteries, Macleod was Director of Talent Development at Southwest Airlines and before that, Director of Workforce Strategies at Baylor Health Care Systems, both in Dallas. Her career has taken her across industries – energy, healthcare, airline – and across disciplines – strategic planning, employment branding, performance management and executive coaching. This work was begun in Glasgow, Scotland, her native home.
Ozier and Macleod share practical, hands-on techniques to create a culture of growth and vitality in congregations. Based on experience, they teach and inspire churches to move beyond the barriers that hold them back and into a future, which penetrates the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ.
Ozier and Macleod will address all laity, both members and guests, during a laity luncheon session in the Sagamore Ballroom Thursday, June 7 at 11 a.m. Laity will have an opportunity to get to know one another better at the luncheon.
Come early, volunteer for community connection mission outreach across the city of Indianapolis
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Volunteers pause during a UM-Habitat for Humanity build this past year in Indianapolis. A similar build will be part of annual conference. |
Registration for the Community Connect outreach mission is $30 per volunteer and includes a T-shirt, transportation to and from the work sites and lunch. Registration is being done online. If you’re not attending annual conference as a conference member representing a church, register as a guest to avoid the conference fee and then register for missions.
If you aren’t able to come early, help make a big impact at annual conference by giving a tax deductible gift through Metro Ministries. Gifts of any size will make an impact on the lives of those in our community. Make check payable to Metro Ministries, 3901 N. Meridian Street, Suite 210, Indianapolis, IN 46208.
Here is a list of times, places.
- Habitat for Humanity
- Home Rehabs
- Brightwood Community Center Playground
- Robert’s Park United Methodist Church – A variety of opportunities will be available.
On the evening of Wednesday, June 6, organizers are planning for a Family Night at Brightwood Community Center from 4:30 to 7 p.m. All are welcome to join Brightwood Community residents as they celebrate their Kid’s Club graduates and kick off Summer Camp sign-ups.
On June 7 at 10 a.m., volunteers are invited to the dedication of a Habitat for Humanity home at 9 a.m. near 24th and Gale Streets in Indianapolis.
Come early, stay late as both conference members and guests celebrate the ministries of The United Methodist Church in Indiana during the fourth Indiana Annual Conference Session. For more information, visit www.indymetroumc.org click on “Events.”
Mission Team co-sponsoring 5K Run, Walk, Stroll for Imagine NO Malaria June 7
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Conference Mission and Advocacy Team, the West District of the Indiana Conference and Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church of Greencastle are sponsoring an Imagine NO Malaria “Change the World” 5K Run/Walk/Stroll on the Downtown Canal in Indianapolis, Thursday, June 7 from 7 to 11 a.m. on West Street on the east side of the bridge over the Central Canal near the Government Center.
All are welcome to join the 5K Run/Walk/Stroll being held immediately before the Indiana Annual Conference to benefit Imagine NO Malaria. If you would like to register for this event, please download the 5K Run/Walk/Stroll registration form online at www.inumc.org/ac2012 and also for the 5K Run/Walk/Stroll form. Questions about this event can be directed to Ann Newton at annknewton@cinergymetro.net.
All are invited to the Conference and Community Prayer Breakfast with Gov. Mitch Daniels
 Daniels |
Bishop Mike Coyner will welcome Governor Mitch Daniels and Indianapolis City-County Council President Maggie Lewis of Indianapolis. Daniels will be speaking. Our purpose is to come together to lift up in prayer the needs of our towns, cities and state.
If you are a guest of the Annual Conference and wish to attend this breakfast, register online at www.inumc.org/ac2012 as a guest and then make your reservation for the Prayer Breakfast. Click on the “Register Now” button. The cost is $20 per person.
Welcoming home the United Methodist community
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The Singing Saints choir is one of many volunteer groups available to Wesley Manor residents. |
Thanks to funds provided by Mr. and Mrs. Oliver M. Reid and monies raised through a variety of donors, Wesley Manor has grown from 33 acres to a total of 83 acres. That’s like saying Wesley Manor has grown from approximately 15 to 37 typical city blocks. Driving onto the campus, residents, guests, families and friends find themselves engulfed with a beautiful drive lined with trees and grounds that would make a golf course greens keeper jealous.
Wesley Manor is a get-away in a rural community not far from metropolitan areas such as Indianapolis, Lafayette and Kokomo. Not only has there been land expansion during the past 50 years, but activity options have been enhanced to create a more active community. Wesley Manor is a place to call “home” for residents and future residents, who are on the go and enjoy retirement living.
Wesley Manor was founded on the values and beliefs of The United Methodist Church and continues to operate with those same values and beliefs today in order to meet the spiritual needs of residents.
Residents and staff are devotedly involved in a multitude of worship opportunities from chapel worship to mission services and from inspirational hymn sings to personal visitations by the in-house chaplain, just to name a few.
While a number of opportunities are provided, residents are encouraged to maintain their home church connections through prayer, participation, financial support and tithes whenever possible.
After more than 50 years in ministry, Wesley Manor continues to welcome those who are 55 years of age and older to live and continue their faith. For those who have not yet experienced Wesley Manor, pastors and church groups are encouraged to visit for a free lunch or dinner and tour where guests can discover how Wesley Manor can add enjoyment to one’s retirement life. Guests may even come in contact with residents they know.
For more information and to schedule a personal lunch and tour, call Wesley Manor at 765-656-2106. Also visit www.wesleymanor.org and connect with Wesley Manor on Facebook.com at Wesley Manor Retirement Community.
Parkview Health opens $536 million regional medical center
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United Methodist-related Parkview Regional Medical Center opened its doors on March 17 in Fort Wayne, Ind. |
The new regional medical center features more than 400 beds in all private rooms. It features specialty centers for heart, orthopedics, cancer, women’s and children’s services, plus outpatient services. The new Parkview medical facility also features adult and pediatric trauma centers, Samaritan medical flight services and a full-service 24-hour emergency room.
The Chapel at the new medical center will have a prominent role as it complements Parkview’s commitment to being a place for healing, hope and opportunity. Daily services are available in the chapel, and chaplains are available to serve patients and their family members on a 24-hour basis. The Chaplaincy Service department, led by the Rev. Ann Steiner Lantz, a clergy member of the Indiana Conference, is a vital part of the life of the hospital.
Parkview is pleased to be an affiliated hospital of The United Methodist Church. Its history and philosophical roots with United Methodism date back to the 1900s.
The eight-story facility with ground level and roof-top helipad includes: everything medical from laboratory, pharmacy, kitchen, ER, imaging, dining, outpatient services, Ronald McDonald House, operating room, intensive care units, Heart Institute, radiology, pathology, dialysis, patient rooms, and rehabilitation areas to a chapel where chaplains can give spiritual care.
In addition to the new regional medical center, Parkview will maintain a significant presence at its Randallia Drive hospital.
For information, visit www.parkview.com.
Small-town church makes difference with after-school program
Program Director Mandi Thompson of Trinity UMC in Kentland, Ind., assists a young student during the church’s after-school program. |
According to the Rev. Ed van Wijk (pronounced van WICK), pastor of the 167-member congregation, the church began the daily, free after-school program this January. The church’s new building, less than two years old, had ample space for the program which the community needed since the public elementary school closed its after-school program several years ago.
The two-hour program was begun by a generous contribution from a resident of the community, who saw a need for the betterment of the community. Van Wijk said the church’s pastor-parish relations committee interviewed several candidates and found Mandi Thompson to be a perfect fit because of her background in children’s ministries. The Christian-centered program has grown from ten students in January to 20 students today.
Next month, church leaders will evaluate the program and plan for another school year.
Thompson, director of the program, is a young mother from Attica (35 miles south of Kentland), who makes the trip each day to make a difference in the lives of school children, kindergarten through grade five.
The after-school program is a major commitment to the small congregation and is backed by 16 volunteers, who take turns bringing snacks and other supplies for the program, as well as volunteer their time when needed. The program is currently paid for through a private foundation, which provides for its $10,000 school-year budget.
Van Wijk said he hopes the congregation also can offer a program during the summer like a Vacation Bible School.
“We want to be the light for other people,” van Wijk said.
For more information about the Trinity UMC after-school program, contact Mandi Thompson at mandithmpsn@aol.com.
Lawyer outlines how congregations can protect their ministry
INDIANAPOLIS – A congregation may not be exempt from being sued during this age of litigation, but according to Scott Himsel, a lawyer with the firm of Faegre, Baker and Daniels, congregations can take steps to reduce the risk of being sued.
His hour-long presentation was heard by more than 100 trustees, treasurers and other local church officers responsible for the finance and administration of their congregations. They met for a Saturday morning training event, April 21, at Castleton United Methodist Church.
“There are a number of things we (churches) can do to protect ourselves from being sued,” he said.
The “Big Three” areas of liability for congregations are sexual misconduct, personal injury and personnel problems. “Studies show where you are likely to get into trouble,” he said. His job during the training event was to show congregations how to stay out of trouble in order to protect their primary goal of ministry to their community.
With liability caused by personal injury, Himsel advised congregations to take preventative measures. He also said adequate insurance is absolutely critical and that the Indiana Conference promotes a good insurance coverage plan.
Probably the most potential thorny issues in the life of a congregation revolves around personnel. Himsel said, the church becomes vulnerable because it has a natural trust of individuals, especially the individuals it hires. Yet churches open themselves up to fraud if they don’t have and follow guidelines which protect against fraud.
Other employment issues need to be addressed in an employee handbook. He encouraged churches to have an employee handbook. A sample handbook for local churches is available on the conference website at www.inumc.org. Click on “Administration,” then “Human Resources.”
Following Himsel’s presentation, he and other church finance and administration professionals presented two hour-long workshops about the role of trustees, safety and building inspections, child protection polices, the work of finance committees, treasurer and financial secretary, plus preventing fraud.
This Regional Finance and Administration Training Event will be duplicated at other locations across the state during the next two years. Future events will be announced through district center publications and the Hoosier United Methodist online e-VENTS publication.
Historians hear presentation during society meeting in Bloomington
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana United Methodist Historical Society held its Annual Meeting at Bloomington First UM Church on Saturday, April 21, with two major historical presentations by Laura Galloway and Dr. Gayle Williams.
Upon completion of his term as president, the Rev. Douglas Davies was honored with a token of the esteem of the Society, an original work in stained glass by UM layman Rodney Stover titled “Easter Sunrise.” Davies was recognized on behalf of the society by the Rev. Robert Epps, retired Indiana Conference Elder. For more information about the Historical Society, contact Richard Stowe at 765-759-9321.
Starting to journey along the path of repentance
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The Rev. George Tinker helps lead an “Act of Repentance toward Healing Relationships with Indigenous Peoples” at the 2012 United Methodist General Conference in Tampa, Fla. |
“There is a lot of history that has been concealed; you have to go and dig it up,” said the Rev. George Tinker.
He and indigenous representatives from the U.S. and other lands brought that message during an “Act of Repentance toward Healing Relationships with Indigenous Peoples” April 27 at the 2012 United Methodist General Conference.
Harry Askin, a board member of the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, which led the planning for the Act of Repentance, expressed what some in the crowd might have been feeling.
He said he intellectually understood the need to repent about the injustices against indigenous peoples long before he felt an emotional and personal responsibility to do so.
“We must acknowledge how important repentance is to the people we have hurt,” he said, “And make turning around our personal commitment.”
The Rev. Anita Phillips, director of the church’s Native American Comprehensive Plan, said her greatest fear is her brothers and sisters in The United Methodist Church will turn their backs from the painful history and continue to do harm to Native Americans.
She said it would be “intolerable” if this act of repentance led to more pain.
“It is my great hope European Americans will not turn from this moment.”
Four representatives of the United Methodist Council of Bishops shared the council’s own statement of sorrow and commitment to repentance.
General Conference approves United Methodist Women autonomy
TAMPA, Fla. (UMW) – By a vote of 889 to 20, General Conference made United Methodist Women an autonomous organization within the United Methodist Church May 1 during its quadrennial meeting in Tampa, Fla. The historic vote separates the national policymaking body of women organized for mission within the denomination from the church’s mission agency for the first time in more than 70 years.
General Conference also approved a series of recommendations from United Methodist Women that will structurally strengthen ties between local United Methodist Women members, their national structure and the ministries they support around the world. The actions will provide more flexibility to local, district, conference and jurisdictional United Methodist Women as they organize for mission in their respective communities.
In a separate vote, oversight of the denomination’s deaconess and home missioner programs were placed with the new national United Methodist Women organization.
The national United Methodist Women organization will be governed by a 25-member board of directors with 20 elected by United Methodist Women members through jurisdictional channels and five through a nominations process to ensure diversity of age, race, language, physical ability and working status. The board will be responsible for managing the organization’s program policies, finances – including investments, budget, property, financial policies – and its chief executive staff person.
A 70- to 80-member Program Advisory Group will advise the board on matters related to program. Each annual conference will have representation in the United Methodist Women’s national organization, thereby strengthening the connections between local women and their national policymaking body.
General Conference modifies pension plan
TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) – United Methodist clergy in the United States will continue to participate in a retirement program that includes a monthly pension payment.
By a vote May 3 of 819 to 78, the 2012 General Conference delegates approved a modified Clergy Retirement Security Program. The plan combines a defined benefit component with a defined contribution component, like the clergy’s current retirement program, but with a reduced benefit for clergy and, consequently, a lower contribution for U.S. conferences. It is only mandatory for full-time clergy.
A defined benefit plan provides a monthly pension payment for life, with the employer (in this case, annual conferences) assuming the investment risk. A defined contribution plan — like the 401(k) plans most corporate employees now have — provides an account balance to use during retirement, with the clergyperson assuming the risk that the money may run out in his or her lifetime.
'Guaranteed appointments' eliminated
TAMPA, Fla., (UMNS) – Many delegates were surprised and even shocked by how quickly a far-reaching proposal that takes away the security of guaranteed appointments for ordained elders breezed by The United Methodist 2012 General Conference.
The item was approved as part of a large number of proposals in the assembly’s April 30 consent calendar. There was a motion to reconsider the item but it also failed by a vote of 564 to 373.
Under this new legislation, bishops and cabinets will be allowed to give elders less than full-time appointment. The legislation also would permit bishops and their cabinets, with the approval of their boards of ordained ministry and conference’s executive session, to put elders on unpaid transitional leave for up to 24 months. Clergy on transitional leave would be able to participate in their conference health program through their own contributions.
Under the legislation, each annual conference is asked to name a task force to develop a list of criteria to guide the cabinets and bishops as they make missional appointments.
The cabinets shall report to the executive committees of Board of Ordained Ministry the number of clergy without full-time appointments and their age, gender and ethnicity. Cabinets also will be asked to report their findings as appointment-making is conducted in a new way.
With no Plan UMC, General Conference shrinks agency boards
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Members of the Indiana delegation shared their disbelief of the Judicial Council’s unconstitutional decision about “Plan UMC” for church restructuring on Friday, May 4. |
After months of denomination-wide talk about agency reconfiguration, delegates tried to salvage some part of the movement for structural change. They took up petitions that eight of the denomination’s 13 general agencies had submitted to reduce the size of their boards, independent of the Call to Action legislation and other comprehensive restructuring plans.
The result: the delegates shrank agency boards by 266 members, cutting the number of board members for the 13 agencies nearly in half.
The approved legislation included petitions from the United Methodist Boards of Discipleship, Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry. Also included were petitions from the General Council on Finance and Administration, United Methodist Men and the church-wide Commissions on Religion and Race; the Status and Role of Women; and Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.
The delegates also approved legislation to fold the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, the denomination’s ecumenical agency, into the Council of Bishops.
Delegates reject divestment from companies
TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) – Delegates to The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly approved petitions dealing with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, but they did not approve a measure to divest from specific companies.
Delegates instead approved a report calling on the United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits to explore “serious peace-making strategies in Israel and Palestine, including positive economic and financial investment in Palestine.”
The Israeli-Palestinian issue dominated the May 2 afternoon plenary at General Conference.
The petition originally called for divestment from Motorola Solutions, Hewlett-Packard and Caterpillar, which provide products that are used by the Israeli military in the occupation of Palestinian lands. The Finance and Administration Committee instead substituted language urging “positive, rather than punitive options,” according to Jessica Vargo, East Ohio delegate and committee chairperson.
The petition also asked United Methodist general agencies and boards to ask companies to adopt United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and to consider economic sanctions with companies that refuse.
Methodist denominations to open new office in the Holy Land
NEW YORK (GBGM) –Methodist denominations are increasing their ministry in the world with a new office in the Holy Land. Serving the global Methodist family, the office will expand current work and will in part be a base for educating Holy Land pilgrims about a range of Middle Eastern and Israeli-Palestinian issues. The General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church is developing the Methodist liaison office in partnership with the British Methodist Church and the World Methodist Council.
Thomas Kemper, who leads Global Ministries, outlined the plans to directors at the semi-annual meeting this spring. According to Kemper the office will “embody our commitments to peace and justice and underscore our concern for the future of the declining Palestinian Christian community.”
The United Methodist Church has four missionaries and a mission intern in the region. Janet Lahr Lewis is the United Methodist Liaison in Palestine and Israel. She reports that officially expanding the liaison office will help accommodate the increasing response of the global Methodist church to the call for justice and peace from indigenous churches.
UE to co-sponsor archaeological project in Israel
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (UE) – United Methodist-related University of Evansville is proud to announce its co-sponsorship of the Jezreel Expedition, a new archaeological project in northern Israel, along with the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa.
From June 1-22, eight UE archaeology students will participate in the project’s first survey session, which will determine the areas to be excavated in Summer 2013 and beyond. Project directors are Jennie Ebeling, chair of UE’s Department of Archaeology and Art History, and Norma Franklin of the Zinman Institute of Archaeology.
VBS mission program ready to order from Society of St. Andrew
This year, the United Methodist-related Society of St. Andrew introduces “It’s A Miracle!” as its Vacation Bible School mission program. Each day of VBS, students will be introduced to one of Jesus’ miracles; from feeding the multitudes to cleansing the lepers. Included in your VBS packet are student sheets containing a short Scripture story, facts about hunger and the SoSA ministry, Go Green statistics, mission adventure opportunities, and a pencil activity.
Also included are song suggestions, craft ideas, and yummy snack choices for each day of your VBS that compliment the “Miracle of the day!” All of the pages are reproducible, so you can make as many copies as you have students.
This year, make the Society of St. Andrew’s Potato Project your VBS mission. Our complete VBS program is free of charge and there’s no obligation. You can order your packet by e-mailing the Rev. Jennifer Vestal Moore at Church@EndHunger.org or call 800-333-4597. You can also order or download online at www.endhunger.org/vbs.htm.
The Society of St. Andrew Potato and Produce Project and Gleaning Network salvage potatoes and other fruits and vegetables that are perfectly good and nutritious, but can’t be sold because of market factors. Instead of letting God’s good food go to waste, Society of St. Andrew volunteers glean these fruits and vegetables.
Georgetown administrator to become UIndy's ninth president
 Mauel |
INDIANAPOLIS (UIndy) – The United Methodist-related University of Indianapolis announces Georgetown University Associate Provost and Dean Robert L. Manuel has been selected to serve as the ninth president of the University of Indianapolis, effective in July. He will succeed Beverley J. Pitts, who is retiring after seven years at the helm of the 5,500-student private university four miles south of downtown.
In announcing the selection, Board of Trustees Chair Robert Wingerter said, “I’m very excited that Rob has accepted our offer… He will be transformational for UIndy.”
Trustee Deborah J. Daniels, who chaired the search committee, described Manuel as “student-focused while understanding the importance of reaching out to external constituencies. He has a vision for helping us move forward in a very entrepreneurial way.”
IU Health to continue discounts to people insured through conference
INDIANAPOLIS (IU Health) – Because of Indiana University Health’s ministry partnership with United Methodists of Indiana, IU Health is pleased to continue its courtesy discount to individuals insured through the Indiana Conference insurance plans, according to Daniel F. Evans, Jr., President and CEO of IU Health.
All IU Health hospitals, including its location in Goshen, participate in this discount.
For those insured by Plan PPO 500, when a participant receives services at an IU Health Hospital, IU Health will require participants to meet the annual deductible. After the participant’s insurance company pays its portion, any remaining charges will be waived up to the participant’s annual out-of-pocket limit (an additional $2,000). At that point the participant’s insurance company will pay all remaining charges.
The introduction of a Consumer-Driven Health Plan (CDHP) presents a new model. For individuals insured under this plan, IU Health’s contribution will be managed in this way. IU Health will require participants to meet the annual deductible of $2,000. After the participant’s insurance pays its portion, IU Health will waive the next $2,000 up to the participant’s annual out-of-pocket limit (an additional $3,000). At that point the participant’s insurance company will pay all remaining charges.