Annual Conference Newsletter for June 8, 2012
Covering June 7, 2012
Today, Friday, June 8 at AC2012
We will begin the day with Prayer and Bible Study with Bishop Mike Coyner at 8:15 a.m. He will teach from Acts 2:42-47.
Continuing at 8:45 a.m. 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 teach how we can become more hospitable and open to the communities we serve by Making Room.
They will be followed at 11 a.m. by 15 engaging workshops based on the theme “Making ROOM.” Following lunch at 1:30 p.m., the second session of the conference will include: a cabinet report, laity presentation (Our Future: Making Room) and a disaster response update.
At 2 p.m., the conference will recognize our 32 retiring ministers as well as present of our incoming clergy, who will be commissioned or ordained tomorrow morning.
At 3 p.m., the business of the conference will continue until 5 p.m. or 5:30 p.m., if needed.
From 5 to 7 p.m., we will celebrate Family Fun Night on Monument Circle. There’ll be food, games and crafts, plus performances from The Celebration Puppeteers and local artists.
Worship begins at 7:30 p.m. with a Service of Word and Table led by the youth and young adults.
Indiana United Methodists ran, walked and strolled along the Central Canal Thursday morning to raise funds and awareness for Imagine NO Malaria. |
New Generation Task Force now in motion
The Rev. Brian Durand and the Rev. Jim Bushfield provided an update on Thursday afternoon on the New Generation Task Force.
In addition to Durand being named associate director of leadership development for the conference, the conference center hired Helene Foust to focus on student ministry.
The group is focusing on three areas:
- Leadership at the local church level: making disciples for Jesus Christ and not people to save the institution.
- Reclaim role in the church as mentors and learners: who are you training and learning from.
- Continue to connect and encourage others: numerous events and activities for youth, young adults and clergy.
For more information, please visit www.inumcconnect.org.
Laity session encouraged to ‘Make ROOM’
Music, awards and holy conferencing about how churches “Make ROOM” were found throughout Thursday’s laity session.
Dr. Jim Ozier and Fiona Macleod presented “Making Room Makes a Difference.”
“The time to act is now,” said Ozier. Clergy and laity need to work together to intentionally learn who is in our mission field and invite them to participate in the life and activities of the church. It is trying to figure out where we fit. It takes all of us working together, he said.
Macleod encouraged laity to look at their culture, leadership, imagination and celebration. Using examples from Southwest Airlines, Macleod shared that fun and sheer enjoyment is part of Southwest’s culture. “It’s in their lifeblood. It’s what makes them loved.
“How can we unlock the power of culture with what we have?” asked Macleod. “We want to inspire and we want to be inspired. We need to have people around us who long for something. The question is: Do you see them?”
Macleod reminded the laity the importance of looking at yourself and also looking at other leaders around. At the local church, do you look at the possibilities, the future, the potential or do you look for scarcity or abundance? Do you understand your current reality and your vision? Do you know where the resources and talent are? Churches and members need to understand their current realities – both good and bad. “We need to make room to have those conversations as well,” said Macleod.
Southwest looks after their employees. It goes against the concept of customer first, employees second. The thought is if you love your employees first, they will go out and love the customer. “We must offer each other a spirit of hospitality.” -- M.O.
Clergy session approves new clergy, welcomes new board chair
During their executive session on Thursday afternoon, Bishop Mike Coyner led in the approval of new clergy in the life of the Indiana Conference. The clergy also welcomed the Rev. Anne Rosebrock, senior pastor of Meridian Street UMC, Indianapolis, as the new chair of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. Outgoing chair, the Rev. John Groves, will now serve as the Superintendent of the West District.
During the session, Matthew Walter Pickut was remembered in prayer. He is a provisional member of the conference seeking ordination as an Elder. Pickut is now on incapacity leave and in special care in Kentucky.
The clergy of the conference approved 13 candidates to be commissioned and 15 provisional clergy members to become ordained Elders. The clergy also approved the retirement of 32 active clergy.
These provisional clergy members of the annual conference were approved to be ordained ministers. They include: Deacons – Janet Carol Funk and Sean Michael Litherland Johnson; and Elders – Andrea Ruth Bremmer, Dirk Alan Caldwell, Andrew Clyde Charnstrom, Devin Russell Cook, Colin Christopher Cress, Peter Hoyt Curts, Edward C. Fisher, Brenda Hacker Freije, James Hiram Higdon, Charles Frederick Kersey, Christopher Charles Stahlman, Ruth Irene Waite and Brian Keith Williams.
Those to be commissioned are: Benjamin William Cassiday, Sarah Marie Knapp Ellis, Charles Ray Fenwick, Heather Alaine Foley, Daryl Anthony Gilbert, Colleen Ann Harden, John Edgar Huff, Christopher William Lantz, Christopher Dale Neikirk, Christopher Reed Renick, James Edward Roach, Nicholas Kendall Robinson and Christopher Michael Stephens
These members will be commissioned or ordained on Saturday morning during a Celebration of Ministry at 10 a.m. in the Main Room.
Those retiring will be recognized on Friday at 2 p.m. They include: Philip E. Abram, Wilma M. Sawyer Bone, Joe F. Bottorff, Donald G. Bradley, Stephen R. Cherry, J. Ross Daeschner, Jerold S. Dehn, Karen E. Devaisher, Sarah (Sally) Dickerson, Joseph N. Easley, Philip R. Emerson, Judith E. Fuller, Leslie Grimsley, Vicki L. Hobbs, Lennie R. Lawrence, Dennis D. Leinbach, Ronald Eugene Mabry, Ronald C. Mann, Diana Jean McCracken, Charles L. McPeek, Emily E. Niblick, Donald Nunemaker, Austin Dale Payne, Richard L. Pickering, Judith E. Purvis, Susan E. Ringenbach, Susan W.N. Ruach, Douglas Simpson, Kevin L. Stiles, Evelyn Taylor Haney, Joseph L. Trueblood and John Walls. These retiring ordained ministers have collectively served 795 years of service.
Recognition of Orders and Transfer to Provisional Membership were granted to Amber Karkosky-Litten and Marion Jean Miller.
Don’t be discouraged, says memorial preacher
Rather than lighting candles as the names of those clergy and clergy spouses who have died in the past conference year, water from glass pitchers, one for each one remembered, was poured into a very large basin, as a bell rang during the Thursday night memorial service.
Before the ceremonial reading from Conference Secretary Carolyn Johnson, the Rev. Anne Rosebrock encouraged the annual conference not to be discouraged in the midst of ministry, both as clergy and laity. In her sermon, she praised the dedication and the service of those who have gone before us.
On a lighter side, she said, “If you think serving the church is paradise, watch out for the alligators.”
She said how quickly we are to accept compliments and forget those who have helped us along the way.
“We are lifted on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. We stand on their shoulders as we forge a life of prayer.”
She reminded us of the hymn, “There is a Balm in Gilead” with the words, “to help the sin sick soul.”
“But what if we can’t preach like Peter and pray like Paul? We aren’t in the same league.”
She said, we get discouraged with the denomination we love, with apathy and resignation in the church we serve. We get discouraged we aren’t delivering the message… or the life we profess. We get discouraged when we hear the prospect of prosperity rather than radical justice...
We get discouraged because we aren’t building a foundation on the power of prayer, she said.
“These we remember tonight dedicated their lives to tell the story of the love of Jesus… Follow them as we tell the love story even when you aren’t sure anyone is listening… Tell the love of Jesus… Tell the story of Jesus who prepares a place of all those who have gone before and for us…”
She concluded by saying, “Let us stand tall on their shoulders… We hope that our beloved United Methodist Church of Indiana would choose abundant life to revive the soul of this church once again… Just tell the love of Jesus and say he died for all.”
Those remembered
Clergy: James (Bob) Armstrong, James Bastain, Earl Bonham, George Bredemeier, Herbert Byrne, Edwin Case, John Cheesman, John Coahran, Glendon Dixon, Samuel Emerick, Bernard Willis Gierhart, Debra Grady, Tim Grayless, Fred Henschen, John Hoadley, James Hook, Kenneth Jackson, Jerold Jensen, Jeffrey Jones, Rev Bruce Kenline, Donald Lacy, James Lamb, Thomas Lapham, Alvin L. Mattox, David W. Patrick, Donald Ruhl, George St. Angelo, Gaylord Saltzgaber, Kendall Sands, Raymond Shelton, Steven Singelstad, Doris Stevenson, Marvin Swanson, Jon Belton Walters, Jacob C. Williams, Eugene Woolever
Spouses: Sybil Atkins, Jeanette Bayne, Julie Beach, Geneva Berger, Dorothy Bonewitz, Gladys Bradley, Dorothy Burchfield, Jesse Clements, Pauline Doles, Stella Gilbreath, Mary Hiatt, Gladys Keith, Jeannette Kenline, Doris King, Dorothy Carol Kundenreich, Dorothy McClure, Celia McGinnis, Violet McMahan, Dorothy McMillan, Minnietta Millard, Audra Miller, Donald Nester, Alberta Offutt, Delores Palmer, Lillie Patrick, Margaret Phillips, Sara Rees, Mary Richey, Dorothy Sawyer, Billie Shepherd, Diane Squibb, Agnes Irene Steltz, Gladys Sumner, Kathryn Todd, Mona Valentine, Miriam R. Wade, Gloria Shirley Walls, Mabel Williams, Lorraine Willyard, Carolyn Wolf