News

Bishop announces associate directors with camping ministries

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner announced today, Aug. 25, the hiring of Nick Yarde as the Indiana Conference Associate Director of Camping and of Ian Hall as Associate Director of Financial Services - Camping. Yarde was the director of Camping Program for the former North Indiana Conference since 2001. Likewise, Hall served as director of Outdoor Ministries for the South Indiana Conference since 2005. Both positions become effective on Sept. 1. Upon their hiring, Coyner said,... -- more --

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Convocation for Pastors

Energize!!! Your Life, Your Faith, Your Ministry, Your Congregation  Energize! Your Life, Your Faith, Your Ministry, Your Congregation during this year’s Indiana Conference Convocation for Pastors coming Sunday through Tuesday, Oct. 10-12 to Columbus at the Holiday Inn Conference Center, 2480 Jonathan Moore Pike (just east of I-65), Columbus, Ind. Featured speakers include: Bishop John Hopkins of the East Ohio Conference, Mark Miller, director of Music & Composer in... -- more --

Pakistan: Monsoons, Flood Relief Update

Rain and severe flooding pushed into a second week in Pakistan. Already the casualties and damages were great: as many as 1,600 deaths, 2 million driven from their homes, and roads, bridges, and crop destroyed. Concern for the spread of waterborne illnesses and starvation is high as the crisis continues. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is responding to the emergency in collaboration with its partners on the ground in Pakistan, including the Church of Pakistan, Church World... -- more --

Walkerton youth pitch tent to feed residents standing in food pantry line

WALKERTON, Ind. – In Walkerton, the Community Pantry sits on the main street – Jefferson. The fourth Tuesday of each month, residents from the area needing food, line up with their boxes, sacks and laundry baskets. On those Tuesdays, across from the Pantry, there standing under an open tent, sometimes in weather of 9 to 90 degrees, are the people of Walkerton UMC. When the Growth and Care committee members were talking with Walkerton UMC Pastor Char Harris Allen, the committee... -- more --

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Partnership creates Sierra Leone clinic

MANONKOH VILLAGE, Sierra Leone (UMNS) – People needing health care in the remote communities of Manonkoh, Rokon, Maserry and Masethie in northern Sierra Leone used to be in dire straits. Pregnant women in labor and people with other health emergencies were rushed from these communities on motorbikes – the main means of transportation in rural Sierra Leone – through a 30-kilometer stretch of bad road to Makeni, the provincial capital, for treatment, sometimes during odd hours... -- more --

Terre Haute teens saving lives with peanut butter

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) – Peanut butter may be a lunchtime staple for you or your child. But it also can be a life-saver for those in Haiti living in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake earlier this year. There are some big smiles to go along with big stacks of peanut butter jars that will be heading to Haiti soon. More than 2,000 jars of peanut butter is the pay-off of two months worth of work from the youth group at Memorial... -- more --

CFA, conference trustees give green light to build first lodge at Epworth Forest

NORTH WEBSTER, Ind. – Right here – Right now – Right future, the Campaign for the Camping Ministry at Epworth Forest Conference Center in North Webster took a giant step toward reality this week with the Indiana Conference Trustees and the Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) approving an Indiana Conference Camping Board request to begin construction of the first new lodge at Epworth Forest. The lodge will be located on the site of the old amphitheater with... -- more --

Highlights from the July/August issue of Together

Rethink Church well worth the effort to reach across county   Members of Calvary United Methodist Church in Brownsburg spruce up a flower bed in nearby Williams Park as part of their Rethink Church outreach to their community. BROWNSBURG, Ind. – Engaging more than 400 members and guests in a Rethink Church community outreach was the biggest single event for this suburban... -- more --

Haiti six months after quake

During the half-year since an earthquake unleashed massive destruction in Haiti, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has been devoted to both providing immediate assistance to survivors and laying the groundwork for a large-scale, long-term recovery effort. Haiti is not out of the woods yet, not by a long shot. But over the past six months, the Haitian people have begun to mobilize for their recovery. UMCOR is there and digging in for the long haul. UMCOR’s chief partner in... -- more --

Newly appointed pastors, district superintendent enter new pulpits this Sunday

The annual shift in newly appointed pastors takes place this Sunday as pastors begin a new appointment year. Also newly appointed is the Rev. David Byrum who begins his new duties as superintendent of the East District based in Muncie. This past Tuesday evening, Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner installed Byrum as East District Superintendent in a special worship service held at Central UMC in Richmond. During his sermon to the lay and clergy leaders... -- more --

Cost savings program will save churches time & money

Buying power of the 1200 churches in the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church working together, leverages huge savings for things you purchase every week -- like doughnuts. The program has begun in several test sites and the savings and benefits are dramatic -- many up to 40% savings. And those are dollars that can go to support the church's ministry and outreach programs. Krispy Kreme, now delivering to grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores all over the state, is... -- more --

Bishop appoints superintendents, associate superintendents

During the recent session of the Indiana Annual Conference at Muncie, Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner confirmed the appointments of district superintendents and associate district superintendents. Nine of the current ten district superintendents appointed this past year will continue their appointments. David Byrum, senior pastor of First UMC in Valparaiso, will become East District Superintendent succeeding Dale Mendenhall, who will become senior pastor of High Street UMC in Muncie. All... -- more --

Indiana General Church apportionment giving has increased substantially

Bishop Mike Coyner, who serves on the United Methodist General Council on Finance and Administration just received a report on apportionment giving, says he is pleased to report that our Indiana Conference leads the way in terms of the increase in our payment of apportionments to the General Church this year compared with last year. Through May 2009, the former South Indiana and North Indiana conferences together paid $708,098 in General Church apportionments. Through May of this year, the new... -- more --

Judge places Oakwood Inn into receivership

Judge Duane Huffer of the Kosciusko Superior Court entered on June 14 an Order appointing Ian Rolland as receiver over the United Methodist Foundation for Adult Christian Ministries, Inc. at the Oakwood Inn and Conference Center in Syracuse, Ind. Huffer found that the Board of Directors of the Foundation violated the Foundation’s Bylaws when the Board of Directors removed two directors from the Board of Directors in April 2005. He also found that the membership of the Foundation could no... -- more --

Day of Outreach sends more than 600 United Methodists across Muncie

They sorted food. They visited nursing homes. They weeded flower beds. They washed cars. And that’s just a few of the mission projects completed by Hoosier United Methodists on the second annual Day of Outreach during annual conference sessions. More than 630 participants and 150 local volunteer coordinators spread out across Muncie, partnering with social service agencies, local churches, community organizations and businesses. Rick and Amy Hartig of Stewartsville UMC in Posey County... -- more --

‘Five Practices’ author to be featured at annual conference in Muncie

Missouri United Methodist Bishop Robert Schnase, author of the best-seller book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, will be the featured speaker at the 2010 Indiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church to be held at Emens Auditorium on the campus of Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. June 10-13. Publisher Abingdon Press has sold more than 110,000 copies of the Five Practices book, and demand is high for the companion leader manual and media kit and church-wide devotional... -- more --

Indianapolis woman chosen as Laity Manuscript Contest winner

The Indiana Conference Lay Leadership Team announces the 2010 Conference Laity Manuscript contest winner and runner-ups. The Laity Manuscript Contest Winner is Jane Heustis of Indianapolis, a member of the Irvington UMC in the Central District. The first runner-up is Jennifer Kintner of Granger, a member of First UMC in Mishawaka in North District. Second runner-up is Mildred Ferro of Elkhart, a member of St. Paul’s UMC in the North District. The jury received 19 entries from 8 of the 10... -- more --

REMINDER: Annual Conference Registration

Greetings fellow pilgrims and Annual Conference members and guests, I remind you of how we need your registrations in to the 2010 Indiana Annual Conference session in Muncie June 10-13, if you have not already mailed them in to the Indiana Conference Center or registered online through the conference Web site at www.inumc.org. Registrations being mailed must be postmarked by this Friday, May 29 and online registration will be available through 5 p.m., Monday, May 31. Remember that... -- more --