News

Bishop announces new superintendent of East District

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner announces the appointment of the Rev. David Byrum as the new superintendent of the East District based in Muncie effective July 1. Byrum currently serves as senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Valparaiso, Ind. He will succeed the Rev. Dale Mendenhall, who has been appointed to serve as senior pastor of High Street UMC in Muncie, following the retirement of Rev. Jack Hartman as senior pastor of that congregation. In making this... -- more --

Boone County and Hamilton County Lenten Breakfasts

Boone County The breakfasts will start at 7:00 a.m.   Saturday, February 20 – First Saturday in Lent – Centenary UMC, Lebanon Saturday, February 27 – Second Saturday in Lent – Whitestown UMC Saturday, March 6 – Third Saturday in Lent – Thorntown UMC Saturday, March 13 – Fourth Saturday in Lent – Milledgeville UMC at IUMCH Saturday, March 20 – Fifth Saturday in Lent – Salem UMC, Zionsville Saturday, March 27 – Sixth... -- more --

North Central District Drop-off Sites for Health and Layette Kits

The drop-off sites for the North Central District are:   Fairmount UMC, 301 S. Walnut St., Fairmount, IN 46928-2046, 765-948-4253 Sheridan UMC, 207 E. 2nd St., Sheridan, IN 46069-1147, 317-758-4195, sheridanumc@sbcglobal.net, Pick up date - February 26   Please call these locations before dropping off kits.  ... -- more --

Cluster Leaders' Training - February 21

There will be a Cluster Leaders' Training for the North Central District churches on February 21 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  The location will be announced later.... -- more --

Campus Ministry to be highlighted in February

The 2009 Indiana Annual Conference session approved a state-wide special offering to support Indiana United Methodist-related Campus Ministries. Indiana’s 1,200 congregations are invited and encouraged to receive the offering any Sunday in February and to promote campus ministries in their congregations. For more information and resources to promote campus ministries go here and begin with a fast moving video about Indiana campus ministries.... -- more --

Bishop says to 'repent' during Pre-Lenten Worship video now online

Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner says it’s time to repent – turn around – and walk in a new direction as we observe the 40 days of Lent. Coyner partnered with the Clergy Orders of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church to offer a video presentation they recorded with him in his office at the Conference Center. The service features the Rev. Tim Burchill, chair of the Order of Elders; the Rev. Jennifer Pollard, chair of the Order of Deacons and the Rev. Don Ransford,... -- more --

"An Experience in Prayer with Terry Teykl"

“An Experience in Prayer” With Dr. Terry Teykl Saturday, February 13, 2010 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Carmel United Methodist Church, 621 S. Rangeline Road, Carmel, IN Registration Fee - $25.00 (Deadline - February 8) Dr. Teykl holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Sam Houston State University where he graduated summa cum laude.  He earned his Master of Theology at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and his Doctorate of Ministry with... -- more --

Avenue for Medical Volunteers into Haiti

United Methodist Volunteers in Mission for the North Central Jurisdiction UMC Dr. Cherian Thomas, head of the UMCOR Health Unit, suggests that some volunteers, who have the qualifications and want to go into Haiti before UMCOR stations are up and ready, might want to consider this way of serving, through the U.S. Government. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is requesting physicians of specific specialties to deploy with the National Disaster Medical Assistance teams to Haiti.... -- more --

‘We were spared to help,’ Hoosier volunteers believe

By Barbara Dunlap-Berg Haitian children eat a meal distributed by Bolivian United Nations peacekeepers. They arrived in Haiti the day before the massive earthquake that rocked the nation Jan. 11, and only got back home to Indianapolis six days later. But Kay and Gary Walla, mission volunteers from St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, are ready to go back to Haiti when the... -- more --

Second mission worker dies of earthquake-related injuries

By Linda Bloom UMNS Report A second United Methodist mission worker has died of injuries sustained during the earthquake in Haiti. The Rev. Clinton Rabb, 60, who organized mission volunteers for The United Methodist Church, died on the morning of Jan. 17 in a Florida hospital. He had been trapped under a concrete slab at the Montana Hotel in Port-au-Prince for some 55 hours. Officials at the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, where he was a staff member, announced his death. On... -- more --

UMCOR leader Sam Dixon dies in Haiti

A UMNS Report By Linda Bloom A United Methodist mission leader died of injuries received after being buried in the rubble of a collapsed hotel following the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.  The Rev. Sam Dixon, top executive of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, died before rescuers could free him, contrary to earlier reports from church leaders that he was pulled out of the wreckage of the Hotel Montana alive. The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, UMCOR’s parent... -- more --

Haiti Earthquake Emergency -- Jan. 15, 2010

Friday, February 15, 2010 Edited by Daniel R. Gangler, director of communication Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church HOOSIER MISSION TEAM OF NINE TO HAITI ARE SAFE AND SOUND Good news! Just prior to a prayer service at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis Thursday evening, word was received that the daughter of team members Gary and Kay Walla had spoken to a contact of St. Luke’s in Haiti, who reported that all nine members of the St. Luke’s and... -- more --

Dire Situation in Haiti Calls for Generous Giving

United Methodists jumped into action as soon as a massive earthquake reduced most of Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince to rubble Jan. 12. The United Methodist Committee on Relief immediately pledged to send teams, material resources and funding to Haiti as soon as possible. Special online-giving options went up, and church leaders throughout the world encouraged congregations to take up special offerings for earthquake victims. “The situation is so dire,” said the Rev.... -- more --

Haiti Earthquake Emergency -- Jan 13, 2010

From Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church By Dan Gangler, director of communication January 13, 2010 Hoosier United Methodists have lost contact with volunteer-in-mission group in Haiti Nine Hoosier United Methodists serving in Haiti as volunteers-in-mission are have not been heard from after the devastating earthquake yesterday in Haiti. Four are members of the Milroy United Methodist Church and four are members of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. This... -- more --

Celebrating Martin Luther King Day

In his annual letter to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, retired Bishop Woodie White, former Bishop of the Indiana Area, writes about the progress made in 2009. He writes: What a difference a year makes! Last year, I wrote with great exuberance about the election of the first African American to the presidency of the United States. Today, I am no less excited, because it demonstrated a significant step forward in our nation's history. However, some pundits have wrongly hailed the election as an... -- more --

Human Relations Day Offering, Next Sunday Jan. 17

In conjunction with the King Holiday, The United Methodist Church holds one of its six Special Offerings -- Human Relations Day offering on Sunday, Jan. 18. Funds collected are split among three ministries: Community Developers Program, related to the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM); United Methodist Voluntary Services Program, GBGM; and Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program, General Board of Church and Society. A variety of support materials as well as... -- more --

New Conference Center opens for service with full staff

Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner welcomed the 32 members of the new Indiana Conference Center staff on Monday, Jan. 4 during a one-day orientation session for all center employees. This was the first week of employment for five of the staff members. Other staff members either continue in their previous positions or have come onboard as conference employees since the former Indiana Area staff moved into the third-floor suite in late-October at 301 Pennsylvania Parkway on the south edge of Carmel... -- more --

Columbus fire claims Southeast District Center

The Southeast Conference Center was on the top floor just left of the tree. COLUMBUS, Ind. – A massive fire burned through the United Way of Bartholomew County building on Christmas eve and Christmas day, which housed 37 not-for-profit and government-related agencies including the Southeast District Center of The United Methodist Church. The entire building was gutted. Columbus... -- more --

Christmas Offering supports children’s ministries worldwide

Christmas is a special time for our children. Unfortunately, many children here at home in Indiana and around the world don’t receive the blessings of this special holiday, but we can make a difference in their lives through our gifts. Each congregation has been asked to participate in this special Bishop’s Christmas offering for children. Offering envelopes, poster and bulletin masters have been sent to each congregations. These and other resources for this offering can be found to... -- more --

Advent resources help deliver Christmas message

The United Methodist Church began its Advent television advertising campaign Tuesday with a new Rethink Church commercial that emphasizes the importance of giving of one's self at Christmas. In addition to advertising, United Methodist Communications is offering resources for local churches to help in creating and sharing messages to encourage their congregations to Rethink Church over the holidays. These include customizable radio and TV ads. Download sermon starters... View and... -- more --