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July/August 2011

Cover Story

United Methodist university students spend holiday considering call

7/13/2011

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Singing “Now we’ll overcome all divisions and darkness by lighting our way,” more than 275 United Methodist students and campus ministry leaders from across the United States opened the 2011 United Methodist Student Forum May 26. The campus ministry of United Methodist-related University of Evansville hosted the four-day event during the Memorial Day weekend. The hymn was written specifically for the forum, a national leadership development event for... -- more --

From the Bishop

Vital Signs of Vital Congregations

7/13/2011

This month all pastors serving United Methodist congregations in Indiana are receiving a letter from me about the “Vital Signs” project of our United Methodist Church. The Council of Bishops has approved asking every United Methodist congregation around the world to adopt goals for 2012 as a way of moving toward being Vital Congregations. Those goals will be collected and taken to General Conference of The United Methodist Church in the spring of 2012 and there offered as a gift to... -- more --

Welcome

Young adults featured in this annual conference issue

7/13/2011

We have expanded this issue of Together to accommodate both highlights from the successful Indiana Annual Conference session in Muncie in June and news stories from across the state, many of which contain good ideas that can be replicated in other congregations. Most stories end in contact information for those who wish to borrow an idea for their own ministry. I decided not to write a RETHINK CHURCH opinion piece, since this issue takes on several opinions. Two include a voice for... -- more --

Young adults leader voices concern about representation

7/13/2011

The results of the elections for General Conference delegates this year leave us with a serious question. Do we mean it when we say our young people are important to us, that their voices are vital to today’s decisions for our future, that we want new young voices at the table? I am grateful and humbled to be elected as a North Central Jurisdictional delegate from our conference. I also am thankful for the faithful leaders we elected and am excited that a number of young adults were... -- more --

Indiana

Bishop announces appointment of three associate superintendents to North District

7/13/2011

Brock Glassburn Van Nevel INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner has announced three appointments of part-time Associate District Superintendents for the North District. The Rev. Mark Brock, pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in Wanatah is a new Associate District Superintendent in the North District as of May 1. Brock... -- more --

Bishop announces appointment to St. Luke's UMC Indianapolis

7/13/2011

Fuquay McCoy INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner has appointed the Rev. Rob Fuquay, senior pastor of the 2,000-member Williamson’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Mooresville, N.C., as the new senior pastor at St. Luke’s UMC in Indianapolis effective Sept. 1. Prior to this appointment, Fuquay served three other United Methodist congregations at Lake Junaluska,... -- more --

Duecker offers Lodge blessing

7/13/2011

This blessing was offered at Epworth Forest Conference Center in North Webster, Ind., June 4, by Bishop Sheldon Duecker during the dedication of the lodge named in honor of him and his wife. Duecker, a retired bishop of The United Methodist Church who lives in Fort Wayne, served as the Bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference of the church (1988-1996). Before then, he served several congregations in the Indiana Conference. Duecker offered this blessing, saying: Gracious God, bless this... -- more --

Dueckers cut ribbon on new lodge named in their honor

7/13/2011

NORTH WEBSTER, Ind. – Bishop & Mrs. Sheldon Duecker, along with major donors Rick & Vicki James, cut the ribbon which officially opened Duecker Lodge at Epworth Forest Conference Center in North Webster on Saturday, June 4. In opening remarks, Jim Coy of Evansville, who is chairperson of the Indiana Conference Camping Board, said, “Truly this is a wonderful day in the life of the Indiana Conference. We got the whole state covered today.” Coy was a member of the... -- more --

Epworth Forest plans opening of Fenstermacher Lodge, Sunday, Oct. 23

7/13/2011

The opening ceremony of the Fenstermacher Lodge at Epworth Forest Conference Center in North Webster, Ind., is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 23, from 3 to 5 p.m. Invite family, friends and church to join the Indiana Conference Impact 2818 Outdoor Ministries in this celebration. This free event will feature live music, a dedication by Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner, ribbon cutting, tour of the lodge, refreshments, campfire and hayrides. Fenstermacher Lodge is the second of six totally new waterfront... -- more --

Indianapolis church listens to neighbors to better serve community

7/13/2011

INDIANAPOLIS – Abandoning a successful summer program for youth in favor of one to benefit all the residents of its near north-side, Broadway United Methodist Church created a summer Roving Youth Corps that literally goes from house-to-house listening to stories of area residents. Broadway engages 20 youths, ages 14- to 19-year olds, a half-day every weekday to spend three hours listening and journaling the comments of residents to share in a final hour of sharing back at the church... -- more --

Leadership Table completes annual conference business

7/13/2011

INDIANAPOLIS – When the Indiana Annual Conference session ended at Muncie in June there were three items of business still undone. Conference members referred them to the Conference’s Leadership Table, the decision making body of the annual conference, which carries on the business of the conference between annual sessions. The Leadership Table with 15 voting members and conference staff members met for 35 minutes by conference call, and in person, at the Indiana Conference Center... -- more --

New Albany church's literacy program helps residents with goal to read

7/13/2011

NEW ALBANY, Ind. – Trinity United Methodist Church’s Adult Literacy Program in New Albany, is preparing to celebrate one year of God’s work, bringing church and community members together to meet individuals’ desire for help in reading, writing, and math skills. While literacy is the stated ministry goal, when tutors and clients meet, academics are not the only needs addressed. The Trinity Adult Literacy Program grew out of congregational discussions about outreach... -- more --

Operation Classroom received more than $6,000 worth of supplies

7/13/2011

Operation Classroom, our Indiana Conference related outreach ministry to the schools of Liberia and Sierra Leone, received 641 boxes of items during the Indiana Annual Conference Session in Muncie in June valued at $6,048. These included everything from school supplies, to Elementary and Secondary YES Kits, to health kits, school books, microscopes, overhead projectors and T-shirts. OC also received 13 boxes of hospital supplies for Operation Doctor. Conference members also gave $313 to help... -- more --

Purdue University Wesley Foundation students assist residents of Tuscaloosa with tornado recovery

7/13/2011

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – During the last week of April, monster storms marched across the South leaving nearly 300 residents dead and destroying homes, businesses, schools, churches, power lines and trees. Several other natural disasters have since shifted the focus away from these survivors, but one group of students from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., will not easily forget the victims of the tornado in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tuscaloosa was left with a solid path of rubble almost a... -- more --

Reaching out with bread, 22-mile cross carrying

Cluster churches unite

7/13/2011

The Caston/Fulton Cluster in the Northwest District (comprised of Bethlehem, Fletcher’s Lake, Fulton, Grass Creek, Kewanna, Lucerne Zion and Twelve Mile United Methodist Churches) started slowly, but once congregations found their groove, things seemed to fall easily into place. The pastors found everything from a place to celebrate the successes of their individual churches and advice on how to tackle situations, to a safe place to vent their frustrations with colleagues who shared their... -- more --

Trustees finalize union of conferences

7/13/2011

New conference formed as legal entity During a June 9 session of conference, these actions were taken and reported by conference trustees and board members of pension and insurance. Trus tees Both the former South Indiana Conference and the former North Indiana Conference as legal entities and voting separately approved and adopted the Plan and Agreement of Merger to create a new legal entity known as the Indiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, Inc. Following this... -- more --

UMCOR Health Ministries Workshops Aug. 18-19 at Speedway United Methodist

7/13/2011

The Indiana Conference United Methodist Church and Community Health Network are partnering to promote health ministry and parish nursing across Indiana. As a result of a recent UMCOR grant, we are pleased to offer a health ministry workshop for all districts. This class is open to all parishioners and pastors who are interested in including health ministry as a part of your church mission outreach. We hope you will not miss this opportunity to send several interested members. This next... -- more --

What the Call to Action means for Hoosiers

7/13/2011

The United Methodist Church has a very important item on its to-do list. If it wishes to continue ministry with the world, current economic and social realities necessitate that The United Methodist Church (UMC) evaluate its resources so that it may better adapt to changing situations. In other words, the UMC needs to do something now to address the failing status quo. The denomination cannot afford to continue the same practices and perpetuate current habits. In the past, United Methodism has... -- more --

Focus

50 clergy retire from active ordained ministry

7/13/2011

On June 8, during the Clergy Executive Session of the 2011 Indiana Conference, these individuals were approved for retirement. Each is listed followed by the years of service. They include: Randall Brady, 10; Steven Brittenham, 19; Janice Sue Cartee, 25; Robert Hayes-Bennett, 31½; Cynthia Anne Kumeh, 17½; Mary Z. Longstreth, 39; Eugene Merrick, 21; Michael Neff, 7; Ray “Bud” Probasco, 32½ ; Jose Ramirez, 3; Jack Shake, 18; Paul Shankland, 5; Lynn Snyder,... -- more --

Bishop teaches meaning of Micah 6

7/13/2011

Taking the theme text of Micah 6:6-8, for his Thursday afternoon Bible study, Bishop Mike Coyner said prophets, like Micah, spoke out when the nation of Israel was on the wrong course. That’s the role of the prophet in the Hebrew Scriptures – correcting course. Coyner said the text reminded him of the movie Apollo 13, where actor Tom Hanks radios back to Earth, “Houston we have a problem.” Houston in return gave the stranded astronauts the information they needed to... -- more --

CF&A notes financial strength of Indiana Conference

7/13/2011

Kent Millard, chairperson of the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, reported the Indiana Conference is strong financially during the report of CF&A. He said in 2010, the conference received more than $15 million of support through the conference tithe. It also received $3 million in Advance Special mission giving. The conference paid 84 percent of its General Church apportionments. This is up from 59 percent in 2009 giving. In 2010, the conference had a surplus of... -- more --

Clergy approved 24 candidates

7/13/2011

The clergy executive session June 8 approved four candidates for commissioning and 24 candidates for ordination. They were commissioned or ordained at the Saturday morning, June 11, worship service. Those commissioned as provisional members included: Lowell Gregg Black of Chesterton, Jungbum Kim of Fishers, Samuel Leon Padgett of Corydon and Daniel Lee Payton of Patoka. Those ordained as Deacons included: Chiyona A’Leeta Bourne of Indianapolis, Candyce Krider Kaiser of Ligonier, Marcy... -- more --

Conference delegates to 2012 General, Jurisdictional conferences

7/13/2011

Nine laity delegates were elected to General Conference including: Ed Fenstermacher (Fort Wayne), Kayc Mykrantz (Logansport), James Ottjes (Thorntown), Patricia Miller (Indianapolis), Ike Williams (Carmel), Rita Gaither-Gant (Indianapolis), Carolyn Johnson (West Lafayette), Douglas Worthington (Fort Wayne) and Ken Adams (South Bend). North Central Jurisdictional laity delegates elected are: Doris Clark (Indianapolis), Anne Bunch (Terre Haute), Jeananne Park (Lagrange), Melissa Zimmerman... -- more --

Conference gathers to remember, reflect

7/13/2011

MUNCIE, Ind. – Indiana Conference members, friends and families filled Emens Auditorium June 10 to pause and remember those clergy and clergy spouses who died during the past year. “Love Kindness” was the theme for the service which remembered 27 clergy and 33 clergy spouses. Brian White, superintendent of the Southeast District, preached, “It’s a Mystery” based on Isaiah 63:7-9 and I Cor. 15:51-53, 56-57. White and his wife Michelle, lost their adult son,... -- more --

Conference learns about life-changing worship

7/13/2011

MUNCIE, Ind. – With shouts of “God is good all the time and all the time God is good,” Dr. Marcia McFee kicked off a teaching moment during morning worship June 9. Speaking on “Life-Changing Worship,” McFee mixed music, media, stories and words during her presentation. “Worship is an honor and privilege to remember that we are not alone.” Worship needs to be transforming, in the aspect that we ought to be different than when we came in, and we should... -- more --

Evening laity session opens conference with song, dance, talk

7/13/2011

MUNCIE, Ind. – The third annual conference session for the Indiana Conference opened June 8 at Ball State University with words of greeting from conference co-lay leaders Ike Williams and Kayc Mykrantz and then a ballot for the laity delegation to General Conference. Karen Schwartz of Fountain United Methodist Church was the winner of this year’s laity manuscript contest. Schwartz’s manuscript was titled “What Does Passionate Worship Mean to Me?” and is based on... -- more --

Friday morning focused on youth

7/13/2011

Young adult and campus ministry Beginning with a video titled MOVE, the young adult and campus ministry team led by Chris Roberts reported that the average age of a UM member is 57. In Indiana, only 9.7 percent of the pastors are under 40. He said young adults are a very diverse group filled with confusion, as well as opportunities. “As the church we must know that young adults are searching for community,” he said. As a conference, we have three priorities: training young adult... -- more --

Indiana Conference honors retiree class of 2011

7/13/2011

Photos by Linda Hoopes Front row left to right: Katharine Walker, Kent Millard, Minnietta Millard, Karen Rhoades Weilling, Charlotte Overmyer and Mike Overmyer. Second row left to right: Judy Rhoades, Pamela Montgomery, Paula Fulp, Sue Hannah, Nancy Mitchell, Philip Mitchell, David Schwarz and Norm Nellis. Third row left to right: John Smith, Paul Fulp and J. Morris Hannah. Front row left to right: Robert Coleman, Joyce Coleman, Michael Reed, Jacquie Reed, Kathy Mead and Ed... -- more --

New Generation/New Leader task force formed

7/13/2011

Adriane Curtis and Brian Durand presented the report and proposals from the New Generation/New Leader task force. The five recommendations include development of a database system for tracking qualified and called individuals; a training session for all levels of leadership on how to empower and encourage new leaders; establishment of a full-time conference position; establishment of a team to carry this out; adoption of a 20 percent initiative in 2014 with a goal of 20 percent representation... -- more --

Ordination and Commissioning Classes of 2011

7/13/2011

Elders ordained Front row: Ethan Lloyd Maple, Jill Moffett Howard, Jenifer Lee Stuelpe-Gibbs, Renee Kathleen Perkins, Gregory Kent Davis, Sharon Lea Baker, Tony Lee Johnson, Jean Stone Ness Back row: Matthew Allen Swisher, Kevin Malcolm Raidy, Kevin Walter Drane, Robert Michael Kumpf, Michael Ted Lawson, Adam Michael Payne, Stanley D. Abell, Andrew Dennis Payton, Nathan Eric Whybrew, Kevin Eugene Marsh, Michael Brice Collins, Jackie Dee Smith ... -- more --

Plans for new ministries shared

7/13/2011

Congregational Development The task of the Congregation Development Team is to start new congregations and revitalize existing congregations. The team of five includes: Director Mark Gough and associate directors Sharon Washington, Steve Clouse, Ed Fenstermacher and David Neckers. The Indiana Conference is focused on the ministry that takes place in the congregations. First Focus Revitalizing existing congregations through new worship services, relocating and working with vital mergers... -- more --

Missions

Indiana Conference continues to support Africa University students

7/13/2011

Indiana churches working together have supported four students at United Methodist-related Africa University this past school year. Several others are funded by individual congregations or proceeds from Indiana Conference Endowed Scholarships established for that purpose by the former North and South Indiana conferences. All four students, Christian Zigbuo, Kita Mutwale Jean, Frederico Robert Armando and Kasongo Ngoy Sebastien expressed their gratitude to Hoosier United Methodists for their... -- more --

New school in Sierra Leone gets firm foundation

7/13/2011

BUMPETOKE, Sierra Leone (UMNS) – For the children in a remote coastal village in Sierra Leone, West Africa, school was held under trees near the Atlantic shoreline. The Bumpetoke United Methodist Primary School would be dismissed whenever the weather turned stormy or the ocean gushed violent currents onto the sand that served as a classroom floor. But classes on the sandy shore are now history. New school The 244 students of the Bumpetoke School will hold future classes in a new... -- more --

Sierra Leone Bishop visited Indiana in May

7/13/2011

Sierra Leone Bishop John Yambasu visited Indiana and preached at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church on Sunday evening, May 15. Yambasu was interviewed about the church in Sierra Leone by the Rev. Donald Griffith, who with his wife, Marilyn Griffith, leads mission trips to West Africa from St. Luke’s. That weekend, Yambasu also met with the Operation Classroom UM-related outreach ministry to Sierra Leone supporting the work of United Methodist schools and medical facilities in that... -- more --

Social justice grants available to strengthen ethnic minority local churches across the U.S.

7/13/2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 10 is the deadline to apply for an Ethnic Local Church Grant from the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS). The grants are to strengthen ethnic minority local churches through education, advocacy or leadership development as they engage in social justice. Two funding periods are available for consideration: Jan. 10 is the deadline for the spring cycle and Aug. 10 for the fall. The Ethnic Local Church Grants program is to strengthen... -- more --

Viewpoints

Benefit to tobacco preventions and cessation agency being part of state health

7/13/2011

It’s been nearly 50 years since the first warning label appear on a pack of cigarettes, telling customers that “smoking may be hazardous to your health.” Today, there is little doubt about the dangers cigarettes pose to both smokers and innocent bystanders. Yet, Indiana continues to rank among the worst five states in the nation for adult smoking. But there could be a new dawn rising in the Hoosier state, one not shrouded by layers of smoke, thanks to a merger of the Indiana... -- more --

Not almost, but altogether Christian

7/13/2011

It’s a scenario many in the church may have experienced. There is the question: “What makes United Methodism distinct?” And then there is the answer: “We can believe what we want!” It’s not exactly the answer we may have had in mind, but it’s become popular in some circles. It certainly doesn’t reflect what is best about our Wesleyan tradition. It may be an overstatement, but somewhere along the line, we, as United Methodists seem to have lost... -- more --

Overheard at annual conference session

Body, Mind & Spirit

7/13/2011

I know I’m atypical, but I go to the annual conference session to listen. I watch people. I take notes. I hear things. But maybe that’s the writer in me. I’m always listening for a good story. Regardless, I have always believed the conversations we have with one another actually reveal the tone and the tenor of our conference. These conversations reveal our hopes, our fears, our triumphs and our defeats. The words paint a picture, and the picture reveals the realities behind... -- more --

Signs

7/13/2011

There are a variety of signs that we depend on to point us in certain directions. As I travel across the Indiana Conference, I rely heavily on road signs to point me in the direction that will help me to reach my destination. What signs can we look for within our congregations to help us to know if our congregations are financially healthy congregations? These “signs” or practices not only help us to know if our congregations are healthy, they also point us in the right direction... -- more --

Chronicles

Epworth Forest to host disaster response, ERT training

7/13/2011

The Indiana Conference Disaster Response Team also will offer Disaster Preparedness and Early Response Team training in conjunction with the RoundUP. Disaster Preparedness Training will be held on Saturday, Aug. 13, at Epworth Forest. Cathy Earl of UMCOR will be the workshop facilitator. Participants can register through the RoundUP. Also on Saturday, Aug. 13, Early Response Team (ERT) Training will be held at Epworth Forest. Registration and check-in will open at 8:30 a.m. and the session... -- more --

Epworth Forest to host Jurisdictional Mission RoundUp

7/13/2011

Plans for the North Central Jurisdictional United Methodist Volunteer in Mission Quadrennial RoundUP will be held Friday-Sunday, Aug. 12-14, at Epworth Forest Conference Center, 8580 E. Wesley Lane in North Webster, Ind. Workshops range from disaster preparedness, The Advance, team leadership training, community health, how the Mission Volunteers Office (GBGM) resources our needs, how spiritual formation plays into team dynamics and more. Information pertinent to teams of all sizes, ages and... -- more --

New LaPorte Prairie Cluster reaches out in joint mission project

7/13/2011

This year the cluster which consists of six churches, LaPorte First, Lambs Chapel, Rolling Prairie, Salem Chapel, Maple Grove, and New Carlisle, decided to concentrate on working on several joint mission outreach projects. With the many natural disasters that have occurred and continue to be eminent, the cluster decided to have a meeting to assemble health kits. Each church contributed items and together we assembled 50 health kits that were taken to annual conference for distribution. It was... -- more --