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October 2011

Cover Story

'Making ROOM' chosen as session theme in 2012

Another first -- Indiana Convention Center

10/12/2011

INDIANAPOLIS – “Making ROOM” will be the theme of the 2012 Indiana Annual Conference’s Fourth Session gathering June 7-9 at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, the first annual conference session to be held somewhere besides a university campus since the late 1960s. This three-day conference is the annual event of The United Methodist Church in Indiana when more than 3,000 clergy and lay conference members, representing the church’s 1,200... -- more --

From the Bishop

Making Room

10/12/2011

The team planning our Annual Conference Session for June 7-9, 2012 has chosen the theme of “Making Room.” This theme continues our emphasis upon the Five Fruitful Practices of vital congregations as outlined by Bishop Robert Schnase. You may remember that our first session of the new Indiana Conference in 2009 included teaching by Adam Hamilton around the practice of Risk-Taking Mission and Service. We also had Bible studies by David Bell about the practice of Extravagant... -- more --

Welcome

Making Room emerging as our task for 2012

10/12/2011

The Indiana Conference Sessions team has hit the ground running this summer and is far into plans for the fourth annual conference session at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. Read about what’s happening with the 2012 Indiana Conference Session and make your hotel reservations now. Bishop Mike Coyner talks about the meaning of the Making ROOM theme of the 2012 conference session in his monthly column. The Conference also increasing to its momentum by adding... -- more --

Conversations

Income inequality

10/12/2011

Each Sunday we invite people to submit prayer requests for our prayer network and staff. Increasing numbers of prayers requests have dealt with job loss, income decline and even loss of the house. I’m sure my congregation is not unique in this regard. I am convinced that a major reason for so much of this is the increased gap in income inequality. Of 16 industrialized countries, the United States has by far the worst gap. This is not just an economic problem, but a spiritual and moral... -- more --

Indiana

2011 Bishop's Christmas Offering distributions

10/12/2011

Indiana-related local outreach ministries were distributed as follow ($24,500): East Tenth Street UMC Youth Center serving 130 neighborhood kids ($2,000) Brightwood Community Center Kids Club program ($2,000) Vida Nueva Ministries in Indianapolis providing Christian Education after school activities ($2,000) Metro Ministries Summer Program for children and youth ($2,000) Fletcher Place Community Center in Indianapolis ($2,000) Children and Parent Services (CAPS)... -- more --

2011 Clergy Age Trends Report shows more older, younger clergy

10/12/2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. – According to a recent report about clergy, both the numbers of older and younger clergy have increased. The Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington has released its annual report containing this good news in its annual report titled “Clergy Age Trends in the United Methodist Church: 1985-2011.” The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits assisted with the report. Conversely, the report also found the percentage... -- more --

Bishop appoints part-time associate for Church Development with Hispanics

10/12/2011

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner has appointed the Rev. Sergio Reyes, a part-time local pastor and co-pastor of Getsemani United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne as a part-time Associate Director of Church Development with Hispanic populations, effective Oct. 1. Sergio and his wife, the Rev. Janie Reyes, also a part-time local pastor, were appointed to the newly chartered Cristiana Getsemani congregation in May 2007, Indiana Conference’s first chartered Hispanic... -- more --

Bishop celebrates 120th at Shelbyville

10/12/2011

Bishop Coyner celebrates the 120th anniversary of the West Street United Methodist Church in Shelbyville. The celebration was held on World Communion Sunday Oct. 2. The Rev. Perry Richards is West Street’s current pastor. ... -- more --

Bishop's Christmas Offering distributed to children's ministry projects in Indiana, around world

10/12/2011

Even during this long recession, Hoosier United Methodists continue to show their generosity toward ministries for children here in Indiana, across the United States and around the world. Because of that generosity, the Indiana Conference Bishop’s Christmas Offering Committee was recently able to distribute another $77,500 to children’s projects worldwide. Earlier this spring, the offering committee distributed $22,500 to the Indiana Conference’s Impact 2818 Outdoor... -- more --

Butler coach shares his success with children's home supporters

10/12/2011

CARMEL, Ind. – More than 230 supporters of the Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home in Lebanon, packed the banquet room of The Mansion at Oak Hill to celebrate the home’s first annual Founder’s Day Celebration. Keynote speaker Brad Stevens, 34, Butler University men’s basketball coach, told the group, he has learned that success comes, the Butler way – “go out there and do what you need to do.” Stevens credited some of his inspiration as a... -- more --

Connectional Ministries selects new Associate Director of Student Ministry

10/12/2011

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Conference has hired an experienced youth worker to head up a new student ministry program. The Director of Connectional Ministries of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church, the Rev. Dr. James Bushfield, announced Oct. 10 the selection of Helene Foust as the new Associate Director of Student Ministry for the Indiana Conference effective Dec. 1. According to Bushfield, Foust will assume the responsibilities of resourcing and networking ministry... -- more --

Do you wonder if your Black College Fund support makes a difference?

10/12/2011

Without question, it does! Your generous gifts, combined with those of others across the United Methodist connection, provide the resources needed for faculty development, student services, innovative programs, labs and updated facilities at our 11 historically black colleges and universities. This year, the Indiana Conference plans to give $402,248 to the Black College Fund through the conference tithe. Join the historic Black Colleges of The United Methodist Church in celebrating growth,... -- more --

Indiana Jurisdictional delegation seeks nominations for episcopal candidates

10/12/2011

The Indiana Conference delegation to next summer’s North Central Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church in Akron, Ohio, is in the process of discerning whether or not there is an Elder in good standing, who should be named as a candidate for the episcopal office of bishop. At the present time, we do not know whether a new bishop will need to be elected at the conference, nonetheless the delegation has decided to proceed and identify a potential candidate from the Indiana... -- more --

Methodist Hospital chaplains respond to State Fair disaster

Commentary:

10/12/2011

When I walked into the emergency room the night of the Indiana State Fair disaster this past August, I saw what looked like utter chaos. I was wrong. While the atmosphere was certainly chaotic, there was rather a controlled turmoil, with a veritable train of patients, both trauma and non-trauma streaming in through the ambulance bay and more walking in the front door. Physicians, nurses, techs of every discipline, social workers, housekeeping, security, patient-visitor representatives, and... -- more --

National evangelism organization features Evansville church

10/12/2011

The Foundation for Evangelism, a national organization of The United Methodist Church based in Lake Junaluska, N.C., has recognized Blue Grass United Methodist Church in Evansville, Ind. as a Vibrant Church. These are congregations that experience a 20 percent growth in a five year period of time. “Celebrating Vibrant Churches” has been developed as an online resource for clergy and laity from across the connection, who are seeking creative, successful evangelism practice... -- more --

New Albany churches send books to Sierra Leone schools

10/12/2011

The New Albany cluster of churches sent somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 books to United Methodist-related schools in Sierra Leone in September. The books will be distributed to three new classroom libraries and for bookshelves in ten other schools. The need for books was noted last year when a team of volunteers from Trinity United Methodist Church in New Albany visited Sierra Leone as part of the Health Partners project working with primary school teachers in Freetown, Kissy and upcountry... -- more --

Rejuvenate project continues to offer hope

10/12/2011

INDIANAPOLIS – In a recent report to the Lilly Endowment, leaders of the Rejuvenate project, made possible by the endowment, stated it has had a successful two years of existence helping both pastors and their congregations come to grips with personal indebtedness and destroying the taboos about talking to churches about money. I In the long run, Rejuvenate will continue to bring pastors out of debt, educate clergy families and congregations on personal financial management and give... -- more --

Scout veteran supports Indiana churches, Scouting

10/12/2011

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Scouting ministry specialists help churches understand that Boy Scouts and other youth-serving agencies can be important ways to reach young people. Scouting ministry specialist Dan Gates, 73, has been active in scouting since age 13. It’s hard to imagine a Scout leader who has received more training than Gates. ... -- more --

Small-membership Evansville church thinks big in outreach

10/12/2011

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – More than 650 youth and their parents came to St. Johns United Methodist Church in Evansville Aug. 6 for a Back to School Rally. St. John Pastor Billy Garrett partnered with the Indiana Black Expo Evansville Chapter for the rally. The 35-member church and Black Expo gave away free school supplies and 150 pairs of tennis shoes to any school-age child. They served lunch to each student, too. Garrett is currently working on another program with Black Expo called Jeans... -- more --

UIndy's president to retire

10/12/2011

INDIANAPOLIS (UIndy) – The University of Indianapolis President Beverley Pitts announced Oct. 3 that she will retire at the end of the 2011-12 academic year, ending seven years at the helm of Indiana’s third-largest private college, which is United Methodist-related. Pitts informed the university’s Board of Trustees of her decision Oct. 1. Since then, she sent email messages to faculty, staff and students, calling her tenure at UIndy “one of the most rewarding... -- more --

Worldwide

Liberian United Methodist Sirleaf shares Nobel Peace Prize

10/12/2011

United Methodist Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia, Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman of Yemen were awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for their work on women’s rights. Johnson Sirleaf, a member of First United Methodist Church in Monrovia, Liberia, in 2006 was the first woman to be elected a head of state in modern Africa. She is up for re-election this month. In a statement released after she learned of her award, Johnson Sirleaf said progress has... -- more --

United Methodist churches joined in DREAM Sunday

Meridian Street holds Immigrant Sunday

10/12/2011

When the Rev. Mary Ellen Finegan of Central United Methodist Church in Fairmont, W. Va., stood up to preach on a recent Sunday, she knew her message would be controversial with some members. She spoke in support of the DREAM Act (S.952), a bipartisan bill that would provide a path to citizenship for young undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children (under the age of 16), completed two years of college or military service and met other requirements, including passing a... -- more --

Viewpoints

Connecting the pieces (part 2)

10/12/2011

In the September issue of Together, I suggested we begin a serious conversation about the impact finances have on the overall state of well-being of clergy. Clergy are called to representative ministry for the purpose of equipping laity to carry out the work of the church. If clergy are experiencing economic challenges, it is difficult for them to carry out such an important task. What are the causes of such economic challenges faced by clergy? Each clergy person’s case is unique,... -- more --

Three 'I's

Body, Mind & Spirit

10/12/2011

A recent finance meeting at Calvary Church revealed that each of us sees the church through different lenses. As we prepared for yet another stewardship “drive” and discussed why people give or not give of their time, talent and treasure, there were various opinions about what was required to quantify success. As I listened to the discussion, it occurred to me that people live their faith in a variety of ways, therefore different approaches are needed to speak to the whole body of... -- more --

Chronicles

Bishop invites Hoosiers to 2013 Holy Land pilgrimage in the land of our faith

10/12/2011

Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner invites interested individuals to join him on a 10-day February 2013 pilgrimage to Israel. This trip also has a significantly reduced price for any ordinand who has not been to Israel. Travelers will experience the so-called “Fifth Gospel” – the land of our faith – as the biblical stories related to Jesus take on new meaning. New to this trip will be a visit to Caesarea Philippi where Peter made his confession: “You are the Christ, the... -- more --

DePauw University donates bunk beds to conference camping ministry

10/12/2011

NORTH WEBSTER, Ind. – Through the assistance of the Rev. P.T. Wilson, senior pastor of Gobin United Methodist Church in Greencastle, United Methodist-related DePauw University donated a generous amount of furniture to Impact 2818 Outdoor Ministries. It included 155 bunk beds with mattresses to replace metal bunks at Epworth Forest Conference Center, six restaurant-style benches with tables, a pool table, chest freezer and six closet cabinets and other smaller items. Impact 2818 Outdoor... -- more --

Fort Wayne couple write intriguing book about the Apostle Paul and post-traumatic stress

10/12/2011

Retired United Methodist minister Dr. Robert Collie and his wife Annelie of Fort Wayne, Ind., have written an intriguing 159-page book titled The Apostle Paul and Post Traumatic Stress: From Woundedness to Wholeness. Robert’s insights as the director of Samaritan Counseling Centers in Northeast Indiana and Annelie’s insights as a clinical social worker come together in this interesting analysis of the Apostle Paul’s conversion story from a Jewish leader pursuing Christ’s... -- more --

Hunger group announces two Advent programs

10/12/2011

Society of St. Andrew, the national gleaning ministry, has two Advent programs that may be of interest to you and your church. Passing the Peace The free Advent devotional booklet, Passing the Peace is an Advent devotions booklet and giving program to help keep us focused on Jesus’ coming, while we provide a meaningful gift to feed hungry children and adults here in the United States. During the season of Advent, the Society of St. Andrew devotional booklet asks participants to... -- more --

LaPorte layman writes two books about origin of Bible, church history

10/12/2011

For those who are new to the Christian faith and church members who know little about the Bible and the history of the church, here are two books worth considering. Both are written by C. Jack Trickler a United Methodist layman, who lives in LaPorte, Ind. Trickler, a mechanical engineer by profession, is now retired. After retirement, he found time to delve more deeply into his interest in the history of Christianity and the origins of the Bible. His first book was A Layman’s Guide to:... -- more --

UIndy to break ground on residence hall named in honor of first president

10/12/2011

INDIANAPOLIS (UIndy) – The United Methodist-related University of Indianapolis will break ground soon on its seventh major residential building, Roberts Hall, named for inaugural university President John Taylor Roberts. Scheduled to open in Fall 2012, the five-story building on Hanna Avenue between Warren and Cravens Halls will feature amenities aimed at upperclassmen, with private and semi-private rooms for about 200 students. Roberts led the institution, then known as Indiana... -- more --

University of Evansville to host Midwest Festival of Young Preachers

10/12/2011

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville and Neu Chapel Society will host the Academy of Preacher’s first regional Festival of Young Preachers Nov. 11-13 at the University’s Neu Chapel. Preaching slots are available for 25 young people. Young preachers, between the ages of 16 and 28, participating in the Midwest Festival will be expected to give a 10-minute sermon based on the Sermon on the Mount. Young preachers may register by completing the form below and... -- more --

Wesleyan Theological Forum: 'Preaching Christ' to be held in Franklin, Nov. 15

10/12/2011

FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Third Annual Wesleyan Theological Forum in the Indiana Conference is set to take place Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 1300 E. Adams Drive in Franklin, Ind. Professor Mike Pasquarello of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky., will lead the Forum focusing on the theme “Preaching Christ in the Wesleyan Tradition.” This continuing education event is open to clergy and laity. Cost is $40 and includes lunch.... -- more --