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March/April 2012

Cover Story

Time to rebuild in southern Indiana

United Methodists respond generously

3/15/2012

By Daniel R. Gangler Story and photos HENRYVILLE, Ind. – Within two days of a deadly tornado storm that leveled her town March 2, the Rev. Wilma Sawyer Bone had taken charge and plunged into an uncertain future. Bone, pastor of the 100-member Henryville United Methodist Church, welcomed Bishop Mike Coyner; the Rev. David Powell, Indiana Conference Director of Disaster Response; the Rev. LeKisha Reed, Indiana Conference Associate Director of Mission and Advocacy; the Rev. Charlie... -- more --

From the Bishop

Bishop appoints Cobb, Groves as district superintendents

3/15/2012

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner announced in January the appointment of the Rev. Michelle Cobb and the Rev. John Groves to the Cabinet effective July 1. Cobb, currently the Director of the Rejuvenate Ministry, will serve as Superintendent of the North Central District based in Kokomo, following the Rev. Frank Beard, who must rotate off the Cabinet after eight consecutive years of service as a District Superintendent. Groves, currently senior pastor at First United Methodist... -- more --

Come, let us reason together

3/15/2012

Bishop Coyner preaches at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind. President Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) was known for his invitation, “Come, let us reason together.” During his years as U.S. Senate majority leader, then as Vice-President to President John F. Kennedy, and especially after he became president, LBJ would use his stature (he was a tall, imposing figure), his... -- more --

Welcome

Riding out the storm

3/15/2012

Riding through the streets of Henryville three days after the deadly tornadoes ripped through town was a surreal experience. Stunned residents and willing volunteers walked the wet and muddy streets crowded with service trucks and media crews. The loud sounds of power saws and heavy equipment filled the air. Henryville Pastor Wilma Bone pointed out what used to be here and what used to be there. There was much hugging and lots of tears as neighbors comforted each other telling their survivor... -- more --

Annual Conference

Board of Laity offers 2012 Indiana Conference Laity Manuscript Contests

3/15/2012

The Indiana Conference Board of Laity is again offering the opportunity for all laity of the Indiana Conference to express thanks and praise to God by submitting an original sermon manuscript for judging. The theme for this year is “Making Room” (Acts 2, Verses 46-47) following the theme of the 2012 Annual Conference session. This year there are two categories, youth and young adults (ages 14 through 29) and adults (age thirty and older). One winning manuscript will be presented at... -- more --

Child care to be provided during Annual Conference Session

3/15/2012

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Annual Conference will provide child care during the Annual Conference session June 7-9 at the Indiana Convention Center. The child care will be provided by licensed child care providers from Marion County during all plenary sessions and worship services. The cost will be $3 per child per session. This service will provide: Child care for children ages infants through 11 years old. Child care will be open one-half hour before a session and will... -- more --

Come early to annual conference, volunteer for community connect mission outreach across Indianapolis

3/15/2012

INDIANAPOLIS – Come early to the 2012 Indiana Annual Conference session in Indianapolis for an opportunity to be in mission. There are many activities from which to choose from Habitat for Humanity house builds and home dedication to home repairs for the elderly to installing a playground to knitting hats for babies to serving a meal or writing notes of encouragement. Registration for the Community Connect outreach mission is $30 per volunteer and includes a T-shirt, transportation to... -- more --

Conference Briefings Schedule

3/15/2012

Experience a two-hour presentation and discussion about this year’s Indiana Annual Conference session during one of these briefing events. Date Time Location Mon., May 14 7 p.m. CT The Turning Pointe UMC, 9800 Middle Mt. Vernon Rd., Evansville Mon., May 14 ... -- more --

Conference lay leaders invite laity to special lay events on June 7

3/15/2012

Co-Conference Lay Leaders Ike Williams and Kayc Mykrantz encourage all laity coming to the Indiana Annual Conference session June 7-9 to take advantage of the specific offerings for laity, Thursday, June 7. Laity (both members and guests) will have an opportunity to get to know one another better at the laity luncheon at 11 a.m. in the upstairs ballroom of the Indiana Convention Center. During the luncheon, one of the two laity manuscript winners will share his or her thoughts on the theme,... -- more --

Keeping the Dream Alive task force sees progress in meeting goals

3/15/2012

The Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church has a special task force called Keeping the Dream Alive Task Force. Members of the task force are studying the Imagine Indiana Plan and the resulting Indiana Conference to help conference leaders evaluate how well the conference is living by the plan adopted by the former North and South Conferences to create a new conference in 2009. As a part of their work, the task force plans to do a survey of as many clergy and lay leaders as they can... -- more --

Indiana

'Mr. Angel, tear down this wall!'

Small church hopes to grow larger in Mount Vernon

3/15/2012

MOUNT VERNON, Ind. – “Mr. Angel, tear down this wall!” That was the clarion call when Jack Angel, the patriarch of Black’s Chapel UMC in Mount Vernon, Ind., wielded a large sledgehammer to demolish a solid block wall. That wall was located in a recently purchased building that is being repurposed by the members of Black’s Chapel. The building is a 19,200 sq. ft. former car dealership that is being retrofitted for worship. The new facility at 1800 West Fourth... -- more --

2012 General and Jurisdictional conferences delegates

3/15/2012

Indiana Annual Conference Delegates to General Conference and the North Central Jurisdictional Conference are listed here. The United Methodist General Conference will be held at Tampa, Florida from April 24 to May 4, 2012. The North Central Jurisdictional Conference is scheduled to be held from July 17 to July 21 at Akron, Ohio. Here are the names of the Indiana Annual Conference delegates elected by the session of the conference in Muncie. Nine laity were elected to General Conference... -- more --

Battle Ground church opens new child care ministry center

3/15/2012

BATTLE GROUND, Ind. – The Battle Ground United Methodist Church north of Lafayette in the Northwest District opened a new child care ministry Feb. 6. The ministry is located in the former parsonage as the church’s Child Care Ministry Center located at 205 Tipton Street in Battle Ground. The center needed some remodeling to be compliant with the State of Indiana Family Social Services and the Fire Marshal. This new ministry will care for up to 20 children, infant through 10-years of... -- more --

Bishop & Mrs. Coyner plan to host 2013 Indiana Area Holy Land Trip

3/15/2012

While tracing Paul’s missionary journeys, Bishop Mike and Marsha Coyner discuss the distance between Istanbul and Jerusalem as they plan the 2013 Indiana Area Holy Land Trip with Educational Opportunities Project Coordinator, Norm and Cheryl Nellis. Prices start at $3,000 from Indianapolis. Brochures are now available. Contact Bishop’s Trip Coordinator Norm Nellis at normgumc@aol.com or 765-491-5011 for more information about being a host or for a brochures about the trip.... -- more --

Call to Prayer for General Conference

3/15/2012

The beauty of being a part of the connectional church is that we can call on one another to pray and support each other in prayer. As the 2012 General Conference approaches, it is important to know our prayer foundation is firm and we are connected in a global prayer network. Prayer is the foundation for Christian discipleship and the essence of United Methodist spirituality. The Wesley brothers taught us “a sincere desire is an authentic prayer.” Frances Jennings of the Florida... -- more --

Children of Abraham receives Advance Special designation

3/15/2012

MUNSTER, Ind. – Children of Abraham, an interfaith medical relief charity based in Munster, Ind., was recently awarded the status of an Advanced Special of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, based in New York City. COA Board President, the Rev. David Schrader, senior pastor of Grace UMC in South Bend, says, “This opens us to outreach beyond the Indiana congregations to the national level, and will be especially beneficial to future fund-raising efforts in... -- more --

Cokesbury announces new children's curriculum coming this fall

3/15/2012

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cokesbury, the United Methodist retailer of church resources, is proud to announce their new children’s curriculum called Grow, Proclaim, Serve! Visit the website at www.growproclaimserve.com to watch videos, preview sample lessons and learn more about the curriculum. Cokesbury says Grow, Proclaim, Serve! incorporates Bible stories, activities, crafts, media and games into a full-faith experience for children. With Grow, Proclaim, Serve! children will develop... -- more --

Columbia City pastor honored as Company Grade Officer of the Year

3/15/2012

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Airmen of the Year awards for the 122nd Fighter Wing, Indiana Air National Guard of Fort Wayne, were presented Dec. 3, 2011. Among those recipients was Chaplain (Capt.) Kent A. Lundy selected for the Company Grade Officer of the Year. Lundy is associate pastor of the Columbia City United Methodist Church. Lundy was described as a pillar of the officer corp, someone who is always there and always ready to assist in any way possible. In the description of the award... -- more --

Disaster response also includes the four-legged kind

3/15/2012

HENRYVILLE, Ind. – Among the piles of splintered wood, shingles and shards of glass are survivors, First responders, firefighters, police and a dog with a green vest. They are sifting through the rubble looking for heirlooms, photographs and what items are still in one piece. Wait a minute – a dog with a green vest, what’s that canine doing there? The dog’s name is Charlie and his master, Gayle Sprinkle of Indianapolis, is right by his side. However, they are not... -- more --

Fort Wayne church is a bright green church

3/15/2012

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Covenant United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne is the first church to reach a Two-Star Level in the Northeast Indiana Sustainable Business Council’s (NISBC) “Bright Green Program.” Ken and Jan Modesitt, two very passionate stewards of our earth’s resources and members of Covenant UMC, have led the way for their church to achieve an outstanding green award. They received training provided by the NISBC so they could raise awareness and help their... -- more --

Hoosier ministry adds musical element

3/15/2012

Agape Family Ministry has added music to its ongoing ministries led by the Rev. Robert H. Miller, Jr., a retired United Methodist pastor, and his wife Norietta, both of New Palestine, Ind. The singing group is composed of musicians, speakers, teachers and other people with a variety of interests and talents. They are from Terre Haute, Connersville, Salem, Indianapolis, Corydon, Greenfield, Greenwood, McCordsville, Anderson, New Palestine and Louisville, Ky., to name a few. Agape has shared... -- more --

Indiana Conference scouting to host Camporee in DRC during summer 2013

3/15/2012

At the invitation of Bishop Ntambo Nkulu, Indiana Conference scouting volunteers will host a Camporee in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the purpose of strengthening Boy Scouts as a counter to boy soldiers in central Africa. Scouting volunteers are planning a mission trip to host a week-long Camporee for 200 African Boy Scouts in Tenke, DRC, during summer 2013. Camporee leaders say the goal is to strengthen Scouting and the connection between Scouting and the UMC in the DRC. Leaders... -- more --

Indiana delegation endorses Reynolds for episcopacy

3/15/2012

FISHERS, Ind. – The 36-member Indiana delegation of the 2012 North Central Jurisdictional Conference endorsed the candidacy of the Rev. Dr. Cindy Reynolds for bishop during a delegation meeting Feb. 4 at Fishers United Methodist Church. Reynolds is currently superintendent of the North District based in LaPorte, Ind. In The United Methodist Church, bishops are elected every four years during one of the five Jurisdictional Conferences of the church. The North Central Jurisdiction is... -- more --

Indiana UM Historical Society to hear story of California connections April 21

3/15/2012

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Of the views of United Methodist history offered at the 17th annual meeting of the Indiana United Methodist Historical Society, Saturday, April 21, one is so sweeping as to cross the Plains states all the way to California. The meeting will be held at First United Methodist Church, 219 East Fourth Street in Bloomington. Laura Galloway, a staff member of Indiana University, will report on the research she has done relating to a missionary wagon train that traveled from... -- more --

IU Health Clinical Pastoral Education being offered for fall

3/15/2012

INDIANAPOLIS – United Methodist-related Indiana University will offer Clinical Pastoral Education Units this fall at: IU Health Methodist, University, and Riley Hospitals, 9/3/12-12/21/12 IU Health North Hospital, 9/10/12-01/18/13 IU Health Bloomington Hospital 9/10/12-8/22/13 These CPE Units were designed with both full-time students and full-time clergy in mind. We are interviewing for the units that begin in September. IU Health offers flexible weekly scheduling for... -- more --

Millard to lead Indiana Conference in stewardship, tithing efforts

3/15/2012

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner announces the appointment of retired senior pastor Dr. Kent Millard as Conference Director of Generosity and Gratitude effective March 1. The new position was approved Saturday, Feb. 18, by the Indiana Conference Leadership Table during one of its regular meetings. Upon Millard’s appointment, Coyner said, “I am very pleased that Dr. Kent Millard will be our first-ever Director of Generosity and Gratitude . This new position was... -- more --

Spreading God's love at Christmas with gift cards to veterans

3/15/2012

It began as a simple project and quickly got out of hand. I am referring to the “2011 – Facebook Veterans’ Christmas Project.” The goal was to raise money to buy 150 five-dollar McDonald’s gift cards to be distributed to veterans through the Marion VA Hospital. The project was birthed when I took a friend with ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease to the Marion VA Hospital. In no time I felt like I had been dropped into the middle of a field hospital for the forgotten... -- more --

Summer camp offers That Thing for youth at Epworth Forest Conference Center

3/15/2012

NORTH WEBSTER, Ind. – The Indiana Conference’s high school summer camp event staff for That Thing at Epworth Forest Conference Center is excited about a number of new groups joining the program this summer from around the conference. That Thing is a Christian camp program designed to not just provide an evangelical outreach opportunity, but also helps to provide foundational steps and inspiration that helps students understand the importance of living a missional life as the hands... -- more --

UIndy appoints interim director for civic institute

3/15/2012

INDIANAPOLIS (UIndy) – Historian Edward O. Frantz has been appointed interim director of the Institute for Civic Leadership & Mayoral Archives at the United Methodist-related University of Indianapolis. Frantz is an associate professor in UIndy’s Department of History & Political Science, specializing in the political history of the Midwest and the United States. He is the author of the 2011 book The Door of Hope: Republican Presidents and the First Southern Strategy,... -- more --

University of Evansville gets a new glimpse of Wesley

3/15/2012

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville, got a new glimpse of John Wesley, founder of Methodism, as more than 100 guests crowded into a small gallery underneath Neu Chapel on Founders Day Sunday morning, Feb. 19. The occasion was to dedicate the John Wesley Gallery and Methodist Commemorative Collection. The collection was given to the United Methodist-related university by retired UE chaplain and professor emeritus of philosophy and religion, Dr. R. Wayne Perkins and his wife,... -- more --

Volunteers in Mission Team Leader Training added for April 14 at Dayton

3/15/2012

A second Volunteers in Mission Team Leader Training will be held this spring at the Dayton United Methodist Church, 7201 Wesleyan Drive in Dayton, Ind., just southeast of Lafayette on I-65, Saturday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET. Who should attend? Leaders and/or participants of work teams and youth leaders. The cost is $15 per person and includes lunch plus basic materials. Each team also will need to purchase at least one VIM Training Manual for $25. Topics include: How to plan a... -- more --

Focus

High expectations will surround Tampa gathering

3/15/2012

Every four years, United Methodists develop high expectations that delegates to the top legislative body of the denomination will set policies and pass resolutions that address specific challenges in the church and society. Similar expectations surround the 988 delegates and 4,000 volunteers and observers, who will attend the 2012 General Conference of The United Methodist Church meeting April 24-May 4 in Tampa, Fla. United Methodists around the world expect the assembly will take actions... -- more --

Missions

Food ministries flourish on different paths

3/15/2012

INDIANAPOLIS – Ross Faris was well-loved and well-known for his love of gardening. After his death this past fall, members of the Indianapolis community streamed through the doors of North United Methodist Church, packing the pews on a cold day to remember the man who, by all accounts, would have shied from the attention. Years ago, starting with a few seeds, Faris turned his Indianapolis yard into a flourishing garden. His young children sold the fresh produce at the end of the... -- more --

Southwest Hoosiers serve faith-based center during mission trip to Mexico

3/15/2012

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Simpson United Methodist Church in Evansville recently sponsored the Give Ye Them To Eat mission experience to the Tree of Life Training Center in Tlancaulpican, Mexico. The 15 volunteers in mission served the training center Feb. 10-19. The team said people in this area never dreamed that this rough 30 acres of grazed land that contained invasive Boat Thorn Acacia shrubs, stones and rocks and three large gullies could be transformed into a training center that would... -- more --

Viewpoints

Pursuing a new history between United Methodists and indigenous peoples in the United States

3/15/2012

John Wesley understood quite clearly the atrocities carried out by Europeans against Native Americans. In his sermon “A Caution Against Bigotry” he wrote: “Even cruelty and bloodshed, how little have the Christians come behind them! And not the Spaniards or the Portuguese alone, butchering thousands in South America: not the Dutch only in the East Indies, or the French in North America, following the Spaniards step by step: our own countrymen, too, have wantoned in blood, and... -- more --

Slippers: An Easter Story

Body, Mind & Spirit

3/15/2012

Note – This is a work of fiction, but may bear a remarkable resemblance to hope. Lisa loved to dance. She was 13 years old, a fast learner and was riding in the back seat of the car combing her auburn hair when she remembered what she had forgotten. “My ballet slippers are at home!” Lisa shouted. “We’re not going back home,” her father said evenly. “You’ll have to borrow a pair from Mrs. Egan.” “I hate her old slippers,” Lisa... -- more --

Thank You, Indiana United Methodists

3/15/2012

College is a time for profound introspection, and I promised myself as a freshman that I would not let that opportunity go to waste. Now, as a senior, I can reflect on the personality quirks I’ve unearthed. First, I am somewhat lazy. I eat too much, and I rarely exercise. Second, I am malleable. I added an entire semester to my college career, because I thought I wanted to be a politician after watching a couple episodes of The West Wing. Most importantly, I do not give compliments and... -- more --

Chronicles

Book Corner

3/15/2012

Huntington pastor publishes book of poems based on Ten Commandments Watch out what you write to your lover-spouse for Valentine’s Day and birthdays. For the Rev. David Ballinger, it led to an interest in writing poems, which led to his first book of poems. Ballinger, lead pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntington, recently published Poetic Meditations for Successful Living. The 124-page book of poetry is based on the Ten Commandments, plus other Christian themes. In... -- more --

Organizers seek all who experienced Maple Grove Camp

3/15/2012

A group of former Maple Grove campers is seeking Hoosiers who experienced the Maple Grove Camp back in the 1930s and 1940s. If you experienced Maple Grove Camp, near Huntingburg, Ind., in the days of the former United Brethren Church, or if you know someone who did, these organizers would like you to contact them. An effort is being made to arrange a one-day reunion this summer for all who experienced Maple Grove. Please send contact information in order to reach them. Please contact Keith... -- more --