News

Bell encourages culture of extravagant generosity

The Rev. David Bell, of Brighton, Mich., serves as vice-president of stewardship with The United Methodist Foundation of Michigan. Bell consults independently through Design for Ministry. He began a June 26 Bible study highlighting the widow’s mite story found in Mark 12. Recalling this passage – which was his first stewardship sermon in his first church years ago – Bell shared that stewardship is more than just money, it is also about time and involvement. “My... -- more --

Conference approves the creation of ten-district structure

On behalf of the conference Transition Team, Chair Cindy Reynolds, brought seven recommendations to the conference June 26 to implement a new district structure. They included Recommendation 4 which was a major shift from last year’s five bi-district resource centers with two districts and superintendents proposal to a ten district configuration including a superintendent, associate superintendent, district assistant plus partnering with conference-supported connectional ministries and... -- more --

Youth rally at Union Chapel's one-eighty program center

Youth from across the Indiana Conference and the Muncie District participated in a fun evening of fellowship, worship and sharing on Saturday night June 27. The Rev. Mark Beeson of Granger Community United Methodist Church near South Bend provided the message to more than 150 youth at the event. “You try to stay true. You try to stay on path. It’s too easy to get off track,” said Beeson. “Then you’ve got to pay close attention to who you let close to... -- more --

Connectional Ministries to serve with leaner budget, fewer personnel

Connectional Ministries Director Jim Bushfield said the conference is moving to support more congregational ministries concerns and moving away from funding ministry projects. He said new conference ministries to congregations needs to be reasonable, responsible and achievable. Priorities on connection ministries will be a collective reduction in both salary and personnel. Part of the new way of ministry is financial. Connectional Ministries sees its goal as to provide resources and... -- more --

Those remembered

Clergy remembered in Friday night’s worship service included these 23 clergy: Thomas Abbott, Daniel Bengston, Ray Bradley, Bill Butler, Richard Dolby, Vern Doles, Kenneth Foulke, George Greathouse, Michaelene Haysler, Frederick Hill, Ellis Hukill, Jerome Hyde, Woodrow Kennell, Richard Kistler, Jane Lincoln, Carol Lott, Robert Lougheed, Carlyle Mason, Robert Miller, Larry Schwartz, Darrel Taggart, Lawrence Tedrow and John Thrasher. These 37 clergy spouses remembered included: Barbara... -- more --

Co-Lay Leaders join forces in first united laity session

The inaugural laity session for the new Indiana Conference began with words from co-lay leaders Kayc Mykrantz and Ike Williams thanking lay members for their service and attendance. The Rev. Jim Bushfield, director of connectional ministries, gave the laity an update of the Imagine Indiana plan. “Your congregation must have a clear mission statement you have to know where you’re going.” The same can be said about the annual conference. “You are the conference,”... -- more --

Conference celebrates mission outreach to Muncie, world

Following a Saturday June 27 afternoon of sweat and aching muscles, 1,500 conference members and guests celebrated the outreach and mission of the church not only across Muncie, but around the world. Day of the outreach leader, Karen Powell, pastor of Riverside UMC in Muncie, proclaimed, “Jesus has left the building. Bathing a city in prayer, it’s not easy to share in the name of Christ. We have a God who has a big imagination.” Muncie District Superintendent Dale Mendenhall... -- more --

Bishop calls the first Indiana Conference session to order

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Bishop Mike Coyner called the first Indiana Annual Conference Session to order on June 25 using a gavel made from the wood of an Indiana meeting house used by Bishop Robertson. He then led in prayer using a prayer of John Wesley, founder of Methodism. Coyner introduced Carolyn Johnson, conference secretary. Mary Hubbard and Karen Devaisher were introduced as the co-chairs of the conference sessions committee, which was responsibily for the conference arrangements ... -- more --

Retiring clergy photo

  Clergy retiring this session included these who are pictured -- Front: Saundra Hamm, Jerry Wibert, Mary Beth Byrne, Bernice Gude, Garry Gestner, Gloria J. Gestner, Ella Myers Nickles, Jim Nickles, Ann. L. Glass, Neil D. Butcher, Martha Butcher Middle: James A. Dance, Gloria Dance, Mary Bowers, Forrest L. Bowers, John K. Wortinger, Linda Wortinger, Sandy Howard, Ernest M. Howard Jr., Terry D. Campbell, Pam Campbell Back: Warrell Law, J. Scott Wood, Cynthia Wood. Print quality photo of... -- more --

Retirees celebrate a total of 742 years of ordained ministry

Totaling 742 years of service as ordained ministers, 28 pastors retired during this first session of the new Indiana Conference. They were granted retirement status by the clergy executive session of the conference held Thursday night June 25 at Union Chapel Ministries UMC in Muncie. Those ministers with years of service include: Forrest L. Bowers 15, Neil D. Butcher 40, Mary Beth Byrne 38, Terry D. Campbell 37, Cheryl A. Jones Cumbee 25, David C. Cummings 25, Kent E. Dale 26, James A. Dance... -- more --

McCordsville UMC breaks ground for new addition

Members and friends of the McCordsville United Methodist Church celebrated as ground was broken on the building expansion project May 10.The first phase is a $1.6 million expansion that will double the existing size of the church providing a welcoming and handicapped accessible design. In the second phase, the existing sanctuary will be remodeled. The 8,600 square foot addition to the existing building will feature: new classrooms, a fellowship hall, a commercial grade kitchen, an elevator, new... -- more --

Ministry service calls on members to 'Finish the Song'

Members and friends of the Indiana Annual Conference packed Emens Auditorium for a Sunday morning worship service June 28 that included the commissioning and ordaining of 33 clergy members of the conference. Of the 33 clergy members, 16 were commissioned; one as an associate member; one as a deacon; and 15 were ordained elder in full connection. Bishop Coyner began talking about how in April 1995, Pastor Jim Dickey, went to church for the first of two services, and shared with his wife that... -- more --

Retirees healthcare plan outside of current HealthFlex

Following more than an hour of debate and several unsuccessful amendments, the annual conference approved a revised plan to care in part for the health benefits of clergy retirees. Before considering the retirees health benefits issue, Brent Williams, new director of Administrative Services now North Indiana treasurer, explained that the Pre-1982 Service Rate for 2010 is $608. Surviving Spouse amount is $456 – 75 percent of the service rate. These rates were approved. The HealthFlex... -- more --

Day of Mission and Outreach embraces City of Muncie

More than 1,000 Hoosier United Methodists fanned out across Muncie on a sunny, warm June 27 Saturday afternoon for a day of mission and outreach. The Rev. David Arnold of Muncie College Avenue UMC, which served as one of the host churches for the West District, has been part of the planning team. “The congregation feels privileged to serve in this manner,” said Arnold, who also is expecting a variety of follow-up from community members and agencies. Ann Newton of Greencastle Gobin... -- more --

Conference approves $15.1 million budget for 2010

The annual conference approved $15.1 million income and expense budgets for the 2010 conference year. The budget amount was based upon the 2008 actual income of $15.8 million. The Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CF&A) called the budget realistic, reasonable and achievable. The income budget is based upon a 10 percent tithe of $13.8 million from the 1,200 congregations giving 10 percent of their monthly income to the conference, plus another one-percent of income from... -- more --

Rejuvenate program to help pastors, churches with finances

During the Laity Session on June 25, the Rev. Michelle Cobb, new director of the Rejuvenate program, explained how the program will help pastors in financial crisis. The project has been funded $3.9 millions by the Lilly Endowment. She said the purpose of the program is to strengthen the quality of pastoral leadership and enhance the vitality of Indiana United Methodist congregations. She said research informs us that UM clergy in Indiana are experiencing debt at a level that is negatively... -- more --

Pastor of largest UMC encourages Hoosiers to 'Rethink Church'

The Rev. Adam Hamilton, founding and current lead pastor of the Church of the Resurrection (UMC) in suburban Kansas City, presented three sessions on “Effective Church Leadership,” “Ideas for Preaching and Worship” and “Strategies for Reaching the Unchurched” during the opening day of the Indiana Annual Conference. The Church of the Resurrection is the largest UM congregation in the United States with 15,500 members. Effective leadership Hamilton kicked off... -- more --

Indiana Annual Conference approves only five proposed constitutional amendments

Only five of the 32 proposed amendments to the United Methodist Church Constitution were approved by the Indiana Conference votes received Friday, June 26, at Muncie. A total of 1,257 ballots were cast, according to Conference Secretary Carolyn Johnson. All of the votes will be added to the individual votes from all the annual conferences. Those receiving the required two-thirds or above votes in Indiana included proposed amendments: II. Conflict of... -- more --

New ways need to be found to reach people for Christ

Director of Church Development Mark Gough said to conference members on June 26 that together we need to find new ways of reaching more people for Jesus Christ, younger people and more diverse people. He noted that worship attendance continues to decline. He said, “We need to pull together in a process, a way of bringing people to the church.” He outlined four strategic Church Development areas which include locations, people groups, existing churches and new churches. Pending... -- more --

Conference takes action in relation to campus ministry

Due to severe budget cuts across the board directly affecting outreach ministries in Indiana, the issue of campus ministries and its funding came to the floor of the Indiana Annual Conference session in Muncie for debate. In relation to campus ministry, the conference took several important actions. They included: The conference approved and has already implemented the hiring of the first-ever associate director devoted to Youth, Young Adults, and Campus Ministry. The Rev. Brian Durand... -- more --