News

Annual Conference Highlights for March 6, 2013

Workshops will abound during the 2013 Indiana Annual Conference Session INDIANAPOLIS – Workshops for both annual conference members and guests will abound on Thursday morning and all day Friday during the upcoming 2013 Indiana Annual Conference Session June 6-8 at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. These workshops will be presented on Thursday, June 6 from 9:30 to 11 a.m.: “Cost Stewardship … it’s about leveraging dollars and sense to fund... -- more --

Southeast DS appointed to Carmel church

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana United Methodist Bishop Mike Coyner announced today the appointment of Southeast District Superintendent Brian White to lead pastor of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Carmel, Ind., effective July 1. St. Mark’s current lead pastor, the Rev. Bill Keith, will be retiring July 1. Coyner has not yet announced the appointment of an incoming superintendent to the Southeast District based in Columbus and member of the Cabinet of ten District... -- more --

Africa University Choir to headline 'Be a World Changer' theme

Online registration begins April 1. Housing reservation is now open. INDIANAPOLIS – The theme of this year’s Indiana Annual Conference Session, “Be a World Changer” will come to life with the presence of the Africa University Choir. The 16-member traveling choir will be a highlight of the Fifth Indiana Annual Conference Session at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis Thursday-Saturday, June 6-8. The AU choir will sing throughout the three-day session... -- more --

DS Reynolds SPRC Presentation 2013

Click here for DS Reynolds' SPRC Presentation 2013. Please be patient.  This file may take a few moments to download.  Thank you.... -- more --

Bishop announces appointment of Chesterton pastor as Northwest District Superintendent

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner announces the appointment of the Rev. Christine K. (Chris) Newman-Jacobs as superintendent of the Northwest District. Currently, she serves as senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Chesterton (North District). At the same time, Coyner also announces the appointment of the Rev. Craig LaSuer, current superintendent of the Northwest District, as senior pastor of First United Methodist Church of West Lafayette. Both appointments are... -- more --

Bishop announces change in Director of Church Development position

  Gough   Anderson INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner announced today, Jan. 16, a change in the position of Director of Church Development for the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church effective Feb. 1. This change was prompted by the retirement of the Rev. Mark Gough of Fort Wayne, current Director of Church Development.... -- more --

General Council of Finance and Administration website will be offline this and next weekend

All General Council of Finance and Administration web services (including Ezra and Ezra Stats) will be down this Saturday, Jan.12, for maintenance and upgrades.... -- more --

Bishop announces appointment of Mishawaka pastor to Cabinet

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner announces today, Jan. 9, the appointment of the Rev. Larry K. Whitehead as the new North District Superintendent effective July 1, 2013. Whitehead currently serves as lead pastor of First United Methodist Church at Mishawaka, Ind. Upon this announcement, Coyner said, “Larry brings a wealth of helpful experience to the position of North District Superintendent, including his first career in hospital administration, his pastoral service to... -- more --

Progress made on sale of properties at Syracuse, Bloomington, Marion

INDIANAPOLIS – After numerous months of negotiations and waiting, Brent Williams, director of Administrative Services of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church, has informed the Indiana Conference Trustees about the three property sales which have been completed or in the process of being completed. They include: The sale of the former Oakwood Inn and Conference Center in Syracuse, Ind. on Lake Wawasee, was completed Dec. 18, 2012, after a lengthy process by a... -- more --

Indiana Conference now offers online giving for local churches

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana United Methodist Conference Financial Services announced today a new online electronic giving service provided by Vanco Services, LLC for use by the Indiana Conference. Vanco Services is endorsed by the General Council of Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church as a partner in offering financial services online. Vanco currently works with more than 11,000 churches and nonprofit organizations and offers several web-based electronic giving... -- more --

Fort Wayne church sponsors Kids Against Hunger community event

The youth at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (at the corner of Vance Avenue and Reed Road in Fort Wayne) were excited to sponsor a day for Kids Against Hunger! Beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, with more than 100 volunteers, they prepared more than 42,000 packets of food. Each packet is a complete meal for a family of six. Each meal costs only 25¢ and they are committed to raise the $10,000-plus needed for this amazing program. These meals will be distributed here in Fort... -- more --

St. Luke's serves post-Thanksgiving meal to Richmond Hills residents

INDIANAPOLIS – Al Dalton, St. Luke’s member and dedicated mission volunteer, organized a dinner to feed survivor residents on the south side of Indianapolis, whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the explosion that rocked the entire Richmond Hills subdivision Nov. 10. The meal was served Friday, Nov. 23 at Southport Presbyterian. More than 200 residents came to eat and fellowship with one another and with those from St. Luke’s. Al shares the experience he and his wife,... -- more --

New Jersey ready to accept trained ERTs

The Greater New Jersey Annual Conference is ready to receive trained ERTs (early response teams) to help with disaster relief in response to Super Storm Sandy. Groups that go to New Jersey must be trained and must be self-sustaining. Churches will provide housing but teams must provide their own meals and be ready for flexible conditions, according to Greg Forrester, UMVIM NEJ coordinator. He emphasized that only trained self-starters should respond as this will be a door-to-door cleanup in... -- more --

Ways to respond to Hurricane Sandy survivors

In the U.S., United Methodist Early Response Teams from many states, including Indiana, have been deployed to the Northeast Coast. Volunteers need to wait until Volunteer In Mission sites are established. VIMs cannot go in to an area at the present time because Early Response Teams are on the ground restoring service and clearing debris. There are many ways you can help: Give to UMCOR Hurricane 2012 Advance #3021787, which will cover needs in the affected U.S. and Caribbean regions.... -- more --

Habitat, United Methodists, others begin blitz build southern Indiana

HENRYVILLE, Ind. – Hoosier United Methodists joined with corporations and other groups Monday, Oct. 8 to kick off work with Habitat for Humanity of Indiana a million dollar “Raise the Roof Over Southern Indiana” Blitz Build project in Henryville’s south-side Twin Oaks subdivision. The houses are for survivors whose homes were destroyed by the deadly, March 2 tornadoes that ripped through this and other small southern Indiana towns and communities in a 40-mile path of... -- more --

United Methodism 101 Course offered

Registration open through Thursday, Sept. 27 Start this online courses when it is most convenient to your schedule and move at your own pace. A course facilitator will respond to your work and answer questions via forums. No participants will be admitted if the course becomes full or after Thursday, Sept. 27. Cost: $9.99 Dates: Oct. 3-Nov. 14 Credit: Upon successful completion, learners... -- more --

Volunteers needed in southern Indiana for Habitat Blitz Build

It’s time for Hoosier United Methodists to engage in hammer theology. The Indiana Conference Disaster Response Team and Habitat for Humanity of Indiana needs volunteer workers for the week or just a day during the Raise the Roof over Southern Indiana Habitat for Humanity Blitz Build 2012 the week of October 8-13. Bishop Mike Coyer will be on hand to begin the United Methodist builds on Oct. 8 at the Henryville Habitat build site. Construction funded by Indiana United Methodist Disaster... -- more --

New District Superintendents to be installed Sept. 9

The installation service for the Rev. Michelle Cobb, new superintendent of the North Central District based in Kokomo, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 700 E. Southway Boulevard (U.S. 31) in Kokomo. All are invited to this welcoming event. Bishop Mike Coyner will be participating in the service. The Rev. John Groves will be installed as the new West District Superintendent during a special worship service at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, at First... -- more --

Indiana, Northern Illinois conferences take lead in future of jurisdictions

  Stone AKRON, Ohio – During the North Central Jurisdictional Conference Friday morning in Akron, the Indiana and North Illinois conferences of The United Methodist Church took the lead in the passage of a proposal to study the mission and structure of jurisdictions, in particular the North Central Jurisdiction. ... -- more --

Seniors and summer heat

Seniors are especially at risk in high heat situations. Large stretches of the USA, including Indiana, are experiencing extreme temperatures at the moment. Care-givers, including churches, need to check on the elderly. If you live in another city, call the police department, or someone you know, to check on your loved one. Does an elderly person live in your neighborhood? Go knock on the door and ask how things are going. Do NOT accept the first answer. We all want to say, "OH, I'm ok,... -- more --