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Conference Superintendent - Northwest District

Rev. Lore Blinn Gibson

Conference Assistant - North & Northwest District

Eva Goeb

Associate DS of Rural Ministry Development

Andrea Lantz

Clergy Connections Director

Karen Bray

Northwest District Lay Leader

Cindy Schrader

Connecting Shepherd

Branden Scott

Conference Superintendent - Northwest District

Rev. Lore Blinn Gibson

Rev. Lore Blinn Gibson met Jesus as in infant, carried by her parents to be baptized at Star City [United] Methodist Church, where she began her ministry by playing piano and working with children. There she was trained to think outside the box, work hard, and be a team player. Experiences in marching band, choirs, and teaching middle schoolers were the doors God used to invite her into pastoral ministry. After working with local pastors on several District Committee on Ministries and teaching Course of Study, Lore developed a passion for equipping and empowering licensed local pastors and small churches to do whatever it takes to follow the Spirit in transforming lives to become more and more like Jesus. When not driving around the Northwest District in her blue super-mobile, Lore maybe found painting, walking the family dog (Kitty), trying to coax interesting plant life out of the Lafayette clay,learning about and creating art, and history. She’s a proud Winamac Warrior, Indiana State Sycamore, Duke Blue Devil, and adopted Lafayette Jefferson Broncho and above all, a grateful United Methodist who highly values the connection. Lore married Randy, who currently works in medical research for Cook and teaches college ethics. They are the parents of Maia, a UIndy student and soon-to-be teacher, and James, a student at Lafayette Jefferson High School.

Conference Assistant - North & Northwest District

Eva Goeb

Eva Goeb has worked as a paralegal in many settings, including governmental compliance for an international ministry. As one who enjoys learning and growing, she has earned her Insurance Producer licenses and SHRM-CP HR certification. Most recently, she worked for a mortgage company in customer service. Eva enjoyed over 20 years as a Sunday school teacher and was a youth group leader and VBS volunteer. She is married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two grown kids and 7 grandkids. In her spare time, she loves glamping, being outdoors, reading, playing board games and spoiling her two dogs and two cats.

Associate DS of Rural Ministry Development

Andrea Lantz

Andrea has loved God and followed Christ most of her life.  She was raised mainly in Wabash, IN with a few years living in MN.  It was while in MN that she became connected with the United Methodist Church.  Through the prayers and mentoring she found in UMC churches in MN and in Christ UMC in Wabash, she finally gathered the courage to say “yes” to God’s call to ministry.  

Andrea is an ordained elder in the United Methodist.  She has pastored several churches in Indiana with many of them being rural churches.  Andrea is currently the pastor at Woodlawn UMC in Somerset, Indiana. While pastoring, Andrea is also serving as the Associate DS of rural ministry development for the NW District.  

Andrea is married to Chris Lantz, also an ordained elder in the UMC.  Together they live in Huntington, IN and have three children, Madeleine, Isaac, and Nathaniel.  Andrea loves spending time with her family.   She is often found having adventures or reading books with her children.  She also enjoys board games, jigsaw puzzles, and hiking.   

Clergy Connections Director

Karen Bray

Karen has served in pastoral ministry for the past 22 years. She is committed to guiding people toward a more profound and meaningful relationship with Christ. Karen’s interest in spiritual formation led to her doctoral research in the field of Contemplative Prayer and Meditation. She enjoys using this research in resourcing others with opportunities for spiritual growth and renewal.

Karen has been married to her husband Mike for 42 years. Together, they have raised three daughters who are now grown and the parents of their eight grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, and watercolor painting.

Northwest District Lay Leader

Cindy Schrader

Cindy Schrader is a former Sales & Marketing Executive, Church Resource Consultant, and was most recently certified as a Missional Coach and Fresh Expressions Pioneer Coach. Her passion is to help churches renew, refresh, and reinvent their ministries and share God’s love more purposefully and effectively

Connecting Shepherd

Branden Scott

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Charge Conference

Date

January 1, 2024

TIME

Friday – Sunday; 1pm – 5pm

LOCATION

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New York, NY

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Featured Events

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November 4, 2023
Emerging Leaders Retreat→

Location: Fort Wayne

All Upcoming Events for this District

News

Advent Curriculum

Advent is almost upon us! Click here to find advent curriculum created just for you, all free to use in your churches and communities.

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Veteran Q&A: Rev. Dr. Kent Lundy

Tell us your title and where you currently serve. Wing Chaplain, 181st Intelligence Wing, IN Air National Guard, Terre Haute. I am an Elder serving...

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Veteran Q&A: Rev. Michael Warner

Tell us your title and where you currently serve. Clergy Care Services Director for the Indiana Annual Conference. When were you drafted or when did...

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Veteran Q&A: Rev. Dirk Caldwell

Tell us your title and where you currently serve. I serve as the Senior Pastor at Darlington UMC in the West District, Associate District Superintendent...

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Lafayette Christ UMC Honors Retirees’ 50 Years of Volunteerism 

Lafayette Christ UMC recently raised money and collected items for the Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home in Lebanon, Indiana. A challenge was set to the...

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Elder Reflects on Time with the U.S. Senate

Photo Credit: YouTube On September 27, Rev. Dr. Kent Lundy, elder serving in extension ministries as the Wing Chaplain of the 181st Intelligence Wing, served...

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Bishop: Bear Each Other’s Burdens

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. May we, as United Methodists, do all we can every month—and in all the ways we can—to prevent suicide.  Mental health is physical...

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Boy Scout Lawsuits and Settlement Update

The Boy Scout lawsuits and subsequent settlement have been approved by the courts. The Indiana Conference remains committed as a Conference to moving forward with...

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Current UMCOR Efforts

UMCOR and its partners are responding to disasters across the globe every day. Please join us in prayer for the affected areas and consider giving...

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INUMC Disability Awareness Sunday 2023

This content is purposed for INUMC Disability Awareness Sunday on September 10, 2023. However if your church isn’t able to observe it that Sunday, we...

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