INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner announces the appointment of the Rev. David Byrum as the new superintendent of the East District based in Muncie effective July 1. Byrum currently serves as senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Valparaiso, Ind. He will succeed the Rev. Dale Mendenhall, who has been appointed to serve as senior pastor of High Street UMC in Muncie, following the retirement of Rev. Jack Hartman as senior pastor of that congregation.

Coyner partnered with the Clergy Orders of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church to offer a video presentation they recorded with him in his office at the Conference Center. The service features the Rev. Tim Burchill, chair of the Order of Elders; the Rev. Jennifer Pollard, chair of the Order of Deacons and the Rev. Don Ransford, leader of the Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members. -- more --

They arrived in Haiti the day before the massive earthquake that rocked the nation Jan. 11, and only got back home to Indianapolis six days later.

But Kay and Gary Walla, mission volunteers from St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, are ready to go back to Haiti when the rebuilding starts. -- more --