News

Camp numbers are encouraging, but help needed

The registration figures for this year’s Indiana Conference IMPACT 2818 Outdoor Ministries are very encouraging. We are at 68.9 percent of this year’s registration goal of 3,500 children and youth. Some events are starting to fill up, so parents and guardians need to register their children and youth soon! Remember, registration for each event closes one week prior to the start of the event, or earlier if the event is full. For more information about the camping program, visit... -- more --

Delegates discuss alternatives to Call to Action legislation

TAMPA, Fla. – Much of the first week of General Conference was spent in legislative committees where the more than 1,200 petitions for changes to the Book of Discipline, the Book of Resolutions and other petitions are considered. Much of the focus so far has been on the General Administration committee which is considering the legislation dealing with restructuring. Committee members are moving toward embracing Plan B instead of the proposed Call to Action plan submitted by the church's... -- more --

Operation Classroom In-Gathering at Conference Briefings

  2012 Annual Conference Briefings  All Pastors and Lay Members to Annual Conference should attend one of the Conference Briefings listed below.  This year's briefings are designed to provide all the information you need to attend Annual Conference session in Indianapolis.  You may attend any briefing location.  Annual Conference will be different this year than it has been before, so even if you have attended conference many times in the past, it is ... -- more --

Tornado Disaster Relief efforts underway in Southern Indiana

This afternoon, Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner, the Rev. Charlie Wilfong, South District Superintendent, and the Rev. Dave Powell, Indiana Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, will be touring areas of southern Indiana devastated by the recent storms. Hopefully, Tom Hazelwood, Associate General Secretary and Director of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, will join the group. In the meantime, The Indianapolis Star this morning had a picture of Pekin United Methodist Church volunteers... -- more --

Millard to lead Indiana Conference in stewardship, tithing efforts

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner announces the appointment of retired senior pastor Dr. Kent Millard as Conference Director of Stewardship and Tithing effective March 1. The new position was approved this past 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 Stewardship and Tithing. This new position was... -- more --

Indiana delegation endorses Reynolds for episcopacy

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 --

Pastors to be challenged, embraced during OLT

Claiborne Greenwaldt Harris In less than two weeks, pastors and other clergy from across Indiana will gather for the Our Life Together spiritual retreat at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Feb. 16 & 17, beginning Thursday at 9 a.m. through Friday 3 p.m. Together, Karen Greenwaldt and Russ Harris will work with... -- more --

Summer Camp News

Sign Up For Camp Today! Summer camp registration is open and it’s never too soon to get your summer planned. Jump onto www.beacamper.com, navigate to the camp of your choice, and sign your family members up for another amazing summer with Impact 2818! Free Camp This Summer? This summer you could be sending your kids for free. Seriously? Impact 2818 is introducing the Happy Camper reward system, which uses an approach similar to direct selling companies like Pampered Chef, to allow... -- more --

Registration system updates being done this weekend

Due to updates being done by the host of part of the Conference registration system, you will be unable to access this weekend, Jan. 20-23 from 9 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Monday. The registration will be unavailable for these events: Our Life Together Bishop’s Confirmation Rally Rejuvenate events First Mondays ... -- more --

Bishop announces appointment of Cobb, Groves as district superintendents

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner announces 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 Church in... -- more --

Bishop's Christmas prayer for pastors and congregations

Gracious God, whose coming we celebrate during Advent and Christmas, may You come swiftly and powerfully to the pastors and the people of our Indiana Conference. Protect those who are traveling, guide those who lead, comfort those who grieve, and strengthen those who are weakened by illness, by heartache, or by discouragement. Especially I pray, O blessed Lord, that You may bring JOY into the lives and ministry of our pastors. Let their preparations for worship services be blessed with... -- more --

Food for pets in need

Check out these ways of helping pets Young chefs whip up biscuits to aid Portage pantry for needy pets Churches help four-legged friends Couple deliver food to people – and pets – in need... -- more --

Letter to the Church from the Council of Bishops

Download of PDF version here. ... -- more --

Communicator elected UMW of Indiana president

INDIANAPOLIS (e-HUM) – During the United Methodists Women of Indiana third annual meeting Oct. 13 at Old Bethel United Methodist Church, Carolyn Maxey of Chesterton was elected president of the group for a two-year term. She formerly served as the statewide group’s communicator. Other top officers include: Vice President Sue Shafer of Richmond, Secretary Barbara King of Indianapolis and Treasurer Sherry Ralston of Newburgh. The 219 women present, heard and saw a report about a... -- more --

Praying for 2012 General Conference

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) – When delegates to the 2012 General Conference meet next April, United Methodists around the world will be able to join them in a concert of prayer, seeking God’s will for their decisions. The Upper Room, a division of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship, will provide a prayer guide for delegates, participants and guests at the denomination’s top lawmaking assembly. The guide also will be available free of charge on The Upper Room website for... -- more --

Indiana team now at Africa University

Sitting (left to right): Pat, Jeanie, La Donna, James. Back row (left to right) Dona Lou, Bonnie, Mary Beth, Gene, Eleanor, Don, Mary, Hobart, Jerry Jo, Jerry. Fourteen Hoosier United Methodists are at Africa University this week in Zimbabwe. You can follow their ventures on their blog.... -- more --

Highlights from the October 2011 issue of Together

'Making ROOM' chosen as session theme in 2012 Members of the Annual Conference Session Implementation Team tour the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. INDIANAPOLIS – “Making ROOM” will be the theme of the 2012 Indiana Annual Conference’s Fourth Session gathering June 7-9 at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, the first annual... -- more --

You're invited to the Grand Opening of Fenstermacher Lodge

Join us in celebration of Fenstermacher Lodge opening at Epworth Forest Conference Center on 8580 East Wesley Lane in North Webster, Ind. with your family, friends, neighbors, church ... everybody. The Ceremony will be held Sunday, October 23 from 3 to 5 p.m. This family event is FREE and open to the public. Come see the first new lodges built on these grounds since 1964. Fenstermacher Lodge is the second new lodge to be completed at Epworth Forest Conference Center this year. Duecker Lodge... -- more --

Bishop appoints part-time associate for Church Development with Hispanics

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner has appointed the Rev. Sergio Reyes, a part-time local pastor and co-pastor of Getsemani United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne as a part-time Associate Director of Church Development with Hispanic populations, effective Oct. 1. Sergio and his wife, the Rev. Janie Reyes, also a part-time local pastor, were appointed to the newly chartered Cristiana Getsemani congregation in May 2007. Sergio will work closely with the Rev. Mark Gough, director of... -- more --

UIndy's president announces retirement

INDIANAPOLIS (UIndy) – The University of Indianapolis President Beverley Pitts announced Oct. 3 that she will retire at the end of the 2011-12 academic year, ending seven years at the helm of Indiana’s third-largest private college which is United Methodist-related. Pitts informed the university’s Board of Trustees of her decision Oct. 1. Since then, she sent e-mail messages to faculty, staff and students, calling her tenure at UIndy “one of the most rewarding... -- more --